Dissemination of endometrial cells during carbon dioxide hysteroscopy and chromotubation among infertile patients.

The presence of endometrial cells in PF before and after diagnostic CO2 hysteroscopy and after liquid chromotubation was studied with 51 infertile patients. Cytological samples of PF or washings did not reveal endometrial cells in any case before hysteroscopy. Endometrial cells were found in PF in 16% after CO2 hysteroscopy and in 65% of cases after chromotubation. All (100%) patients with and 49% of those without endometriosis had endometrial cells in PF after liquid chromotubation. We conclude that endometrial cells are disseminated into the peritoneal cavity in a minor degree during CO2 hysteroscopy, whereas more remarkable dissemination of endometrial cells occurs during liquid chromotubation.