HyCoSy is a hystero-salpingo contrast sonography to check the uterine cavity and the patency of the Fallopian tube.
Aqua scan (saline infusion sonography) is an ultrasound examination of the uterine cavity to exclude any pathologies such as fibroids, polyps or abnormalities in the uterine cavity.
It is usually done between day six and day 12 of your cycle (when you have stopped bleeding) and before ovulation occurs. The reason is to avoid the chance of being pregnant at the time of the procedure.
You must have an empty bladder prior to the procedure. You will be asked to lie down on the examination couch and a speculum is inserted into the vagina and a thin catheter is fed into the opening of the cervix. A vaginal ultrasound probe is inserted and sterile fluid is injected into the cavity to examine the cavity (aqua scan). This part of the examination is called a saline infusion, sonohysterography or hydrosonohysterography. Following this, a contrast medium is injected into the catheter. The solution is used to examine whether the Fallopian tubes are patent (open or blocked). If the examination of the tubes is carried out, the whole procedure is called a hystero-contrast sonography, HyCoSy. You may experience some cramps and discomfort at this point when the dye is injected.
The procedure takes about ten to 15 minutes and does not require anaesthesia. If you feel that speculum examinations are very painful, then this procedure can be done under general anaesthesia or sedation and this would be subject to additional costs.
The ultrasound scan is a 3D scan of the womb, its lining, endometrium and the ovaries, reviewing the antral follicular count (the egg reserve).
After the procedure you will be asked to remain for about ten to 15 minutes in the waiting room to ensure you do not have any reactions to the contrast and are safe to go home. It is advisable that somebody accompany you to the clinic to drive you home in case you feel unwell after the procedure, and also so that you can rest at home for a few hours. You should be able to return to work on the same day. The dye may cause some spotting, so sanitary towels may be needed. Do not use tampons, as this may increase the risk of any infection.
After the procedure all the results including the antral follicular count and the tubal test will be discussed alongside the next plan for treatment.
You may experience cramping and abdominal pains following the procedure, and there is the possibility of light bleeding following the examination. This should stop within 24 to 48 hours, if the pain continues more than 48 hours, please contact us.
It is possible that infection maybe develop after the procedure and could be apparent days later but this is very rare. If you develop any symptoms of fever, foul smelling discharge and pain, please contact us as soon as possible. In those cases we may do a swab and give you antibiotics. We routinely give Azithromycin one gram as a single dose after the procedure.
Please abstain from sexual intercourse from the first day of your period until after the procedure. This is to prevent any chance of pregnancy before having the procedure. It is very important to have the chlamydia test before having the procedure to ensure that the infection is not present in the cervix which can be introduced into the womb and then into the tubes.
Please inform us if you have any known allergies to contrasts/shellfish or iodine before the procedure. You may get a mild reaction which will make you feel a bit faint or have abdominal pain.
The cost of the procedure will be available on enquiry.