Tuesday 26 November 2013

Hydrosalpinx, the fallopian tube failure


Hydrosalpinx, the fallopian tube failure

Among various causes of infertility Hydrosalpinx is a rare, yet major cause. It is a problem of fallopian tubes, one of the important parts of female reproductive system. It is not very common problem though.


What is Hydrosalpinx?


The problem of Hydrosalpinx occurs when fallopian tubes are filled with fluid. It causes inflammation in the tubes and the ends of the tubes close. The glands secreteafluid that is accumulated in the tubes. The tubes swell like sausage and it is one of the prime symptoms of Hydrosalpinx.


Fallopian tubes are extremely delicate and prone to damage. The shape of fallopian tube is a funnel-shaped core with two arms called fimbria that reach to the ovaries. These arms are responsible for successful movement of the egg from ovaries to the uterus. These arms are equipped with hair like structure to help the movement of matured eggs and sperms. Because of infection and accumulation of fluid, it loses the hairy texture and restricts the movement of sperms and egg. Pregnancy becomes virtually impossible in the presence of Hydrosalpinx.


Reason for Hydrosalpinx


Chlamydia and Gonorrhea are the two major reasons. Various other reasons as well, e.g. IUD, abdominal surgery and endometriosis are also responsible for it. Inflammation is the common symptom. We need to investigate the basic reason and plan the treatment accordingly.


Hydrosalpinx makes the natural pregnancy impossible and it also cause hindrance to various procedures of infertility treatment. The fluid can reach to the uterus causing changes in the chemical composition. The internal environment of the uterus is critical for successful pregnancy and any minor change may cause severe damage. It causes hormonal imbalance and prevents pregnancy.


Diagnosis and treatment


HSG, ultrasound testing, laparoscopy and X-ray are the common diagnostic procedures used for detection of Hydrosalpinx. Sometimes multiple rounds of testing are required to diagnose the problem correctly.


Treating Hydrosalpinx is tough indeed. It is possible to repair it in a few cases, but we can’t predict about successful pregnancy. Normally we use Neosalpingostomy, a procedure of making incisions at the end of Hydrosalpinx and folding the edges. However, this method fails sometimes and the tube closes again. The size of Hydrosalpinx and the age of patient are two crucial factors to decide the chances of success. Younger women with smaller Hydrosalpinx and an overall healthy reproductive system recover completely whereas older woman with large Hydrosalpinx have very fewer chances of success.


The tremendous development in IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) has actually removed the need of correcting Hydrosalpinx. We take the eggs from ovaries and fertilize in the laboratory. Placement of the embryo at the correct place is important. It can be achieved through correct drugs that keep the hormone level correct. We don’t worry about Hydrosalpinx because the fallopian tubes are bypassed in the whole process.


Hydrosalpinx is indeed a tough problem, but not impossible to deal with. It is a classic infertility problem that limits the pregnancy rates. Expert reproductive endocrinologists and a team of skilled medical professionals can bring brilliant results.



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