Hydrosalpinx: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment of Hydrosalpinx
What is Hydrosalpinx?
Hydrosalpinx means the tubes (fallopian tubes) that carry eggs get blocked and fill up with fluid. This can happen for many reasons. Now, because of the blockage, it’s difficult for eggs to travel through the normal reproductive tract, including the uterus and fallopian tubes. This can make it difficult for a woman to get pregnant. And, this blockage can happen in one or both of the fallopian tubes.
What Are the Hydrosalpinx Symptoms to Look Out For?
Hydrosalpinx symptoms are not obvious. A lot of the time, you wouldn’t even know you have hydrosalpinx because it doesn’t cause any noticeable problems. For many women, the first hint is that they are having trouble getting pregnant.
But sometimes, there can be signs like:
- A nagging pelvic pain or a pain in your lower belly that might feel worse when you have your period.
- Some kind of unusual discharge from the vagina. It may be sticky or look different from the usual color.
- It might hurt or feel uncomfortable while having sex.
- Your periods might not be regular, although this doesn’t happen as often.
In some uncommon situations, the first time a woman realizes she has hydrosalpinx is when she experiences an ectopic pregnancy (when the pregnancy happens outside the uterus).
Hydrosalpinx Causes and Risk Factors
Hydrosalpinx causes usually start with infections that are not treated. These infections make the fallopian tubes swell and get damaged. Some common causes are:
- Sexually transmitted infections STIs
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease PID
- Endometriosis (where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus)
- Scar tissue (fibrous tissue that forms after injury) from previous pelvic surgeries.
- Adhesions from previous surgery or infections.
- Infections outside the reproductive system.
Hydrosalpinx Diagnosis
First, the gynecologist will ask about your medical history and give you a physical exam. Then, they usually use imaging tests to get a better look inside. These are some common ways they diagnose hydrosalpinx:
- Transvaginal or pelvic ultrasound: This is done to see if the fallopian tubes look swollen and fluid-filled.
- Hysterosalpingography (HSG): This is a special X-ray with the help of a dye to check for blockages in the fallopian tubes.
- Laparoscopy: This is a minimally invasive surgery where the doctors make small incisions (usually in the abdomen). Then they insert a thin tube with a camera on the end. It lets them see your fallopian tubes directly. They can even put dye in during this surgery to see if it flows out of the tubes. This helps them find out if the fallopian tubes are blocked or not.
- Sonohysterography: This is similar to a regular ultrasound, but a small amount of fluid is first inserted into your uterus. This can help make the lining of your uterus and the opening of your fallopian tubes more straightforward on the ultrasound picture.
- MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) or CT scans: It’s less common, but it gives really detailed images of your insides.
What is the Equation of Hydrosalpinx and Infertility?
Hydrosalpinx can get in the way of getting pregnant. Think of your fallopian tubes as the meeting place for the egg and sperm. When hydrosalpinx happens, fluid fills up and blocks these tubes, so the egg and sperm can’t connect.
Even if only one of your tubes has this fluid buildup and the other one is working fine, it can still cause problems. The fluid from the blocked fallopian tube can leak into your womb. This fluid isn’t good for the fertilized egg trying to settle in and grow, which makes it harder to get pregnant.
Also, if you have hydrosalpinx, there’s a higher chance of having a pregnancy outside the womb, called an ectopic pregnancy. This happens when the fertilized egg gets stuck in the tube instead of going to the womb.
While it’s still possible to get pregnant naturally with one healthy tube, hydrosalpinx usually makes the whole process much more difficult.
Treatments Available to Cure Hydrosalpinx
Your doctor will recommend the treatment based on the underlying cause of your issue. The treatment can also depend on your fertility goals.
- Hydrosalpinx Treatment: It depends on several factors, such as the severity of the condition, its cause, and whether you are trying to have a baby.
- Laparoscopic Surgery: Doctors use this method to check for and clear any blockages. These blockages could be caused by scarring tissue or adhesions that get trapped in the fallopian tube.
- Salpingectomy: This option lets you take out the whole damaged tube. This can help if you are undergoing IVF, but it’s a comparatively larger surgical procedure.
- Sclerotherapy: Here, doctors drain the fluid from the tube and then use a special liquid to try to close it off.
- IVF (In Vitro Fertilization): This is a common way to get pregnant with hydrosalpinx. Sometimes, fertility specialists might take out the blocked tube first to make IVF more successful. Otherwise, the blocked fallopian tube can cause some trouble for the fertilized egg.
How Doctors Treat the Cause:
- If it is from endometriosis (a lining of tissue outside the uterus), doctors do a pelvic surgery. They remove the extra tissue from the path between the ovary to the uterus.
- If it’s from an infection, doctors will give you medicine (antibiotics).
Final Thoughts
Hydrosalpinx can make it harder to get pregnant, but don’t lose hope! With the proper treatment, like surgery or IVF, lots of women still have babies. It’s important to deal with it early to avoid problems. If you are considering IVF, Archish IVF is here to offer expert help and care tailored just for you.
FAQs
Hydrosalpinx is found in about 10–30% of women who have fallopian tube problems. Since tube issues cause about 25% of infertility cases, hydrosalpinx is a fairly common reason for trouble getting pregnant.
No, you can't really treat hydrosalpinx naturally because it's a physical blockage in your tubes. Things like diet or herbs won't open them up. You usually need medical help like surgery or IVF to deal with it.
Yes, pregnancy is possible with hydrosalpinx, but it’s more difficult. Treatment, like removing the damaged tube, can make your chances better, especially if you are doing IVF.
To lower your chances of getting hydrosalpinx, practice safe sex, get check-ups, treat infections fast, and skip douching. These help avoid infections that can lead to it.
If you don't treat hydrosalpinx, it can make it hard to get pregnant, and it can cause pain in your pelvis as well. Also, it makes it more likely for you to have a pregnancy outside the womb.
No, hydrosalpinx is not life-threatening. However, if left untreated, it can cause infertility and increase the risk of complications like ectopic pregnancy.