Predictors of abnormal findings in infertile women undergoing hysterosalpingography in Bayelsa State, South-South Nigeria

Abstract
Background: Despite the development of other diagnostic tools such as hysteroscopy, laparoscopy, and magnetic resonance imaging, hysterosalpingography remains the most commonly used diagnostic modality for evaluating tubal patency in infertile women.Objective: To determine the predictive factors for abnormal findings in infertile women undergoing hysterosalpingography.Materials and Methods: This prospective, descriptive, cross-sectional study, was conducted at the Infertility Clinics and Radiology Departments of the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, and Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri, both in Bayelsa State, Nigeria, between January 2021 and July 2021. Hysterosalpingography was done for 350 eligible women, after obtaining written informed consents from them. Data were analysed using Statistical Product and Service Solutions for Windows® version 25. Results were presented in frequencies and percentages for categorical variables, and mean and standard deviation for continuous variables. Student’s t-test was used to compare sample means, and Chi-square, for associations. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to determine the relationship between variables and abnormal hysterosalpingography findings. P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: Secondary level of education (OR–5.97; p=0.007), secondary infertility (5.27; p=0.001), duration of marriage (6–10 years: OR–4.36; p=0.001), duration of infertility (6-10 years: 6.94; p=0.001) and induced abortion (OR–11.73; p=0.001) were significantly associated with abnormal hysterosalpingography findings.Conclusion: Our study established that the predictors of abnormal findings on hysterosalpingography were secondary level of education, secondary infertility, duration of marriage, duration of infertility and induced abortion.