My research line on the diagnostic methods for tubal patency testing in women with an active childwish focuses on the different techniques available for diagnostic tubal patency testing but also on the possible therapeutic effects, cost-effectiveness and safety. Various types of contrast media can be used during different methods of tubal patency testing. Our previous studies show that using an oil-based contrast medium during tubal patency testing will result in higher ongoing pregnancies and life births in women with unexplained subfertility. We now evaluate whether women with other causes of subfertility also benefit from the use of oil based contrast during tubal patency testing.

However, an oil-based contrast medium contains a high dose of iodine. Thyroid dysfunction is a known side effect of iodinated contrast media. Exposure to iodine prior to or during pregnancy could cause transient thyroid dysfunction in pregnant women, but this could also influence the neurodevelopment of offspring.  We conducted different long-term follow-up studies to evaluate the safety (in terms of neurocognitive development) for offspring of different methods of tubal patency testing in women with a childwish.

Reproductive Medicine, Tubal patency testing and Endometriosis