A hydrosalpinx is a fallopian tube blockage that causes fertility problems

One of the things that causes female infertility is a blockage of one or both of your fallopian tubes, known as a hydrosalpinx. If your fallopian tube is damaged, fluid can cause swelling and a blockage at the open end of the tube. The physicians at our San Antonio fertility center can diagnose and treat this condition.

How do blocked fallopian tubes prevent pregnancy?

Your fallopian tubes are an important part of your journey to pregnancy. The eggs your ovaries produce have to travel through the fallopian tubes. The fallopian tubes are also the place where the sperm and egg meet for fertilization. After fertilization, the fertilized egg travels through the fallopian tubes to the uterus to implant itself in the uterine wall. All these steps have to happen for a pregnancy to occur naturally.

When the tubes are blocked, it’s difficult for the sperm to reach the egg. If by some chance the egg does fertilize, it has difficulty moving through to the uterus. This is why hydrosalpinx increases your risk of developing an ectopic, or tubal, pregnancy.

Diagnosing and treating a hydrosalpinx can increase your fertility

There are several ways to check the health of your fallopian tubes.

• Your fallopian tubes will show up on an ultrasound if they are swollen due to a build-up of fluid. If we see that during a routine fertility workup, we will recommend additional tests.
• A hysterosalpingogram, or HSG, is the test we usually use to diagnose a blocked fallopian tube. During this test, we insert dye into your uterus to see how the dye moves through the fallopian tubes.
• In some cases, our physicians may recommend a laparoscopic procedure to get a better look at the fallopian tubes and confirm the diagnosis.

Some women can leave the blockage untreated and opt for IVF, bypassing the fallopian tubes altogether. However, leaving the problem untreated increases the chances for continued female infertility.

During IVF, the fertility specialists at our San Antonio fertility center transfer the embryo directly to your uterus, making your fallopian tubes unnecessary. But, an untreated hydrosalpinx can cause excessive fluid in your uterus that can prevent implantation. Treatments range from removal of the affected fallopian tube to repairing the blockage.

See the fertility experts at our San Antonio fertility center for help with female infertility

A blocked fallopian tube that results in a hydrosalpinx can cause fertility problems, but our team can help solve this issue. Accurate diagnosis and expert treatment can lead you to pregnancy, childbirth and the family you hope to have. If you and your partner are having trouble conceiving, contact us for an appointment.