Hydrosalpino - All You Can Know About It!

Hydrosalpino is this term quite new to most of us? But the problem isn’t as new as the term is. Hydrosalpinx is the blockage of the far end of the fallopian tube which results in the accumulation of fluid within the fallopian tube. The affected fallopian tubes can be either one or even both where the affected area can become substantially swollen or grow a few centimeters in diameter. Abdominal or pelvic pain are commonly observed in patients with hydrosalpinx but frequently it results in infertility.

A crucial role played by the fallopian tube is during pregnancy. as the sperm enters the vagina, it travels to the cervix, through the uterus and into the fallopian tube where an egg would be present in either of the tubes if the intercourse has happened during the time of ovulation. After which fertilization occurs, the embryo is formed and this is implanted in the uterus and pregnancy is established.

Studies have shown that women with one open tube but another tube hydrosalpinx have reduced chances of pregnancy. Here are various reasons which explain why there is a low success rate in patients with hydrosalpinx. Low of fluid into the uterus could hinder implantation of an embryo. Fluids containing a lower level of proteins, various amounts of debris and other toxic substances are harmful to both the embryo as well as the lining of the uterus. Fluids may cause sweeping out of embryos. There is substantial evidence to suggest that the success of IVF treatment is significantly lower for women with hydrosalpinx in comparison with the other causes of infertility.

Investigators recently compiled the results from 14 different studies to try and figure out the success rate of IVF treatment on women with hydrosalpinx. 5592 patients were analyzed went under 8703 IVF embryo transfers of which 1004 patients were diagnosed with hydrosalpinx and 4588 had tubal blockage without hydrosalpinx. Their 4 different outcomes were overall pregnancy rate drop, lower implantation rate, drop in delivery rate and increasing miscarriage rate in women with hydrosalpinx.

The best treatment option for these patients is to undergo tubal disconnection before the IVF treatment. Tubal disconnections present in the fluid of hydrosalpinx from entering the uterus and thus improves chances of implantation after an embryo transfer in an IVF treatment cycle. Ultimately, retaining the affected fallopian tube is more harm and there is no benefit in achieving pregnancy.