If you have read my earlier posts, you know I believe that using Ethiodol (oil-based contrast medium) for a hysterosalpingogram increases the post-procedure pregnancy rate. Unfortunately, the only US source for Ethiodol announced in March of 2010 that they were shutting down production “for marketing reasons.” Since then, limited supplies of a similar product (Lipiodol Ultra-Fluide) have been made available in the US by FDA-approved importation from a French manufacturer; the current distributor is Guerbet USA. I called up Guerbet today to see if I could buy some Lipiodol Ultra-Fluide, but alas, it is only being made available for use in “life-saving medical procedures,” and even if they would sell it to me, one 10 mL ampoule would cost $590 (ouch!).
The company rep said they hope to have Ethiodol back on the market within a year.