Tubal Infertility

What is tubal infertility?

Your fallopian tubes are the passageways that your eggs travel through to reach your uterus. They also provide a route for sperm to reach your egg. The tubes are lined with tiny ciliated cells that move sperm to the end of the tube to meet your egg. After you ovulate, the ciliated cell wave changes direction to move your egg, fertilized or not, toward your uterus. 

Tubal infertility occurs if your tubes are blocked or if something interferes with the function of your ciliated cells. For example, endometriosis is a common cause of tubal infertility. Not only does the endometrial tissue block your fallopian tubes, but it can also leave scar tissue that can continue to block your tubes. 

Other causes of tubal infertility include:

• Infections
• Sexually transmitted diseases
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Ectopic pregnancy

You have a higher risk of tubal fertility problems if you’ve had other pelvic or abdominal surgery, such as appendix removal.

How is tubal infertility diagnosed?

The team at NOVA IVF provides comprehensive testing to identify the cause of infertility. Following your initial fertility workup, which includes ultrasound imaging, the team might recommend further testing to assess your fallopian tubes. 

One of the available tests is a hysterosalpingogram, which evaluates the openness of your fallopian tubes. A hysterosalpingogram is an outpatient procedure that usually takes around five minutes. It’s a fluoroscopic X-ray to see if your fallopian tubes are open and if the inside of your uterus has any abnormalities. 

The team might also recommend laparoscopy, a minimally invasive procedure that allows your doctor to view your fallopian tubes and look for signs of blockages, scar tissue, or other problems. 

How is tubal infertility treated?

The team at NOVA IVF can treat tubal infertility in several ways. When possible, they might recommend tubal cannulation. This is a balloon catheterization procedure that opens your fallopian tubes. 

However, in some cases, surgery won’t sufficiently open your fallopian tubes, and in vitro fertilization (IVF) is your best option. IVF bypasses the need for surgery and instead harvests your egg and sperm, which are used to create embryos outside of your body. Then, the most viable embryos are implanted in your uterus. 

If you’re having trouble conceiving, call NOVA IVF or make an appointment online today to discover if you have tubal infertility and get the expert treatment you need to grow your family.