What is the primary purpose of a hysterosalpingogram?

The primary purpose of a hysterosalpingogram is to check fallopian tube patency via X-ray. This diagnostic imaging procedure involves the injection of a radiopaque dye into the uterine cavity through the cervix. As the dye fills the uterus and travels into the fallopian tubes, X-ray images are taken to observe the flow of the dye. This allows healthcare providers to assess whether the fallopian tubes are open or blocked, which is crucial for determining fertility issues in women.

Understanding the patency of the fallopian tubes is essential in the evaluation of infertility, as blocked tubes can prevent sperm from reaching the egg or impede the passage of a fertilized egg to the uterus. Therefore, this procedure is a key step in fertility assessment and planning for potential treatments.

Other choices do not align with the specific function of a hysterosalpingogram. For instance, making an incision in the vaginal wall is a surgical procedure unrelated to imaging. An endoscopic examination of the pelvic cavity refers to laparoscopic procedures used to visualize internal structures but does not involve checking tube patency with X-rays. Analyzing semen post-intercourse pertains to assessing male fertility aspects and has no relation to the hysterosalpingogram's purpose of examining the female reproductive