This was an ‘Analytical Prospective Study’ which was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of a premiere hospital in Delhi. The sample size included 193 infertile women from outpatients clinic. Prior ethical clearance was obtained from institutional ethical committee of the hospital for conducting this study.

Inclusion criteria were women who were aged 19-42 years, who had infertility which was defined as per WHO criterion, confirmed ovulatory cycles, normal serum levels of TSH, Prolactin, FSH, LH and normal seminogram reports. Patients with active genital infections or any contraindications to HSG or hysterolaparoscopy were excluded. Infertility was defined as inability in conceiving despite having unprotected intercourse for one year. After taking informed written consents, detailed histories of the patients, general physical and gynaecological examinations were done on them and they were recorded in a pre-designed proforma. Basic tests such as husband semen analysis, hormonal assays, pelvic ultrasonography and premenstrual endometrial biopsies were carried out and the study group was selected with regards to appropriate inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Each patient underwent HSG and then hysterolaparoscopy over a period of six months.

HSG was performed in the preovulatory phase of the menstrual cycle (Day 6-11, preferably D-8) as an OPD procedure. Pre procedural antibiotic prophylaxis was given to patients with history of pelvic inflammatory disease or suspected tubal pathology, whereas all patients received antibiotic prophylaxis after the procedure. Approximately 10-15 ml of water soluble contrast media (urograffin) was instilled manually through leech-Wilkinson’s cannula. Three supine radiograms were taken, one during filling up of uterus, second during filling of tubes and third during occurrences of peritoneal spills.

Hysterosalpingographs were evaluated by a radiologist who was blinded to the results of other tests. HSG was interpreted as normal or abnormal, based on the presence of filling defect, shape of cavity, septum, etc. For tubal status, HSG was reported to be normal, when both tubes were well outlined by free flow of dye, without any loculation. HSG was labeled as abnormal, when there was evidence of unilateral or bilateral tubal obstruction. Tubal blocks were further classified as cornual, mid tubal or fimbrial, depending on the extent of dye which entered the tube.

Hysterolaparoscopy was carried out in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle (Day 7-8) on in-patient basis under general anaesthesia, as one step procedure. Storz laparoscope (10 mm diameter) was introduced after creating pneumoperitoneum intraumbilically and thorough inspections of uterus, anterior and posterior cul-de-sacs, fallopian tubes, ovaries, ovarian fossae and rest of the pelvic peritoneum, appendix and liver surface were performed and any abnormality which was seen was noted down, including adhesions if there were any. Chromopertubation was done in all the cases. Therapeutic interventions was done at the same sitting, in the form of adhesiolysis, fimbrioplasty, ablation of endometriotic spots, cystectomy, if they were required.

Storz hysteroscope (5 mm diameter) was used for diagnostic hysteroscopy. Hysteroscope was introduced and the cervical canal, uterine cavity, endometrium and both ostia were thoroughly inspected. Therapeutic interventions in the form of synechiolysis, polypectomy, cannulation were done by using ten mm operative hysteroscope.

Outcome measures were (a) HSG findings were compared with hysteroscopic findings for understanding uterine pathology, (b) HSG findings were compared with laparoscopic findings for understanding tubal pathology and pelvic adhesions, endometriosis or any other pathology, (c) Therapeutic interventions were performed during hysterolaparoscopy, (d) Efficacy of pan endoscopy was compared with that of HSG for managing cases of female infertility.

The data was analyzed by using SPSS software. Comparison between HSG and Hysterolaparoscopy was done by using Chi- square test.

Most of the women were around 30 years of age (mean age 29.78 ± 4 years) and they had reported to this hospital after a period of infertility (mean duration 3.86 ± 2.68 years). Sixty six percent women had primary infertility and 34 % had secondary infertility. No complications were associated with either procedure.

As has been shown in [Table/Fig-1,2&3], HSG was unable to detect abnormalities in uterine cavity in 62 (32.12%) patients. It showed concurrence (TN+TP) with hysteroscopy in 128/193 (66.3%) cases.

As per [Table/Fig-4] sensitivity of HSG for detection of bilateral tubal block was 80.6%, specificity was 81.5%, positive predictive value was 45.5% and the negative predictive value was 95.7%. Sensitivity of HSG in detection of unilateral tubal block was 34.6%, specificity was 89.8%. For both unilateral and bilateral tubes, the difference between HSG and laparoscopy was highly significant (p<0.0001), with laparoscopy being more superior than the former method.

[Table/Fig-5] depicts additional findings that were observed in 127/193 (65.8%) women on laparoscopy. [Table/Fig-6,7] depict laparoscopic and hysteroscopic surgical interventions that were done at the same sitting.

Ovulatory infertile women with normal seminograms, pelvic ultrasound findings and hormonal profiles have higher possibility of having tuboperitoneal and subtle endometrial pathologies. These women face a lot of anxiety, emotional and financial trauma on undergoing series of procedures like HSG, laparoscopy and hysteroscopy over a period of time, before being referred for ART. Performing hysterolaparoscopy as ‘one step procedure’ straightaway in these women may be more fruitful. At first glance, hysterolaproscopy may appear to be costlier, invasive and it may require anaesthesia, but in the long run, it may become more beneficial, as therapeutic interventions can be done at the same sitting, as well as decisions for ART can be taken in time.

There are few similar study reports which are available in the literature, which have no consistency [3–7].

The enthusiasm for hysteroscopy has been based on the assumption that it is able to pick up small intrauterine lesions that may not otherwise be readily diagnosed by HSG. In our study, HSG failed to detect uterine pathology in 32.12% patients (62/193), with a sensitivity of 21.3%, specificity of 97.45%, negative predictive value of 64.97% and positive predictive value of 81.25%. The agreement between HSG and hysteroscopy was 66.3%. Similar results were demonstrated by LaSala et al., [4], with a low false positivity of 10% and a high false negativity of 26% with HSG. However, Snowden et al., [3] observed a false positive rate of 31% and a false negative rate of 1.3% in a study which was conducted similarly. Otubu et al., [5], in their study, obtained a false positive rate of 25% and a false negative rate of 30.40%, while Giacomucci et al., [6] reported a false positive rate of 5.2% and a false negative rate of 69.90%. In the study of Hourvitz et al., [7], false positive rate of 19% and a false negative rate of 12% were reported.

The abnormal findings which were detected on hysteroscopy were dealt with therapeutically at the same sitting in 23.83% (46/193) patients. This was a significant advantage of hysteroscopy over HSG.

Laparoscopy is regarded as the most definitive test for the evaluation of tubal factors. Not only does it provide vital information regarding both apparent and undiagnosed pathologies, it also gives an opportunity to treat them at the same sitting.

In study of Snowden et al., [3], the false negative rate of HSG was 13% and it’s false positive rate was 16%. Similarly, La Sala et al., [4] showed a sensitivity of 64.5%, specificity of 63.3%, false negative rate of 35.5% and a false positive rate of 37.7%. Otubu et al., [5], in their study, obtained a false positive rate of 9% and a false negative rate of 8%, while Hourvitz et al., [7] reported a false positive rate of 12% and false negative rate of 19%.

HSG revealed that both tubes of 112/193 women were patent and that 177 women had normal uterine cavities. These 112 women (58.03%) with normal HSG reports would have gone for further treatment, but with hysterolaparoscopy only, 35/193 (18.13%) women were declared to have normal tubes and uteri. These 77 women (39.89%) were benefited by one step procedure of hysterolaparoscopic intervention and they were advised further treatment in the form of superovulation with IUI for 3-6 cycles. In addition, 19/193 women (9.84%) where tubal patency could not be restored on hysterolaparoscopic intervention, were referred for IVF-ET without any further delay. Rest of the women with corrected pathologies on hysterolaparoscopy, were given trials for spontaneous conceptions for a period of 6 months.

Hysterolaparoscopy is far superior to HSG, as it is more accurate and therapeutic intervention is possible at the same time. In selected infertile women, where other causes are excluded and tuboperitoneal pathology is strongly suspected, hysterolaparoscopy may be recommended as the first and final procedure, rather than subjecting the patients to two procedures. Also, it will be possible to prognosticate and segregate the patients who will need ART and they can be referred at the earliest, thus avoiding further emotional and financial trauma to the couples.