The role of hydrosalpinx in recurrent miscarriage
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The role of hydrosalpinx in recurrent miscarriage
IRAS ID
232650
Contact name
J Ghosh
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Birmingham
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
RG_17-150, University of Birmingham Research Governance Ref Number; ERN_17-1086, University of Birmingham Research Support Group Ref Number
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 5 months, 31 days
Research summary
Attenders at a recurrent miscarriage clinic will be screened for hydrosalpinges. Miscarriage is defined as spontaneous pregnancy loss before the fetus reaches viability. Hydrosalpinges are an abnormal dilation of a fallopian tube classically caused by sexually transmitted infections such as Chlamydia trachomatis, pelvic inflammatory disease, previous abdominal surgery causing scar tissue or endometriosis which causes a distal occlusion of the tube. They will be screened by performing a hysterosalpingo-contrast-sonogram (HyCoSy). A HyCoSy is an ultrasound scan performed in the outpatient setting. A routine transvaginal ultrasound scan is performed and then a contrast media is introduced into the uterus via the cervix and the flow of the contrast through the fallopian tubes is tracked in real time using ultrasound. This will enable me to establish the prevalence of hydrosalpinges in the recurrent miscarriage population. I will then follow up both those who screen positive and those who screen negative for hydrosalpinges for 12 months in terms of their subsequent pregnancy outcomes. I will compare these 2 cohorts to each other to establish the prognosis of miscarriage in women with concurrent hydrosalpinges. If women are found to have hydrosalpinges they and their routine healthcare provider will be informed and treated appropriately. This may include surgical treatment. The pregnancy outcomes of those who were treated with surgery will then be compared to those who did not. This is to see if surgery improves the prognosis of women with recurrent miscarriage and concurrent hydrosalpinges and what type of surgery in particular was better. If the surgery does show an improved prognosis, all those women who initially declined intervention will be re-offered surgery by their routine healthcare provider.
REC name
West Midlands - Edgbaston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/WM/0444
Date of REC Opinion
16 Jan 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion