Tag Archive for: Causes of Blocked Fallopian Tubes

IVF After Tubal Ligation – Procedure, Recovery & Side Effects

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Conceiving naturally after tubal ligation is quite uncommon. But you want to start your family and are worried if there is anything that can help you. In this situation, Assisted Reproductive Technology comes to the rescue. IVF is seen as a promising treatment option to get pregnant after tubal ligation. Also, if a woman conceives naturally, the risk of ectopic pregnancy is quite high. 

When the fertilized egg does not get implanted in the uterus but outside it, then this pregnancy is known as an ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy can be life-threatening and warrants urgent medical intervention. 

So, after tubal ligation, natural pregnancy is not the best option. The best thing to do is to schedule an appointment with a health provider to navigate through all the available options to conceive. 

Meanwhile, you can go through this article to understand how IVF after tubal ligation can be a good option. We are going to look at its procedure, recovery, and side effects, if any. 

What is Tubal Ligation? 

A tubal ligation is a surgical procedure in which the fallopian tubes are cut or tied off, rendering the woman sterile and preventing her from becoming pregnant. Fallopian tubes play a vital role during pregnancy because they transport the egg from the ovary to the uterus, where sperm may fertilize it to form a zygote. 

After a tubal ligation, the tubes are mechanically blocked, making it nearly impossible for the egg to become fertilized in the fallopian tube, get implanted in the uterus, and become pregnant.

You are not the only one who wants to have a baby after tubal ligation. Ten to fifteen per cent of women who had their tubes tied later wish to become pregnant again for various reasons, such as going through a miscarriage or marital problems like remarriage. 

Why IVF after Tubal Ligation? 

When tubal ligation, which involves the tying up of the fallopian tubes, is carried out, In vitro fertilization can be extremely beneficial. 

However, IVF after tubal ligation is not the only option. 

One of the most invasive procedures for fallopian tube tie-ups is reverse surgery. However, the fallopian tubes don’t need to be reconnected when using IVF for this purpose, and the procedures are non-invasive.

IVF Procedure after Tubal Ligation

IVF Procedure after Tubal Ligation

To fertilize in glass is the meaning of In vitro fertilization. Let us discuss in brief how using a specialized IVF procedure can help you get pregnant. 

  • The woman’s produced eggs are taken straight from her ovaries and fertilized with sperm in a carefully monitored laboratory setting. 
  • Following fertilization, the patient is consulted regarding the results of the embryos before they are ultimately placed inside the woman’s uterus.
  • In this manner, the fallopian tube blockage issue can be resolved, and a healthy pregnancy can be achieved.

Tubal Ligation Reversing V/S IVF. 

The highly invasive procedure known as tubal ligation reversal necessitates hospitalization and a protracted recuperation period. Depending on the type of tubal ligation that was performed, the recovery period following these procedures can range from one to two weeks. This phase typically calls for a great deal of pain tolerance, prolonged post-operative care, and patience.

Surgery is not required for IVF treatments in 99 per cent of cases. These treatments seldom leave scars on your reproductive organs and cannot harm them thanks to less invasive methods and drugs. Following IVF, recovery takes less than two days.

Premenstrual symptoms are typically the procedure’s side effects, and they are easily assisted.

Success Rates of Tubal Reversal

Tubal reversal success rates are lower

Many factors affect the success rates of tubal ligation reversal. 

Suppose there are no other infertility concerns for the woman. Tubal ligation is unable to address additional fertility problems if the lady is under 40. According to statistics, the success rates of reversed tubal ligation are twice as low for women over 40 as they are for IVF patients. The success rates of the two methods are comparable for 100% fertile women between the ages of 35 and 40. 42–69% of women who undergo reversal surgery go on to become pregnant. However, the success rate of IVF is more promising. Several factors, including general health, fertility history, and the particular tubal ligation technique employed, influence IVF success rates. 

In some circumstances, the cost of reversing a tubal ligation may be more than that of an IVF procedure. For instance, a reverse tubal ligation procedure may be more expensive for women over 40 than an IVF procedure.

Ectopic Pregnancy Risk

One possible reason why a reversed tubal ligation pregnancy is not safe is because of the development of an ectopic pregnancy. Up to 3% of women who underwent reverse tubal ligation were reported to have experienced ectopic pregnancy. Indicates that the fertilized egg implants, typically in a fallopian tube, outside the uterus. Ectopic pregnancies can be dangerous, and treatment must start right away. Fainting may occur from internal bleeding, and the fallopian tube may also rupture because of an ectopic pregnancy. Such an incident is not prevalent in IVF. 

IVF treatments can be combined in a variety of ways. These are the following:

  • The sperm and eggs of the woman’s partner
  • Donor sperm and woman’s eggs
  • IVF using the partner’s sperm, donor eggs, and the woman’s eggs
  • The sperm of the woman’s partner and donor eggs
  • Both donor sperm and donor eggs

The fertility examination is the stage at which, typically, the best course of action is suggested in light of the findings. The next step is ovarian stimulation with the right medications if all the examinations that are part of this evaluation are routine.

The most crucial step in treating tubal ligation is retrieving the eggs and sperm. During the retrieval of a woman’s reproductive material, she is lightly sedated and remains unconscious during the entire process. With the use of ultrasound-guided aspiration, the physician extracts the eggs from the ovaries. It takes roughly 20 minutes to complete this process, and it can successfully collect multiple eggs.

Fertilization takes place in a carefully monitored laboratory setting using intracytoplasmic sperm injection external to the woman’s body. Following fertilization, the embryos are allowed to mature to a specific point before their quality is closely assessed. The patient is consulted regarding the number and types of embryos to be transferred before the final transfer.

Potential Risks

Side Effects of Tubal Ligation

Embryos that successfully implant into two or more pregnancies present unique risks and challenges. Furthermore, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is a possible side effect that has to be closely watched for and managed. Knowing about these possible obstacles enables you to approach the process with preparedness and reasonable expectations.

The likelihood of a tubal ligation reversal operation failing increases with shorter remaining fallopian tube length, advanced maternal age, thermal injury to the tubes, scarred tubal tissue, and inexperienced surgeons. IVF is ultimately the best and last option for these patients whose reversal operation failed.

The decision to undergo tubal ligation reversal surgery or pursue IVF following tubal removal ultimately comes down to personal preferences, medical advice, and circumstances.

Final Words

It is important to see a fertility specialist and obtain medical advice before starting the IVF process after tubal ligation. They will assess your particular situation and offer tailored advice. We’ll perform tests and medical examinations to evaluate your general health, hormone levels, and reproductive health. The fertility team can create a treatment plan that is appropriate and customized to meet your individual needs, thanks to this comprehensive evaluation.

Visit Imprimis IVF for the best IVF treatment. Our committed team of infertility experts is here to offer you thorough information, individualized counselling, and sympathetic support.

What is the HSG Test for Infertility – Procedure, Recovery & Results

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HSG Test – Many delicate organs and tissues are involved in the process of reproduction. Female infertility can be caused by even the slight functioning of the reproductive system. One of them is a blocked fallopian tube. A fallopian tube plays a vital role in pregnancy. It is the location where the sperm meets the egg for fertilisation. If this tube is blocked, the sperm can not reach the egg for fertilisation and form an embryo.

There can be several reasons why your fallopian tubes are blocked. For instance, endometriosis, fibroids, past surgeries, ectopic pregnancy, and pelvic inflammatory disease can lead to blockage of one or both fallopian tubes. 

However, medical advancements have made it possible to overcome this issue of blocked fallopian tubes. A test called the HSG helps with the diagnosis of the underlying condition. 

In this article, we are going to discuss all about the HSG test for infertility. The entire procedure, recovery, and results that follow.

What is the HSG Test for Infertility?

Hysterosalpingography, or HSG, takes the help of a specialised X-ray test to see the internal shape of the uterine cavity and confirm whether one or both of the fallopian tubes are blocked. 

Hysterosalpingography can help identify the root cause behind infertility, abnormal vaginal bleeding, or recurrent miscarriage. It is also known as uterosalpingography and is carried out by a radiologist. 

Uterosalpingography test is also taken in the following cases:

  • Tubal ligation-Tubal ligation is a medical surgery to close the fallopian tubes. HSG is recommended to check whether the fallopian tubes have closed properly.
  • Reversal of Tubal ligation-: HSG test is also recommended to check if the fallopian tubes were reopened successfully.

What is the Need to Take the HSG Test?

The HSG test is often recommended for women with fertility issues as

  • It helps to analyse if both the fallopian tubes are open so that the egg and sperm can meet for fertilisation.
  • This test helps see if the uterus has a normal shape. 
  • Hysterosalpingography helps confirm the presence or absence of polyps, fibroids, or scar tissue in the uterine cavity. 

When is the HSG Test done? 

It is carried out 5-7 days after your periods are over but before ovulation. The ideal time will be during the first half of your menstrual cycle, i.e. between days 1 and 14. 

The reason for this is that after periods, the chances of conceiving are quite low. The first condition for the HSG test is that you should not be pregnant. Also, the risk of infection post-periods is lower.  

Who Should Not Take the HSG Test? 

Hysterosalpingography is a great treatment option to identify the reason behind infertility. However, HSG is not for everyone. 

  • If you are already pregnant, inform the doctor before undergoing HSG treatment, as it can be dangerous for the fetus. 
  • If you have pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), avoid having this test. 
  • If you have unexplained vaginal bleeding, HSG treatment should be avoided. 

Is the HSG Test Painful?

Yes, HSG can be slightly painful. But you will be given a painkiller like ibuprofen an hour before the procedure. A sedative or narcotic drug will also be prescribed if you are feeling anxious. An antibiotic before and after the HSG procedure helps prevent infection. 

If you were asked to take narcotics, it would be risky to drive home by yourself. So it’ll be better if you ask a loved one to accompany you for your HSG test. 

The nurse will ask you to remove any metal accessories you are wearing before the test. The reason behind this is that metal can interfere with the proper functioning of the X-ray machine.

Procedure for HSG

You will be asked to lie down in a frog leg position with your knees bent and feet spread under an X-ray imager known as a fluoroscope. Instead of creating still pictures, fluoroscopy helps produce a real-time video image. That’s the reason why fluoroscopy is also called live X-ray. It helps the radiologist check the movement of the dye in the reproductive system. 

A speculum will be inserted into your vagina to keep it open, and the cervix will be cleaned thoroughly with an antiseptic solution. You may feel a little discomfort or period-like cramps during this step. 

The cervix is the small canal or passage that connects your vagina with your uterus. 

After this, the speculum will be removed, and a thin tube known as a cannula will be inserted into the cervix. Then, a contrast liquid dye containing iodine is filled into the uterus and fallopian tubes.

What is a Contrast Dye?

Contrast dye is a substance that, when injected into your body, helps to highlight desired organs and tissues on the X-ray imager for examination. This dye will appear white on the machine. 

It will help the fertility specialist see the images of the uterus and the fallopian tube. If your fallopian tubes are blocked, this liquid dye won’t be able to enter inside the tubes. It also helps determine the location of the blockage. But if the tubes are open, then the dye will spill into your pelvis. 

You will be asked to move a little or change positions to capture different sides and angles of the uterus and fallopian tubes. 

After the fertility expert has got clear images, the cannula will be removed, and the procedure will be completed. This contrast dye will come out with your urine. 

The whole procedure of HSG takes about 5 to 10 minutes. 

The X-ray images are produced within a few minutes and highlight the presence of 

  • congenital uterine anomalies
  • polyps
  • tumours
  • fibroids 
  • uterine scar tissue in the uterine cavity. 

Apart from showing whether or not the fallopian tubes are blocked, the HSG also detects pelvic scar tissue in the abdominal region near the fallopian tubes. 

What can’t be analysed during HSG? 

The HSG can’t analyse the ovaries or treat endometriosis. Also, it won’t be able to highlight fibroids present outside the endometrial cavity, i.e. in the muscular or the outer part of the uterus. 

Some common signs of discomfort 

After the procedure is completed, you might feel some discomfort in your abdomen. You might also have the following side effects: 

  • Dizziness
  • Nausea
  • Cramps
  • Spotting

Risks involved in HSG test

The HSG test does not have major risk factors. But some risks that can be witnessed after the HSG procedure are: 

  • Allergic response towards the dye 
  • Injury to the uterine cavity, like perforation 
  • Fallopian tube or uterine lining infection

What happens after the HSG procedure

HSG is a relatively safe procedure; however, sometimes, there is a possibility that a woman can have an allergic response towards the dye. In such a situation, you must keep an eye on the following symptoms: 

  • Slight vaginal bleeding-: After HSG, you will have light vaginal discharge or bleeding for a few days. 
  • No tampons-After the HSG procedure, do not use tampons for at least 48 hours. Sanitary pads help prevent infection and will be a comfortable option. 
  • According to some doctors, vaginal intercourse and douching should also be avoided after HSG for 48 hours. 
  • Abdominal cramps or pain- Having cramps for a few hours after HSG is fine, and the pain will go away after some time. 

Visit an IVF Specialist if you have the following symptoms: 

  • Heavy Bleeding-Seek medical guidance if you have heavy bleeding or if it lasts longer than a couple of days.
  • High Fever– If you have a fever that is accompanied by constant pain, then this indicates an early infection. This situation warrants urgent medical attention. 
  • Foul-smelling Vaginal discharge-: Vaginal discharge after HSG is normal, but if your discharge has a foul smell, please pay a visit to the doctor. 
  • Frequent Vomiting– If you are constantly vomiting, connect with your doctor without delay. 
  • Severe Abdominal Cramps– Consult with your doctor if the pain becomes unbearable or doesn’t go away on its own after some time. 
  • Fainting– If you are fainting every time you try to get up, it’s best to visit a doctor. 

Alternatives to HSG 

Sonohysterograms, laparoscopy, and hysteroscopy are the alternate procedures for HSG that help gather similar results. However, the HSG test is preferred more as sonohysterograms can’t help determine if the fallopian tubes are blocked. 

Saline contrast ultrasound can also be performed to gather information about the uterus. 

The Results of the HSG Test

Based on your HSG test results, the doctor may advise you to take some other tests and develop a treatment plan for you. 

If scar tissue is present in or around the fallopian tube, the fertility specialist can perform surgery to remove it. 

Depending on the extent and type of blockage in the fallopian tubes, surgery can be performed to open them and improve the chances of fertilisation. 

The doctor will advise a suitable Assisted Reproductive Technology treatment like IVF after thoroughly analysing the test reports. 

Does HSG Increase the Chances of Conception? 

The HSG test is mainly recommended for diagnostic purposes and perform surgery to improve fertility. However, some studies highlight a slight improvement in fertility after HSG. 

Final Word

Conceiving has become challenging for millions of women. However, medical advancements have led to tests like HSG that can help get to the root cause of infertility and assist with diagnosis. These types of improvements help design surgical operations and fertility treatments that best suit the medical condition of the couple. For more information about this test, visit a trusted medical expert. 

If you are looking for medical expertise in Srinagar to help develop the best fertility treatment option for you, then do visit us at Imprimis IVF, Srinagar. A fertility centre where shattered dreams of pregnancy are turned into positive pregnancy test results. Hope to see you soon at Imprimis!

Blocked Fallopian Tubes: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

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Blocked fallopian tubes are one of the reasons for female infertility. Its medical name is Tubal occlusion. Although several risk factors can increase your chances of getting the disease, there are usually no symptoms.

The fallopian tubes are muscular tubes with a fine hair-like structure inside. These “hairs” help in both directions: They help the sperm to travel up into the uterus. Fimbriae, which look like fingers, adjoin each fallopian tube. When the ovary releases an egg, the fimbria captures and guides it.

Since most eggs are fertilized in the fallopian tubes, they are essential for fertilization. If any injured part is there, for example, by surgery or infection, scar tissue may form.

Describe Hydrosalpinx.

The Greek originates the hydrosalpinx, which means water and tube. A woman’s fallopian tubes are blocked by hydrosalpinx, which is caused by fluid buildup and enlargement at the end of the tube. The end of the tube fibroid closest to the ovary is where it usually occurs, although it can also occur at the end of the tube that connects to the uterus.

One type of infertility caused by tubal factors is blocked fallopian tubes. Fallopian tube cells secrete fluid when blocked, causing the tubes to widen. Preventing an ovulated egg from being fertilized by sperm from the ovary to the fallopian tube prevents fertilization and thus prevents pregnancy. Most likely, hydrosalpinx prevents a fertilized egg from travelling to the uterus for implantation and pregnancy, even if an ovulated egg has come into contact with sperm.

Additionally, it can lead to a dangerous ectopic pregnancy, in which the embryo implants in the fallopian tubes and becomes seriously fatal. Bilateral hydrosalpinx is the condition of having hydrosalpinx in both fallopian tubes simultaneously.

Hydrosalpinx is detrimental to fertility treatments. According to a study, the success rate of assisted reproductive technologies, such as IVF, is reduced by 50% in women with hydrosalpinx fluid compared to women without it. So doctors recommend that patients who use IVF have the hydrosalpinx surgically removed before starting treatment.

If a woman becomes pregnant (naturally or through fertility therapy), the presence of hydrosalpinx impacts the pregnancy outcome. Scientists don’t fully understand why this happens. Still, they believe that hydrosalpinx poisons the egg and embryo and damages the endometrium in such a way as to disgorge the implantation and development of the developing embryo.

Symptoms of Blocked Fallopian Tubes :

Symptoms of Blocked Fallopian Tubes

Unlike anovulation, which can be indicated by irregular periods, blocked fallopian tubes rarely cause symptoms. The first symptom of blocked fallopian tubes is infertility. In addition to regular fertility tests, if you haven’t gotten pregnant after a year of trying, your doctor may order a special X-ray to check the tubal occlusion.

Pain in the lower abdomen and abnormal vaginal discharge are possible signs of a specific type of fallopian tube blockage called hydrosalpinx, although not all women have these signs. Fertilization and pregnancy are prevented because the fluid blocks the sperm and egg.

Blocked fallopian tubes can have many causes, some of which have unusual symptoms. For example, painful periods and painful sexual activity can be caused by endometriosis and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).

Symptoms of pelvic infection include the following:
  • general pelvic pain and discomfort during sex
  • nausea and vomiting
  • fever over 101
  • Pelvic pain with severe pain in the lower abdomen or foul-smelling vaginal discharge

Causes of Blocked Fallopian Tubes :

Causes of blocked Fallopian Tubes

PID is the leading cause of the fallopian tube barrier. However, not all pelvic infections are associated with STDs, pelvic inflammatory disease results from an STD. Additionally, a PID or pelvic infection history increases the risk of tubal obstruction even without PID.

Additional factors that can block the fallopian tubes include:
  • Currently infected or previously infected with gonorrhoea or chlamydia as an STD
  • History of uterine infection resulting in miscarriage or stillbirth
  • History of appendix rupture.
  • history of abdominal surgery
  • ectopic pregnancy in the past
  • previous fallopian tube surgery, including tubal ligation
  • endometriosis

Diagnosis of Fallopian Tubes:

A hysterosalpingogram, or HSG, is a specialized X-ray commonly used to identify blocked tubes. One of the basic fertility tests required of all couples who have problems getting pregnant is the HSG. A small tube injects dye into the cervix during the test. After applying the dye, an X-ray of the pelvic area is taken. If all goes well, the dye should pass through the uterus and fallopian tubes before spreading around the ovaries and into the pelvic cavity. Your fallopian tubes can become blocked if the dye cannot pass through the tubes.

It is essential to know that 15% of women experience a “false positive,” in which the dye fails to enter the tube after passing through the uterus. The site of the blockage appears to be the junction of the uterus and fallopian tubes. If this happens, the doctor may order a new test to confirm or repeat the test one more time. Hysteroscopy, exploratory laparoscopic surgery, and ultrasound are examples of additional tests that may be ordered. It is also possible to request a blood test to detect antibodies against chlamydia.

Effects on Fertility:

The ovaries, uterus, and fallopian tubes comprise the female reproductive system. Getting pregnant can be more difficult if any of these three points are affected by a medical condition. The fallopian tubes connect each of the two ovaries to the uterus. An egg releases one egg every month from the ovary, which stores and releases them randomly.

For example, the left ovary can release an egg in one month, while the right ovary releases an egg for three consecutive months. An egg can be fertilized even if one of the fallopian tubes is blocked. It is less likely to happen if both are blocked.

Treatment of Blocked Fallopian Tubes : 

Treatment of Blocked Fallopian Tubes

If you are healthy and one of your tubes is open, you may be able to get pregnant without too much help. Your doctor may prescribe fertility drugs to increase your chances of ovulating on the side of the still-open tube. But if both tubes are blocked, there is no other option.

It is essential to understand that although this medication is provided to aid conception, a blocked fallopian tube cannot be unblocked. Exercise, just like a clogged tube, cannot be unblocked. Surgery is the only option to help clear blocked tubes, but it is only sometimes effective. Below are those you need to know about tubal ligation, IVF, and blocked tubal surgery.

Laparoscopic Surgery

In some circumstances, laparoscopic surgery can remove scar tissue or open blocked channels. Unfortunately, this action plan is only sometimes effective. The chances of success are affected by your age (the younger, the better), the location and severity of the blockage, and its underlying cause. Getting pregnant after surgery is good if there are only a few adhesions.

After surgery to relieve the tubal blockage, the chances of ectopic pregnancy increase. If you become pregnant, your doctor should monitor you closely and be available to advise you on what would be best for you.

However, surgery is not the best solution every time. Vital scars, moderate to severe endometriosis, or moderate to severe male infertility can benefit from IVF. 10 Your doctor can discuss your case with you to determine whether it would be better to have surgery to fix it or go straight to IVF treatment.

In Vitro Fertilization

Before the development of in vitro fertilization (IVF), women with blocked tubes had no choice but to become pregnant if reconstructive surgery did not work or was not an option. IVF makes pregnancy possible.

Fertility drugs are taken to stimulate ovulation during IVF. Sperm from the male spouse or sperm donor is combined with the egg in a laboratory. Ideally, some eggs will fertilize, and others will produce healthy embryos. The uterus receives one or two selected workable embryos.

Blockages in the fallopian tubes are irrelevant. However, studies show that irritated tubes can significantly reduce the chances of IVF success. If you have hydrosalpinx, your doctor may recommend surgical tube removal. IVF may be attempted once you have recovered from your procedure.

Tubal Ligation Reversal

Reversing a tubal ligation is a permanent method of birth control, also known as “tying your tubes.” Various tubal ligations can be performed. A surgeon can cut the tubes, bandage them, sear them, or place special coils inside them, among other options.

The good news is that although this form of birth control is meant to be permanent, many women can take it off. Compared to women who undergo tubal surgery to remove blockages caused by the disease, surgical repair of tubal ligation has a higher chance of success. A microsurgical repair can be up to 50% cheaper per delivery than IVF.

Conclusion

In the above article, we have talked about blocked fallopian tubes. Blocked fallopian tubes are a possible reason for female infertility. The woman’s fallopian tubes are blocked by hydrosalpinx. There are many symptoms like fever, vomiting, pain, etc. We have shared all the details of fallopian tubes in the above article. If you want to know more about blocked fallopian tubes, this article is for you.

If you want a suggestion for treatment for blocked fallopian tubes, you can rely on Imprimis IVF & Fertility Centre. Check out this hospital for Female Infertility Treatment. It is the best Best IVF Centre in Srinagar for blocked fallopian tubes. Here you will get the cooperative staff for treatment. The treatment is affordable and delivers the best quality hospitality services in Srinagar.