(Newswire.net — October 27, 2017) — When there is a blockage in the fallopian tube it does not allow the sperm and the egg to meet. Tubal factor infertility affects more than 25-30% of cases of infertility and the condition could be a case of just one fallopian tube blocked or both the tubes blocked. The reason could also be scaring which narrows down the tubes.
Causes of tubal infertility
There could be many reasons for tubal infertility. An abdominal surgery, infection or endometriosis could be the reason for scarring. Gonorrhoea and Chlamydia are the sexually transmitted diseases that cause tubal infertility. A surgery could also be the reasons why your fallopian tube may get damaged. A Pelvic inflammatory disease may travel from the cervix through the uterus to the fallopian tubes which can scar the inner lining of the tube .The tube opening can be partially or completely blocked and there could also be scar tissues that could form on the outside of the uterus and the tubes.
Symptoms of tubal infertility
Most women who suffer from tubal infertility are asymptomatic. These women may not realize that their fallopian tube is blocked until they go to check for infertility. Women who may have an extensive tubal damage may experience chronic pelvic pain.
Diagnosing tubal infertility
In order to check for a blockage in your fallopian tube, the doctor may perform one of the two procedures.
- Hysterosalpingogram (HSG) – A HSG is an X-ray examination that is performed by a radiologist which is used to investigate the tubal factor infertility. The vagina is opened with the help of a speculum and then a catheter is inserted to inject the liquid through the cervix into the uterus. If the liquid passes and comes out from one or both of the tubes then you can make out if one or both the tube is open. If the liquid however does not come out from the tube, then the tube is blocked. It is however important to note that if the liquid comes out it does not mean that the tubal function is normal. It could be that the inside lining of the tube may be severely damaged even though the tube may flow tough the fallopian tube. There could also be a possibility that the test may suggest a false report. This could happen if the blockage happens in the area where the tube gets inserted into the uterus.
- Laparoscopy – This is an outpatient procedure and is very less invasive. In this method a surgical instrument called a laparoscope is inserted through a small incision below the belly button. The surgeon looks through the laparoscope to check if one or both the fallopian tubes are open. The laparoscope is also used to check for other problems that may affect infertility; this could be because of endometriosis or a scar tissue.
Treating tubal factor infertility
The doctor may suggest the following in case the tubes are scarred, blocked or damaged. These are:
- IVF or in vitro fertilization – Surgery can correct some tubal problems but in case the tubes are severely damaged than the doctor may suggest an IVF to improve the chances of pregnancy.
- Surgery –If the tubes are not damaged very badly then surgery can help you get pregnant naturally. If you are young and have a minimal amount of scar tissue that is blocking the tube then surgery is a recommended option.
Conclusion
Many new technologies are now used to help prospective parents conceive, one such method is called embryoscopy. In this method the success of pregnancy increases by around 5 to 10%. For this procedure, an embryoscope is used that uses digital imaging technology. This helps to monitor the embryo progress. The instruments are used to record, store as well as transmit the digital image of the developing embryo to a lab in intervals. The embryoscope allows the doctor to monitor the progress of an embryo in real time and this helps to point out the exact time where there may be a need for an intervention or in case there is a chance of an abnormality.
These methods can be used to detect the problem and help the woman conceive. The technology is also very successful in improving the chances of a successful pregnancy.