Selective salpingography and tubal catheterisation in the diagnosis and treatment of proximal tubal blockage

Proximal tubal blockage arises from several pathological processes and is often a sole cause of infertility. It can be diagnosed and treated by selective salpingography and tubal catheterisation. In this paper, deficiencies of current methods of tubal assessment are discussed, compared with the relative advantages of selective salpingography and tubal catheterisation. The latter are outpatient procedures that have been shown to achieve successful fallopian tube recanalisation and pregnancies in women with infertility, without any other intervention. Another advantage of these techniques is the measurement of tubal perfusion pressure, which has a potential place in management of infertility. Finally, directions of current research into this developing subject are outlined.