The fallopian tubes are the way for sperm and eggs to meet in the body. A tubal imaging is a test used to check the patency of a woman’s fallopian tubes. What are the conditions that require a tubal imaging? For first time infertility couples, the male partner should be ruled out first, and the female partner should undergo a careful gynecological examination to rule out abnormal pelvic signs, and a vaginal ultrasound is recommended to monitor the development of the follicles dynamically. How is a tubal angiogram done? The contrast is injected into the uterine cavity through a contrast tube on 3-5 days after menstruation, and the contrast is observed under X-ray fluoroscopy to see whether the fallopian tubes are open and the shape of the uterine cavity. The contrast agents used include oil (iodinated oil) and aqueous solvent (pantethine, iohexol). Iodinated oil is dense and has a good contrast effect, as well as some therapeutic effects. Are there any risks associated with tubal angiography? Although the damage caused by tubal imaging is minimal, it is an invasive test and carries certain risks and complications, so we recommend that you perform the test only after you have ruled out other factors of infertility. Some people may have allergic reactions to the impurities in the contrast medium, so an allergy test is required before the test. There is also a risk of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). To avoid these risks, the test should not be performed during the acute phase of pelvic inflammatory disease or during the acute phase of inflammation in other parts of the body. In addition, the contrast agent may accidentally enter the pelvic vessels and form a contrast plug, but this is very rare. How soon can I get pregnant after tubal contrast? The time limit for pregnancy after tubal contrast varies depending on the contrast medium and the imaging machine used. Patients who have had a tubal angiogram at our center should refrain from bathing and sexual intercourse for two weeks after the angiogram and take the antibiotics given by the doctor to prevent infection. Contraception is required for the month and pregnancy can be considered for the next month. What is the bleeding after tubal imaging? A tubal angiogram is an invasive test that can cause vaginal bleeding in women. Vaginal bleeding is normal after a tubal ultrasound and usually disappears on its own within 7 days. The amount of bleeding will not exceed the amount of menstruation and will not cause any harm to the woman’s body. What is the difference between tubal imaging and lavage? There is blindness in tubal lavage. The lavage operator judges whether the tubes are open or not mainly based on the resistance when pushing the fluid and the reflux of the fluid, and the percentage of false positives and false negatives is too high. It is no longer recommended in clinical practice. Repeated lavage will destroy the peristaltic ability and cilia oscillation ability of the fallopian tubes, and each lavage will increase the chance of infection, especially if the sterilization is not strict, which may lead to further aggravation of the originally non-serious tubal problems. What is the significance of tubal imaging? It is possible to visualize whether the fallopian tubes are patent and the site of obstruction, as well as to observe the size and shape of the uterus, the presence of malformations, and the presence of uterine adhesions or occupying lesions. It is especially useful for determining the site of tubal obstruction and for selecting the next treatment plan. In addition, the images are clear and can be stored permanently, which makes it easy to compare before and after treatment.