FERTILITY

We understand that infertility can be one of the most stressful experiences in your life. At SUGO we believe that helping you answer why is essential to your successful fertility journey.

An ultrasound is one of the first and most important steps in the investigation of subfertility or infertility. Performed at the appropriate time of the cycle it can check for abnormalities of the uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes as well as comment on the function of the ovaries and endometrium. One of the most common causes of infertility is endometriosis. A standard pelvic ultrasound would not even look for endometriosis besides an obvious ovarian endometrioma. A systematic approach to looking for endometriosis in the areas outside of the uterus and ovaries, which is the approach taken at SUGO. This approach is key because fertility issues can arise from any part of the gynecologic or pelvic organs and all deserve thorough investigation.

Your gynecologist or fertility doctor will usually want you to know about the function of the Fallopian tubes – this requires a test that watches fluid attempt to travel through the tubes. While the name of this may be different from one doctor or clinic to another, here at SUGO, we are simplifying things by calling it Tubal Patency Ultrasound. At SUGO, we take the approach best suited to your individual circumstance. We utilize international gold-standard methods that use safe and effective fluid. We use

ExEm® Foam (Hysterosalpingo-Foam-Sonography (HyFoSy))

to see the patency of your Fallopian tubes most clearly. Other names may be Hysterosalpingography, Sonosalpingography, or Hysterosalpingo-Contrast-Sonography (HyCoSy). We also offer Lipiodol Imaging Contrast (Hysterosalpingo-Contrast-Sonography (HyCoSy)). While we use foam to see the patency, Lipiodol is used to assess patency as well as help in increasing successful fertility outcomes^*. The bottom line is ultrasound is the first line non-invasive ultrasound-based technique which can determine tubal patency and the name matters less than what the ultrasound actually tests!

^{* Research shows Lipiodal may help clear fallopian tube blockages and may create a positive uteran environment for successful embryonic implementation ¹.}
1: Johnson NP et al. The FLUSH trial flushing with lipiodol for unexplained (and endometriosis-related) subfertility by hysterosalpingography: a randomized trial. Hum Reprod. 2004 Sep;19(9):2043-51. 2. Sekhon J et al. Lipiodol flush under ultrasound guidance in Australia. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol. 2020. 60:965-969..