Evaluation of hysterosalpingographic findings of patients presenting with infertility in Kano, Northern Nigeria

Background: Hysterosalpingography (HSG) is a minimally invasive tool with reasonable specificity and sensitivity which is effective in diagnosing tubal factor infertility. Objective: This study determines the pattern of infertility, the risk factors for infertility in women presenting for HSG, and documented HSG findings among women with infertility at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), Kano. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study of HSG findings among infertile women who presented for HSG between January 2016 and December 2018 in AKTH. The register for HSG was reviewed at the Radiology Department, and information obtained from the record included the age, file number, and the outcome of HSG. The corresponding files of the patients were then retrieved from the Central Medical Records Department. Information obtained from the case notes were age, parity, type of infertility, and risk factor for infertility. Results: During the study period, there were 400 cases of infertility who presented to the gynecological clinic, out of which 250 patients presented for HSG. One hundred and forty-four case notes were retrieved giving a retrieval rate of 57%. Majority of the women who had HSG during this study were aged between 26 and 30 years. Secondary infertility was predominant over primary infertility which occurred in 86 (59.7%) of the patients. Among the 144 patients who were examined, 71 (49.3%) of the women had an abnormal finding. Bilateral tubal blockage was the predominant abnormal finding on HSG, found in 27 (18.7%) patients. Right tubal blockage occurred more than left tubal blockage, which was seen in 15 (10.4%) and 13 (9.0%) patients, respectively. Regarding uterine pathology, uterine fibroid occurs most in the women accounting for 11 (7.6%) when compared to uterine adhesions which were found in only 4 (2.7%) women. Conclusion: Even though uterine adhesions were significant findings, bilateral tubal blockage and uterine fibroid were the main HSG findings in AKTH within the study period.