Does this sound familiar?

A large percentage of our cases is sailing in the same boat, says Dr. Chaitanya Ganapule, considered among the top 10 Gynaecologists in Pune. A common scenario is, blood reports of the couple and semen reports of the men are normal but no sign of pregnancy despite trying for over a time. A common yet treatable cause for the couple not conceiving despite these normal reports could be blocked fallopian tubes in the women.

According to Dr. Chaitanya Ganapule, an IVF expert from being one of the finest Gynaecologists in Pune, blocked fallopian tubes do not display any specific symptoms. Numerous women do not know they’ve blocked tubes until they try to get pregnant.

About 20 % of couples under 38 yrs of age group and 40 % of couples over the age group of 38 often struggle with the problem of pregnancy, after 12 months of laborious trying. But for women over age 35, if she isn’t pregnant within six months of active sex life, it is a case of infertility.

The fallopian tubes are a delicate and most critical element of the woman’s reproductive system which comprises four distinct organs. The ovaries act as in-house manufacturers and develop the eggs. The fallopian tubes offer a safe travel passage from the ovaries to the uterus. The uterus offers an ambiance where an embryo can be formed and develop into a child, and the vagina acts as a birth canal.

The fallopian tubes play an important part in the development of a child. It’s in the fallopian tube where the sperm and ovum met and become fertilized. The tubes also give a safe passage of the recently formed embryo into the uterus. The uterus has a thick lining of the endometrial filling, where the fetus will grow.

Blocked fallopian tubes, also known as Hydrosalpinx is the condition wherein the fallopian tubes have fluid build-up, so the dilation of the tube is frequently seen. The fluid is the secretion of infective focus and is very toxic.

Fallopian tubes play a vital part in a woman’s reproductive system. Owing to their delicate condition, they often get blocked, leading to the condition called blocked tubes. The tubal factor aspect is often documented when one or both of the fallopian tubes are blocked. This condition increases infertility.

Any blockage issue in the fallopian tubes causes infertility, by not allowing the egg to enter the uterus and thus hindering fertilization and implantation. When the fallopian tubes are blocked, the cells inside the tube catch the fluid that gets accumulated in the tube, which dilates. This prevents fertilization & gestation.

An ovulated egg now cannot move from the ovary to the fallopian tube to meet the sperms & if an ovulated egg is ever suitable to connect with sperm for fertilization, the fallopian tubes would still block the process, It can cause ectopic pregnancy, in which the embryo implants outside the uterus. This is an ectopic pregnancy & it is a medical emergency.

When hydrosalpinx is present in one of the fallopian tubes, it’s frequently common in the other part as well, known as bilateral hydrosalpinx. However, it’s important to see your gynecologist.

The agreement among the top 10 Gynaecologists in Pune is that Fallopian tube block is the cause of disability in conception for around 12 to 30 % of couples. Open fallopian tubes are necessary for female fertility.  For patency, normal functioning is vital. When these tubes are blocked, they don’t permit sperm to travel to the ovary nor can they transport the fertilized egg for transportation into the uterus.

When the egg is fertilized, and after the first stages of embryo development, this embryo has an almost four-day-long trip to the uterus. During these ninety-six hours, the fallopian tubes are the sole provider of nutrition and protection.

Hydrosalpinx can also negatively impact fertility treatment. According to the National Institutes of Health, “when hydrosalpinx fluid is present in a woman witnessing supported reproductive technologies similar as IVF, it reduces the success of similar treatments by half compared with a woman who doesn’t have hydrosalpinx.”

Due to this reason, surgical removal of hydrosalpinx is frequently asked for, before the IVF. Blocked fallopian tubes cause embryo and egg toxicity resulting in poor embryo implantation and impaired growth.

Causes & symptoms of blocked fallopian tubes:

Conditions like endometriosis, adhesions in the pelvic region, and some infections, similar to appendicitis or Pelvic inflammation conditions may also affect Hydrosalpinx. Utmost women don’t notice any symptoms, except for the difficulty in conceiving. Others may witness pain in their pelvis or lower tummy, or have a discolored or sticky vaginal discharge. An ectopic gestation is a suggestion that hydrosalpinx may be present.

To identify the problem, doctors may use X-rays taken after a radiopaque discrepancy agent is fitted through the cervix (hysterosalpingography). This procedure is done many days after a woman’s menstrual period ends.

Still, in about 15 % of cases, hysterosalpingography indicates that the fallopian tubes are blocked when they’re not, called a false-positive result. After hysterosalpingography.

Fertility in youthful women is slightly improved if the results are normal, because of the clearing of the tubes of mucus and debris.

Dr. Chaitanya Ganapule says that another system is Ultrasonography but frequently the Opinion is done with, Laparoscopy or hysteroscopy.

Occasionally a blood test is done to check for antibodies to chlamydia.

Procedures are done to determine whether the fallopian tubes are blocked. They include hysterosalpingography, sonohysterography, laparoscopy, and hysteroscopy. During laparoscopy and hysteroscopy, opinion and treatment are frequently done at the same time.

Laparoscopy

A small viewing tube called a laparoscope is fitted in the pelvic depression through a small gash just below the nexus, its substantiation suggests that the fallopian tubes are blocked or that a woman may have endometriosis.  Often general anaesthesia is used. Laparoscopy enables the doctor to view the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries directly. Instruments fitted through the laparoscope may also be used to dislodge or remove abnormal debris in the pelvis.

Blood tests

Occasionally doctors do blood tests to check for antibodies to chlamydia. The presence of antibodies indicates past infection with chlamydia, which can affect the fallopian tubes.

Treatment

Laparoscopy or hysteroscopy

We have numerous cases who came to us for belated gestation & we plant the cause as blocked fallopian tubes. After due treatment, the couples become proud parents of healthy children.

Mr&Mrs. Rana is a happy & cheerful working couple, married for the last 4 yrs. Mrs. Rana (32 yrs) visited the clinic with the concern of not being able to conceive.  Examinations revealed a history of tubal block. They had experienced many IVF- related treatments before visiting our clinic, but without any success.

After primary discussion, Dr. Ganapule & team got many tests done for both. This led to the opinion of tubal blockage for which a suitable treatment plan was cooked for the couple. It was effective and Mr. & Mrs. Rana are happy parents now.

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