HSG and blocked fallopian tube
Footie Fan UK
I have been lurking for a while as I'm at the very, very early stages
of ttc (no sperm involved yet - it's a long story!). I've just had a
HSG (a surprisingly painful experience) which showed that my right
side fallopian tube is blocked.
I'm a firm believer in ignorance not being bliss and am glad I know
about this before going any further. I do have an appointment with a
specialist on Monday so I have plenty of time to look on the Internet
and prepare some questions. Has anyone got any experiences of this
they'd be prepared to share? I guess my main question is how does this
affect my chances of conceiving in any given cycle? If it helps, I'm
31 and have never been pregnant (not that I've ever tried before!)
Many thanks
B
PS Apologies if the formatiing of this is messed up - I'm posting via
Google Groups as my news service doesn't carry this group. Also, this
is my first posting to a public newsgroup so if I've made any mistakes
please do let me know.
Ginny
Not that I know anything ;) but the way I understand it, you generally
alternate ovaries with each ovulation. And with your right fallopian tube
being blocked, an egg would only get to your uterus to be fertilized every
other cycle.
But then again, I have no idea where I heard this so... *grin* I'm sure
there is somebody more knowledgeable around here.
--
Ginny - wahm to Jodi 7/17/00 & the munchkin on the way edd 4/25/03
> of ttc (no sperm involved yet - it's a long story!). I've just had a
> HSG (a surprisingly painful experience) which showed that my right
> side fallopian tube is blocked.
@poppy.com Poppy
Has your doc scheduled a lap? I had an HSG that showed both tubes blocked.
Doc told me sometimes the tubes can spasm during the HSG and appear blocked.
He also told me it is much more common for one to spasm as opposed to both.
Very unusual for both to spasm. Well, I had the lap, and guess what -
tubes were perfect!! (and I agree about the "surprisingly painful
experience") Although I've noticed some in the group just had mild
discomfort. Just a thought, but maybe there is a link between the amount of
pain and the possibility of spasms?
Poppy
Beth
Footie Fan UK <footie...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:289e2ac5.02101...@posting.google.com...
> Dear All
>
> I have been lurking for a while as I'm at the very, very early stages
> of ttc (no sperm involved yet - it's a long story!). I've just had a
> HSG (a surprisingly painful experience) which showed that my right
> side fallopian tube is blocked.
>
> I'm a firm believer in ignorance not being bliss and am glad I know
> about this before going any further. I do have an appointment with a
> specialist on Monday so I have plenty of time to look on the Internet
> and prepare some questions. Has anyone got any experiences of this
> they'd be prepared to share? I guess my main question is how does this
> affect my chances of conceiving in any given cycle?
B,
I have open tubes, but am a 3-time HSG veterean and have heard that tubes
can spasm closed temporarily. If your tub appeared blocked very proximal to
the uterus, then it may have been a spasm of a little valve near the uterine
body. If the tube appeared clubbed, or the blockage was at the distal end,
however, then chances are greater that it is a true blockage.
Having one blocked tube should not seriously impair your fertility, assuming
that salpingitis has not damaged both tubes (there can be some subtle
problems with open tubes not detectable by HSG). If your tube is truly
blocked and filled with fluid (hydrosalpinx), then that fluid can be toxic
to embryos and cause early miscarriage. Removal of a hydrosalpinx fixes
this problem.
Hope things look pretty good for you. Much luck in TTC.
Beth
Beth
Ginny <rainbug...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:ao4av...@enews1.newsguy.com...
> Hi =o)
>
> Not that I know anything ;) but the way I understand it, you generally
> alternate ovaries with each ovulation. And with your right fallopian tube
> being blocked, an egg would only get to your uterus to be fertilized every
> other cycle.
Theoretically true, but most women have a workhorse ovary and a slacker. My
left ovary does most of the ovulating.
Beth
Footie Fan UK
> Theoretically true, but most women have a workhorse ovary and a slacker. My
> left ovary does most of the ovulating.
Thanks for this Beth.
Does anyone know how 'they' tell which side you're ovulating from?
Thanks
B
Footie Fan UK
I wouldn't be surprised if my tube shut down due to pure indignance at
the assault it was under! I'm seeing a specialist on Monday where
we'll decide what, if anything, we should do next. Was the laparoscopy
as bad as the HSG (please don't tell it was worse!)?
Thanks
B
Footie Fan UK
> I have open tubes, but am a 3-time HSG veterean
You have my respect! I only read about taking pain medication after
I'd come back to work from the hospital in a slight state of shock!
> and have heard that tubes can spasm closed temporarily.
I'm glad to hear this; nothing I read yesterday indicated that this
could be a temporary problem. I've had visions of tubal surgery
resulting in damage to my other tube, resulting in...
> If your tub appeared blocked very proximal to the uterus, then it may have
> been a spasm of a little valve near the uterine body. If the tube
> appeared clubbed, or the blockage was at the distal end, however, then
> chances are greater that it is a true blockage.
Actually it was right at the uterus, it just wasn't having any of it,
even though he tried to 'force' the dye up the right hand side by
trying to block off the left I think. I'm sure my consultant will give
me more info on Monday.
> Having one blocked tube should not seriously impair your fertility <snip>
But assuming there is a permanent blockage and assuming that I ovulate
from alternate sides on alternate months it would mean there was no
point ttc every alternate month, wouldn't it?
> Hope things look pretty good for you. Much luck in TTC.
Thank you, it's early doors yet but this *wasn't supposed to happen*!
People's postings have been very reassuring and my consultant is very
helpful.
Cheers
B
Beth
news:<rIop9.2029$014....@reggie.win.bright.net>...
>
> > I have open tubes, but am a 3-time HSG veterean
>
> You have my respect! I only read about taking pain medication after
> I'd come back to work from the hospital in a slight state of shock!
I did not think the procedure itself hurt all that much--just like a strong
menstrual cramp. But I was a little sensitive to the radioopaque dye, and
that had my abdomen tender for 2 days following the HSGs . . . that part I
did not like!
I also had an abnormality: a uterine septum. Either that made it hurt like
bad cramps, or else the doc was just pumping in the dye too fast. Technique
makes a difference. My second HSG hurt much less. Also, I had the
old-fashioned HSG, done with a tenaculum, a grasping tool that does hurt the
cervix a lot. They can also do HSGs with a balloon catheter, and women say
that these are more comfortable.
> Actually it was right at the uterus, it just wasn't having any of it,
> even though he tried to 'force' the dye up the right hand side by
> trying to block off the left I think. I'm sure my consultant will give
> me more info on Monday.
That looks like a good sign that it could have been a spasm, then. In one
of my HSGs, I noticed teeny narrowings right at the uterine body, as if
there were little valves there starting to close. The doctor also said that
my tubes were slow to spill, so perhaps I almost had a spasm that first
time. The second and third time, I saw no narrowings in the proximal tubes
and the dye came sledging on out the other ends right away.
> But assuming there is a permanent blockage and assuming that I ovulate
> from alternate sides on alternate months it would mean there was no
> point ttc every alternate month, wouldn't it?
There would be a 10% point in TTC, since 10% of the time the *opposite* tube
sweeps up the egg. 90% of the time, the tube on the ovulating side does the
work, however.
If you are TTC by just having sex, why not try every month? And if you
really want to get serious, you can use a mild dose of fertility drugs to
get both sides ovulating.
> Thank you, it's early doors yet but this *wasn't supposed to happen*!
I know. :-/ I've been through the mill, too, but am almost ready to
finally have my baby. Hope it happens soon for you.
Beth
Beth
Ultrasound. Sometimes the woman can feel which side herself, too.
I had to have intrauterine inseminations in order to get pregnant, and
because my uterus is partially split by a septum, the catheter had to be
guided to the side that was ovulating, just to maximize the chances. We
just looked at the ovaries via ultrasound right before the insem and easily
spotted the mature follicle.
This may be more than you need to do, though :-)
Beth
Linz
Dunno how 'they' can tell, but some women can tell according to the pain
they get during ovulation. Or so I am led to understand.
KatoKirk
>that these are more comfortable
I had the balloon cath done with my HSG, and it also felt like a terrible
cramp. It hurt pretty bad when the dye went in, both of my tubes are clear and
open. Just knocked a few cobwebs loose and we are going to keep ttc naturally
for a few months, then if nothing still we will head in for an IUI. Good Luck
TTC.
Kirsten
TTC #1
4 years
male factor
@poppy.com Poppy
Actually, I minded the HSG *much* more than the lap. The lap was a "piece
of cake". During my very, very painful HSG my tubes appeared blocked right
at the uterus but in reality it was just a spasm. Had HSG done during lap
and all was fine - I was asleep for that one - so didn't mind it at all. ;-)
I was a little sore and tired after lap, but was able to walk my dog (1
mile) the next day. Used only 2 tablets of my Tylenol 3 prescription. Sure
could have used them during the HSG. I'm surprised they don't prescribe
something in the pain killer line before an HSG. I think maybe there is a
lot more pain when they are trying to force the dye through blocked or
spasming tubes.
Poppy
Footie Fan UK
> Footie Fan UK <footie...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:289e2ac5.02101...@posting.google.com...
> > "Beth" <mick...@chibardun.net> wrote in message
> news:<rIop9.2029$014....@reggie.win.bright.net>...
> >
<snip>
> I also had an abnormality: a uterine septum. Either that made it hurt like
> bad cramps, or else the doc was just pumping in the dye too fast. Technique
> makes a difference. My second HSG hurt much less. Also, I had the
> old-fashioned HSG, done with a tenaculum, a grasping tool that does hurt the
> cervix a lot. They can also do HSGs with a balloon catheter, and women say
> that these are more comfortable.
Ohmigod! that was that awful pronged thing that snagged and got caught
inside (sorry for the imagery if you're having your tea!). The poor
man was very busy fumbling and apologising profusely but dear me! I
guess I'm going to have to get used to this kind of thing or read up a
lot more on different approaches to things - I thought I knew what was
involved, but I didn't know enough obviously.
<snip>
> > But assuming there is a permanent blockage and assuming that I ovulate
> > from alternate sides on alternate months it would mean there was no
> > point ttc every alternate month, wouldn't it?
>
> There would be a 10% point in TTC, since 10% of the time the *opposite* tube
> sweeps up the egg. 90% of the time, the tube on the ovulating side does the
> work, however.
>
> If you are TTC by just having sex, why not try every month?
My route is DI via a clinic, hence all the tests up front.
> And if you really want to get serious, you can use a mild dose of fertility > drugs to get both sides ovulating.
The clinic likes to try 6 inseminations first without drugs, but it is
my choice to have the drugs if I want I think.
*Very ignorant question alert* Would the drugs increase the chances of
a multiple birth? Like I said, I'm at the early stages, I have to be
accepted by the clinics first before deciding how to inseminate and
whether to have drugs or not.
Thank you for your responses. It's nice to hear from people with
direct experience of these processes.
Thanks
B
Beth
Ah! I am pregnant by DI myself. And I did not have an HSG up front. If I
had, I would not have had several miscarriages, because my uterine
abnormality would have been discovered and corrected up front. It's cost
me 4 years and as many pregnancies. Good for you, getting all these tests
right away!
BTW, here is a good DI board on a great infertility web site:
http://www.inciid.org/forums/donor_insem/index.html
> *Very ignorant question alert* Would the drugs increase the chances of
> a multiple birth? Like I said, I'm at the early stages, I have to be
> accepted by the clinics first before deciding how to inseminate and
> whether to have drugs or not.
Clomid, the oral drug, has an 8% rate of twinning. Triplets are very rare.
Injectable fertility drugs have more like a 20% rate of multiples and should
be approached with caution. But most women do conceive singletons with
these medicines.
Beth