Rate of detection of unsuspected pregnancies after implementation of mandatory point-of-care urine pregnancy testing prior to hysterosalpingography

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the rate of detection of unsuspected pregnancies after the implementation of mandatory point-of-care urine pregnancy testing before hysterosalpingography (HSG).

Methods: At the authors' institution, HSGs are scheduled to occur during days 8 to 12 of the menstrual cycle. Upon arrival in the radiology department, all women undergo point-of-care urine pregnancy testing before HSG (at a cost of $1.25 per test). Urine pregnancy test results were retrospectively reviewed.

Results: Four hundred ten women (mean age, 25.9 years; range, 22-50 years) underwent point-of-care urine pregnancy testing before HSG between October 2010 and July 2012. Study indications were infertility evaluation (90.7% [372 of 410]) and tubal patency assessment after placement of tubal occlusive devices (9.3% [38 of 410]). Two positive urine pregnancy test results (0.5%) were recorded. One positive result was deemed a false-positive because the patient had received an intramuscular injection of β-human chorionic gonadotropin before the scheduled HSG, and follow-up laboratory testing showed declining β-human chorionic gonadotropin levels. The second positive result was a true-positive, and the patient was determined to be 4.5 weeks pregnant on the date of the scheduled HSG.

Conclusions: One of 410 women presenting for HSG was found to have an unsuspected early pregnancy, which was detected with a point-of-care urine pregnancy test. Consideration should be given to routine pregnancy testing of women before HSG because scheduling on the basis of menstrual cycle dates can be unreliable.