Effect of Hydrotubation in Unexplained Infertility - A Randomized Controlled Trial

Unexplained infertility is a major gynecological problem with complex etiolgy. Partial tubal blockage with inflammatory reaction and thick mucus plugs in fallopian tubes and cervix is one of the likely causes in such cases. This study is based on the hypothesis that women having unexplained infertility could be helped by transcervical flushing of fluid through the fallopian tubes which would remove reversible blocking factors and help in achieving pregnancy. Objective: To compare the outcome of hydrotubation in unexplained infertility in clomiphene citrate stimulated cycles with control group (no Hydrotubation). Setting: Infertility Centre of a Public Sector Hospital. Study Design: A two years Prospective randomized controlled trial from Jan 2014 to Dec 2015. Method: 128 women participated in the study. Participants were divided into study and control group with 64 members in each group. Ovulation induction was done with clomiphene citrate in all the participants and confirmed by ovulation detection strips and follicular tracking on Ultrasonography. 50 cc cocktail of injection (inj.) kanamycin 1 gm, inj. hydrocortisone and normal saline was injected transcervically in study group for three consecutive days from the next day after end of menstruation. No hydrotubation was done in control group. Main outcome measures were number of conceptions within next 3 cycles and complications of hydrotubation. Results: In hydrotubation group, 20 women conceived. Out of these, 14 women conceived in the same cycle in which hydrotubation was done while 6 pregnancies occurred in subsequent cycle. 4 pregnancies occurred in the control group. Complications of hydrotubation were mild abdominal pain (59 women), vomiting (49 women) and Per vaginum bleeding (18 women). There were significantly more pregnancies in women who experienced right shoulder tip pain after the procedure. Conclusion: In women with unexplained infertility, tubal hydration can increase conception rate and decrease the time to achieve pregnancy.