Fallopian tube disorders
A quarter of all women diagnosed with infertility cannot conceive due to obstruction of fallopian tubes or their absence. Modern diagnostic techniques allow detecting fallopian tube disorders at an early stage and start treatment while they can still be cured. Assisted reproductive technologies give women with obstructed or no fallopian tubes a chance at conceiving.
What does fallopian tube obstruction mean?
Fallopian tubes perform a transport function. It is where the egg and the sperm converge and insemination takes place. The embryo starts to develop in the fallopian tube and passes into the uterine cavity later. Fallopian tube obstruction means that these processes cannot take place in the woman’s body, which results in infertility. In case of partial obstruction, there is a risk of extrauterine pregnancy, when the fertilized egg attaches to different parts of the fallopian tube.
How are fallopian tubes examined?
There are several ways to examine the condition of fallopian tubes. The first method, sonosalpingography, involves filling the uterine cavity with a contrast medium and assessing the condition of the uterus and fallopian tubes using ultrasound. Another method, hysterosalpingography, is more informative. In this case the uterus is also filled with a contrast medium, but the condition of the uterus and fallopian tubes is assessed using X-ray imaging. In some cases the fallopian tubes can be examined using a laparoscope.
How can fallopian tube obstruction be treated?
If fallopian tubes become inflamed, conservative treatment is required, which involves antibacterial therapy, physiotherapy (e.g., electrophoresis), health resort treatment, etc. This is followed by sono- or hysterosalpingography (using a contrast medium and ultrasound or X-ray imaging to examine the condition of the uterus and fallopian tubes). In some cases, fallopian tube obstruction can be eliminated using a laparoscope surgery. In case of complete obstruction, assisted reproductive technologies are used, such as IVF.
How can one get pregnant with completely obstructed or absent fallopian tubes?
A few years back, completely obstructed or absent fallopian tubes represented absolute infertility factors. Today this is no longer a verdict. Modern medicine offers assisted reproductive technologies for just such cases. For example, IVF.