Saline Infusion Sonohysterography

There is a new technique called saline infusion sonohysterography (SIS) that can reduce the number of D&Cs (Dilatation and Curettage) done in this country by 75%! Dr. Goldstein is the inventor of the Goldstein Sonohysterography catheter and the principal investigator and teacher of this technique in the entire country.

When women in there 20s and early 30s have abnormal uterine bleeding the cause is almost always "hormone imbalance". Such women in the past were often offered hormonal therapies most commonly in the form of low dose birth control pills. But as women get into their later 30s and 40s concerns about actual abnormalities like polyps, fibroids, precancers, and even actual cancer become increased. Therefore, for the last 50 years women of such age with abnormal bleeding have been subjected to D&Cs, hysteroscopies, endometrial biopsies, and all sorts of invasive procedures to exclude serious abnormalities prior to being then left with a diagnosis of "hormone imbalance".

Most doctors continue to utilize these old methods. However there is now a better way developed and pioneered by Dr. Goldstein. The use of endovaginal ultrasound and fluid enhanced endovaginal ultrasound can eliminate the need for any invasive intervention in women with no anatomic abnormality whose bleeding is due to hormonal imbalance. The procedure takes only moments to perform and is done as part of a regularly scheduled office visit. Approximately 1 to 2 teaspoons of sterile saline solution is put into the uterine cavity through a tiny catheter that literally looks like a piece of spaghetti before being cooked. The procedure is virtually painless and the information obtained is remarkable. With this technique, the only patients who go to the operating room for D&C hysterocopy are those in whom this procedure has documented the presence of an abnormal anatomic finding that needs to be further evaluated.

In a recent study of over 400 women with abnormal bleeding, 79% had no anatomic abnormality and needed no further diagnostic procedure other than ultrasound or SIS. If you or any of your friends or family might be candidates for this breakthrough approach feel free to ask Dr. Goldstein or any of the staff for more information.

©2004 Steven R. Goldstein, M.D.