A Hydrosalpinx is a distally blocked fallopian tube filled with serous or filled with a watery, clear liquid. The blocked tube may become substantially distended giving the tube a characteristic sausage-like or retort-like shape.The condition usually affects both fallopian tubes.
In most cases of hydrosalpinx, only the fimbrial end (the end closest to the ovary) of the tube is sealed bilateral and the affected tubes may reach several centimeters in diameter. Off in rare cases, both ends may be sealed. The blocked tubes cause tubal-factor infertility.
The major cause behind Hydrosalpinx is Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), it usually occurs due to an ascending infection caused by Chlamydia or gonorrhea. However, not all pelvic infections will cause distal tubal occlusion.These infections usually affect both fallopian tubes, and although a hydrosalpinx can be one-sided, the other tube on the opposite side is often abnormal.
How do you get Hydrosalpinx?
- Use of IUD (Intra Uterine Devices)
- Endometriosis
- Prior Pelvic surgeries
- Adhesions
- Tumors
- Tubal tuberculosis
- Sexually transmitted diseases
What symptoms do you get in Hydrosalpinx?
- Hydrosalpinx symptoms vary from patient to patient. In lots of cases, it just remains asymptomatic, but however, symptoms may show up on some as well
- Some patients have lower often recurring abdominal pain or pelvic pain, while others may be asymptomatic
- Some may experience abnormal vaginal discharge because of pelvic infection or inflammation.
- As hydrosalpinx causes infertility, it is sometimes discovered only when a woman seeks treatment for infertility issues
- Normally egg is released from ovaries & is picked up by finger like projections called fimbria, and then pushed into fallopian tubes where fertilization takes place prior to implantation in the uterus.
- IUDs, endometriosis, and abdominal surgery sometimes are associated with the problem. As a reaction to injury, the body rushes inflammatory cells into the area, and inflammation and later healing resulting into loss of the fimbria and closure of the tube.
- While the cilia of the inner lining (endosalpinx) of the fallopian tube beat towards the uterus, tubal fluid is normally discharged via the fimbriated end into the peritoneal cavity from where it is cleared
- If the fimbriated end of the tube becomes agglutinated, the resulting obstruction does not allow the tubal fluid to pass; it accumulates and reverts its flow downstream, into the uterus, or production is curtailed by damage to the endosalpinx.
- This tube then is unable to participate in the reproductive process: sperm cannot pass, the egg is not picked up, and fertilization does not take place and thus creates problems in conceiving.
How does Hydrosalpinx affect Fertility?
- Normally egg is released from ovaries & is picked up by finger like projections called fimbria, and then pushed into fallopian tubes where fertilization takes place prior to implantation in the uterus.
- IUDs, endometriosis, and abdominal surgery sometimes are associated with the problem. As a reaction to injury, the body rushes inflammatory cells into the area, and inflammation and later healing resulting into loss of the fimbria and closure of the tube.
- While the cilia of the inner lining (endosalpinx) of the fallopian tube beat towards the uterus, tubal fluid is normally discharged via the fimbriated end into the peritoneal cavity from where it is cleared
- If the fimbriated end of the tube becomes agglutinated, the resulting obstruction does not allow the tubal fluid to pass; it accumulates and reverts its flow downstream, into the uterus, or production is curtailed by damage to the endosalpinx.
- This tube then is unable to participate in the reproductive process: sperm cannot pass, the egg is not picked up, and fertilization does not take place and thus creates problems in conceiving.
Is hydrosalpinx fluid toxic in individual cases?
Even though there may not be a common toxic factor in all fluids, the presence of factors inhibitory to embryo development in fluids from certain individuals cannot be excluded. Most experiments are based on small numbers of hydrosalpinx fluids, and individual variations in content may reflect the differences in embryo development.
Why Remove Hydrosalpinx Before IVF?
As mentioned earlier, hydrosalpinx can reduce the success rate of fertility treatment, namely IVF in this context. There is research evidence to suggest that removal of hydrosalpinx before IVF, significantly improve the success rates of IVF and therefore this is recommended to optimize the chances of success after IVF. The rationale for treatments to improve the results of in-vitro fertilization is based on interruption of the leakage of hydrosalpinx fluid into the uterine cavity. This in turn, reduces significantly, the chances of an ectopic pregnancy.
What are the Complications of Hydrosalpinx?
- The very presence of the hydrosalpinx can negatively impact fertility.
- There can be chances of repeated infections, delayed menses, difficulty in conceiving even after IVF or other artificial reproductive techniques and later in pregnancy
- It can also lead to Tubal phimosis which refers to a situation where the tubal end is partially occluded, in this case fertility is impeded, and the risk of an ectopic pregnancy is increased.
- A hematosalpinx is most commonly associated with an ectopic pregnancy
- A pyosalpinx is typically seen in a more acute stage of PID and may be part of a tuboovarianabscess (TOA).
Why Homeopathy Treatment for Hydrosalphix?
HART treatment protocol not only helps in the permanent treatment of Hydrosalphix but also facilitate natural conceiving. We also get a lot of patients who have already planned an IVF cycle and would like higher chances of success in the IVF cycle.
The usual complications of a laparoscopic surgery for hydrosalphix are
• Anesthetic complications
• Injury to major blood vessels
• Injury to bowel/bladder
• Bleeding
• Post-operative infection.
