Saline Infusion Ultrasound
A saline infusion ultrasound checks the cavity of your uterus. It is used to determine if the cavity is an abnormal shape or if there is anything protruding in to the cavity such as a polyp or fibroid. It can also detect adhesions or scar tissue within the uterus.
Technical Aspects
Your doctor may call a saline infusion ultrasound a sonohysterogram. This is the technical name for the procedure.
How is a Saline Infusion Ultrasound Performed?
It starts with a normal ultrasound (using a vaginal probe) to assess your uterus, ovaries and pelvis. This is followed by a doctor inserting a small tube into your uterus. The tube is very small (around 1mm width) however it is possible to get some crampy period like pain during insertion. For this reason we ask patients to take an anti-inflammatory tablet (such as two ibuprofen) 1 hour before the procedure. If the patient has been told not to take anti-inflammatory tablets (for example they have an allergy, gastric oesophageal reflux or asthma which reacts to this type of medication) they could take paracetamol with or without some codeine (eg Panadeine).
The small tube is used to inject a small amount of saline (sterile water) into the uterus. This allows us to accurately assess the shape of the cavity of the uterus and whether there is anything protruding into the cavity (such as a polyp or fibroid).
When can a Saline Infusion Ultrasound be performed?
You must be referred by your doctor for this test. It will not be performed when you are bleeding or in the second half of your cycle if there is any chance you could be pregnant. You will be asked the date of your last period when you book the ultrasound.
If you have gone through menopause the ultrasound can be performed at any time.
How long does it take?
The procedure takes about 30 minutes.
Does it cause discomfort?
Although there may be slight discomfort during the procedure this usually resolves very quickly.