Prospective Cross-sectional Study of Intrauterine Insemination with Hydrotubation in Women with Infertility

Background: Hydrotubation is the instillation of a solution of medicine through the cervix into the uterus and fallopian tubes under pressure into the peritoneal cavity. It has little value to test whether or not the tubes are blocked in the investigation of infertility and therapeutically to flush or clean the fallopian tubes.

Methods: Sixty women with unexplained infertility were scheduled randomly for hydrotubation either with normal saline or low dose Lidocaine in saline,prior to the procedure patient were given antibiotic coverage with tab.doxycycline. Hydrotubation was carried out one day before intrauterine insemination in clomiphene citrate stimulated cycle. Outcome measures were rates of pregnancy, first trimester abortion, ectopic pregnancy and multiple pregnancy.

Results: There were higher clinical pregnancy rates in Lidocaine group which when compared with saline group but statistically no significant difference found.

Conclusion: Hydrotubation with low dose Lidocaine 1% in saline one day before IUI allowed a higher pregnancy rate when compared to saline alone in couples with unexplained infertility.