Facts and everything on Tubal Factor Infertility
The most delicate and important part of women is fallopian tube as it is the only pathway for the eggs to reach the uterus. It performs crucial role in picking up the egg, transporting the egg, fertilization and lastly embryo transportation to the uterus.
When a woman is ovulating, her ovary releases an egg on each month. Later, the egg is picked up to the end of the fallopian tube by a finger like projection called fimbriae. If the sperm is present at the uterus, it may lead to fertilization. The fertilized egg starts to split up prior continuing its journey to the uterus, where in a few days, implantation occurs.
How is tubal factor infertility caused?
Tubal factor infertility is blockage or damage that keeps the egg from traveling through the fallopian tube to set foot on the uterus. There are myriad causes of tubal factor infertility such as diseases, damage, scars, obstructions, congenital malformation or various other factors which makes it difficult for fertilized or unfertilized ovum to get into the uterus through uterine tube.
A medical condition recognized as endometriosis i.e., scars between the ovary and the fallopian tube. TFI can be caused by sexually transmitted disease commonly known as chlamydia and gonorrhea. Every so often, owing to any surgery in past can also lead to damage of fallopian tube.
Another disease known as Pelvic Inflammatory Disease has possibility to pass by the uterus to the fallopian tube from cervix. This can scar inner lining of the tubes and may block fallopian tube by forming scar tissue on the outside of uterus and tubes. You may not feel any symptoms until it gets worst. Extreme chronic abdominal pain is experienced by the women having extensive tubal damage.
Diagnoses of tubal factor infertility
Since it is asymptotic mostly, it is quite confusing weather to get it diagnosed or not. Consult with the doctor. To check whether your fallopian tubes are blocked or not, our doctor will recommend you two main procedures,
- – HSG- Hysterosalpingogram: A radiologist often use HSG i.e., an X-ray examination to investigate tubal factor infertility. This is performed by using speculum to open vagina, later inserting a thin catheter to pass dye into the uterus through cervix. The dye can be tracked to check whether the fallopian tube is blocked or not. It is considered as blocked fallopian tube when the liquid comes back. If it passes in flow that doesn’t necessarily mean that its tubal function is normal it is open. There are good chances that inner lining of tube is severely damaged or maybe there is scarring. This further condition can not be detected by HSG. For further probe doctor will recommend additional tests.
- – Laparoscopy: It is minimally invasive surgical procedure. Through as small incision, a surgical instrument called laparoscope is inserted to catch a view of fallopian tube. Laparoscopy can determine the scarring, endometriosis, adhesions or damage of fallopian tube and also detect whether the tubes are blocked. It allows to repair the tubes at the same time.
Can tubal factor infertility be treated?
The answer is big yes! it can be treated or you can conceive even If your tubes are found to be blocked, scarred, or damaged. Two main treatments options are available.
- – Surgery: It the damage is minimal then it can be corrected surgically. This is best suited for those who are young, having bit damage, less scar tissues, male partner having healthy sperm. There are great odds to conceive after this. There is only one drawback that in rare case, after tubal surgery, there are possibility of risk of ectopic pregnancy. But don’t worry! At Sneh Hospital, our doctor chooses best for our patients in accordance with their condition.
- – (IVF) In-vitro Fertilization: when the damage cannot be corrected through the surgery because of having extensive tubal damage, then IVF is the best option for you if you want to conceive. At very first, our doctors will recommend you to go for surgery to conceive naturally but in case it is not correctable, you will be advised to undergo IVF as it has highest success rate in achieving pregnancy.