Fertility Studies
A Hysterosonogram provides pictures of the inside of a woman’s uterus. It is a valuable technique for an in depth evaluation of the endometrial lining of the uterus.
Learn More About Fertility Studies
Hysterosonography uses sound waves to produce pictures of the inside of a woman’s uterus and help diagnose unexplained vaginal bleeding. Hysterosonography is performed very much like a gynecologic exam and involves the insertion of the transducer into the vagina after you empty your bladder. Using a small tube inserted into the vagina, your doctor will inject a small amount of sterile saline into the cavity of the uterus and study the lining of the uterus using the ultrasound transducer. Ultrasound does not use ionizing radiation, has no known harmful effects, and provides a clear picture of soft tissues that don’t show up well on x-ray images.
Sonohysterography, also known as saline infusion sonography, is a special, minimally invasive ultrasound technique. It provides pictures of the inside of a woman’s uterus. Sonohysterography is also used to investigate uterine abnormalities in women who experience infertility or multiple miscarriages.
It is a valuable technique for evaluating unexplained vaginal bleeding that may be the result of uterine abnormalities such as:
- polyps
- fibroids
- endometrial atrophy
- endometrial adhesions (or scarring)
- malignant lesions/masses
- congenital defects
It is best to perform sonohysterography one week after menstruation to avoid the risk of infection. At this time in the menstrual cycle, the endometrium is at its thinnest, which is the best time to determine if the endometrium is normal. The timing of the exam may vary, however, depending on the symptoms and their suspected origins. Sonohysterography should not be performed if you are pregnant.
You should wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing for your ultrasound exam. You may need to remove all clothing and jewelry in the area to be examined.
You may be asked to wear a gown during the procedure.
One of our board-certified Radiologists will interpret your exam and send a report to your physician within 5 business days. Contact your referring physician for any information pertaining to the findings.
Your doctor needs to make your appointment for fertility studies. He or she can call Women’s Imaging at 850-878-6104.
Ultrasound examinations are painless and easily tolerated by most patients.
With transvaginal ultrasound, although the examination is often performed to look for a cause of pelvic pain, the sonogram itself should not be painful or significantly increase your discomfort. A vaginal sonogram is usually more comfortable than a manual gynecologic examination.
During the sonohysterogram, you may feel occasional cramping as a result of the introduction of the saline. Over-the-counter medication should be sufficient to minimize any discomfort associated with the procedure. You may have vaginal spotting for a few days after the procedure, which is normal.
If a Doppler ultrasound study is performed, you may actually hear pulse-like sounds that change in pitch as the blood flow is monitored and measured.
After an ultrasound examination, you should be able to resume your normal activities immediately.
Sonohysterography is a simple, minimally invasive procedure that is well tolerated by patients and has very few complications. It is a relatively short procedure that provides an excellent view of the uterus and endometrial lining. Many uterine abnormalities that may not be seen adequately with routine transvaginal ultrasound may be viewed in detail with sonohysterography. It can prevent unnecessary surgery, and it can ensure that all polyps and fibroids are removed at surgery.
Sonohysterography should typically not be performed in women with active pelvic inflammatory disease.
For more information on this and other radiology procedures, visit radiologyinfo.org