A hydrosalpinx is a blocked, dilated, fluid-filled fallopian tube usually caused by a previous tubal infection. The build-up of fluid is usually at the end of the tube nearest the ovary. The pelvic infections that lead to hydrosalpinx formation are usually caused by sexually transmitted diseases, namely Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseriae gonorrhea.
Diagnosis of hydrosalpinx is usually made by a hysterosalpingogram (HSG), an x-ray procedure in which contrast dye is injected through the cervix into the uterine cavity to demonstrate the shape of the uterus and the patency (degree of openness) of the fallopian tubes. If the tubes are open, the liquid will spill out the ends of the tubes (Figure A). If the tubes are blocked, the liquid is trapped. Hydrosalpinx may also be diagnosed by laparoscopy, which is the insertion of a thin, telescope-like instrument called a laparoscope into the abdomen through an incision to visually inspect the tubes. They may also be visualized by ultrasound.
Many patients with a hydrosalpinx have chronic or recurrent pelvic pain, while others are asymptomatic. Patients with a hydrosalpinx may experience repeated acute tubal infections, which cause fever and pain. If the fallopian tubes are completely blocked, pregnancy will not occur without the use of Assisted Reproductive Techniques.
Comments 3
6 months ago i had a hycosy which showed no tubal blockage.then 3 months later i had a saline sonography.since the sonography i have been in pain and fever and backache.3 months after this i had a laproscopy and have been diagnosed with a hydrosalphinx and they said it could be because of previous chlymidia -however all my (6 monthly)chlymidia and gonnoroea and other tests for the last 10 years have all been negative.
is it possible that the hydrosalphinx was caused by something else?
is it possible that the hycosy or the saline sonography caused the hydrosalpnix.
isit possible the hycosy was not accurate?
how is it possible to have regular chlymida and other tests regualry
and for it to go undetected each time.I dont undertand why they can say its a previous chlmidia infection if all the tests are negative
i took cefalaxin antibiotic before the hycosy but no antibiotic before the saline sonography.would this have made a difference to me not getting a hydrosalphinx?
im so scared.please can you help me .
i am devastated that tubed that were not blocked 6 months prior
Posted 28 Jun 2006 at 7:14 am ¶is now blocked.i am sure somthing happened after because ofthe sonography becasue of the pain after.
please can you help me underastand what has happened.
yes it can be the cause of your tubal block if it was not done under aseptic conditions
Posted 18 Oct 2007 at 12:07 am ¶HI Docs;
I am being seen for infertility problems…
First two kids…conceived the day I called it! However, they were both via C-section. After 2nd baby, doc talked me into a lapro to remove a ’simple cyst’ she noticed… After the Lapro, I’ve had nothing but problems….back pain, side pain. Pain, pain, pain. This doc sent me on a wild goose chase to every other type of doctor imaginable. They all must have thought I was crazy! finding out now…that I must have gotten an infection back then…which started a Hydro type of condition. As I also started to encounter these ‘gushes’ of fluid. Which this doctor, also told me was something completely un-related to fertility related parts. Today, after FINALLY getting in touch with Specialists…I’ve learned that THIS was actually a very key sign of having a Hydrosalpinx. UGH
This initial Doc that I saw delivered both my kids… She first started off fertility treatment measures with me doing an HSG. VERY Painful! Yes, most people say ‘uncomfortable’…but I put my two cents in for ‘painful’ as the descriptor. Everything looked great though…dye went straight through perfectly on both tubes. I had a problem with cysts at the same time too though. They were going to set me on the path of using Clomid…then clinic went weird on me and said they wanted to skip that step and send me directly to the IVF people. It came from left field! Went for a 2nd OBGYn opinion…mostly because of the freakish unprofessional way they handled me. 2nd Doc started monitoring my monthly cycles. Egg follicles were growing… So, started me on Clomid…hormones looked pretty good and eggs growing. Still no pregnancy. I did have a hemorragic cyst on one ovary though… So it was thought we needed to remove that and check for possible endometriosis to boot. Had the lapro to remove the cyst and look for Endo. Found a little Endo and removed the cyst. However, during surgery, new Doc said he noticed my right tube now had blockage (later found out from the IVF the blockages was actually called a Hydrosalpinx). This 2nd doc said that the tube was bent in half and twisted away from the ovary. He also said he took the liberty, without talking to me of course, to try and fix it. He said he manually tried to separate the falanges/fingers of the end of the tube as he said they were stuck together. And then he tried to straighten the tube out. All went very well he said. He later also said he even tried to push dye through it again during the Lapro…which he said it did a perfect job of. However, at Post-Surgery meeting…he mentioned we should consider doing another HSG Dye Test…just to be sure. So, we did. And of course (should have known!) the screen showed that the tube looked like it was still BENT completley in 1/2. So, of course the dye only filled it up like a sausage.
First question: What’s the chances this 2nd Doc messed my tubes up for the worse? Especially since the first HSG was done only a couple months prior to this Lapro….and was a perfect read. I’m just bummed that I could have tried some natural methods first…before he monkeyed with the tube and the falanges without first a discussion.
Second question: IVF doctor is now telling me my only option is to remove the tube, because its showing signs of Hydrosalpinx…and then they would attempt the IVF process. Is this really true? Is there no other option? A more specialized doctor that can fix it perhaps (how do I find a specialized doctor for this too)? Someone mentioned something called ‘Tubal Recantilization’? Is this an option? Or, have heard of Chinese massage methods, cleanses, and herbal supplements…to help clean and clear the tube. Or, if I do remove the tube…what are the chances of additional problems ensuing (blood being cut off from the ovary, etc)? And will the tube removal at the end of the day, cause hormonal problems for me in the future too? And can this Hydrosalpinx condition also cause problems for my Uterus or Ovaries?
Third question: What’s the success rate with IVF after the Hydrosalpinx tube is removed? It would be nice to hear this information for once actually. Have really been searching for this information in particuar…and came up with nothing! Don’t want to remove a tube…if the percentages aren’t good and no baby comes of it. Might as well cut my losses ahead of time and adopt.
Sorry for so many questions…but no one is answering me directly. Getting alot of ‘running around the Mulberry Bush’ verbiage.
Much Thanks for you help~
Posted 13 Aug 2009 at 1:15 pm ¶Post a Comment