Spontaneous pregnancy rates in infertile women after sequential hydrosonography and hysterosalpingo-foam sonography.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical pregnancy rate following sequential hydrosonography and hysterosalpingo-foam sonography (HyFoSy) in tubal patency assessment among women undergoing infertility work-up. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective follow-up of women referred to our department between July 2019 and October 2020. Sequential hydrosonography and HyFoSy were carried out. RESULTS: Out of 250 having the procedure, 100 women were excluded from study due to limited infertility, semen abnormal or not examined, evaluation for social egg freezing or they were single. Of the remaining 150 women, 48 (32%) conceived during a 10-24 months follow-up period: 17 (11%) conceived naturally and 7 (4.7%) by IUI. The mean time to conception was 5.5 ± 5.4 months and the pregnancy rate was 52% within 6 months. Among the spontaneous pregnancies 47% occurred within a month and 76% within 3 months. CONCLUSION: Sequential hydrosonography and HyFoSy is a promising method for assessing the uterine cavity and tubal patency in women undergoing infertility workup. The findings suggest that the procedure may increase the chance of a spontaneous pregnancy following the procedure. Given the other known advantages of sequential hydrosonography and HyFoSy, this test is worth including in the initial workup for infertile patients.

Outcomes of ultrasound and physical-exam based cerclage: assessment of risk factors and the role of adjunctive progesterone in preventing preterm birth-a retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess outcomes of ultrasound and physical examination-based cerclage performed at mid to late second trimester and to assess the potential added value of progesterone treatment combined with cerclage for preventing preterm birth. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study of women who underwent cerclage in a university-affiliated tertiary medical center (2012-2018). Inclusion criteria included only ultrasound-based cerclage and physical examination-based cerclage. Women who underwent history-based cerclage or multiple gestations were excluded. Study groups were stratified by previous PTB < 37 weeks and other risk factors for PTB. Primary outcome was the incidence of preterm birth < 35 weeks of gestation. Secondary outcomes included the potential added value of progesterone treatment and neonatal outcome. RESULTS: Sixty-nine women underwent cervical cerclage placement between 16-23 weeks of gestation. All women had short cervix (cervical length of < 25 mm) at presentation. Indications for cerclage placement included: 29% previous PTB, 32% prior cervical interventions (history of at least one D&C, hysteroscopy or cold-knife conization in the past), 22% had cervical dilatation > 1 cm at presentation, 12% due to failure of progesterone treatment defined as continued cervical shortening after 14 days of progesterone treatment, and 5% had other indications. Overall, 42 women (61%) gave birth at term. 27 women (39%) delivered prior to 37 weeks of gestation, of them, 20 women (29%) gave birth prior to 35 weeks. Overall median gestational age at delivery was 35 + 5 ± 4.7 weeks. Cervical dilatation at presentation of > 1 cm was associated with an increased risk for PTB < 35 weeks (OR 3.57, CI 1.43-30.81, p = 0.036). Previous PTB, prior cervical interventions and extent of cervical shortening at presentation did not increase the risk of PTB. Progesterone treatment in addition to cerclage did not result in a decreased risk for PTB < 35 weeks of gestation (OR 2.83, CI 0.58-13.89, p = 0.199). CONCLUSION: Late second trimester cerclage is a practical measure for preventing PTB in cases of asymptomatic cervical shortening. Our study did not find adjunctive benefit for progesterone treatment with physical or ultrasound-based cerclage in reducing the rate PTB.