Hydrosalpinx, fallopian tube disease

Hydrosalpinx is a disease of the fallopian tubes. The fallopian tubes are tubular structures about 12-15 cm long that connect the ovaries to the uterus. During the they collect the ovum produced in the ovary. The sperm, on the other hand, are deposited in the vagina, and ascend through the uterus reaching the fallopian tubes in the upper external part of the uterus. As they pass through the tubes, they find the ovum and fertilization occurs. The cells of the innermost layer of the tubes have small structures called cilia that are like little "hairs" that move to transport the fertilized egg towards the uterus to implant in the endometrium.

What is hydrosalpinx

When the fallopian tubes do not work properly, there is an inability to become pregnant and, therefore, tubal sterility. The tubes can be obstructed by adhesions on the outside of the tube, in the abdomen, which narrow and block them completely. At other times these tubes are dilated with fluid inside the tube that also blocks the passage of sperm and the fertilized egg, It is the so-called hydrosalpinx.

Causes

The most frequent cause of hydrosalpinx is pelvic infectious diseases, generally, but not always, of In other occasions they are due to consequences of surgeries or abdominal inflammatory processes.

Diagnosis

For the diagnosis of the pathology of the fallopian tubes there are several tests:

• Ultrasound: in the ultrasound the normal tubes are not visualized, nor if there are adhesions on the outside of the tube. But if there is fluid inside the tube, the dilated tube can be seen on ultrasound.
• This test consists of introducing radiopaque contrast into the uterus through the cervix, and seeing if it passes through the tubes ascending to the abdomen so that if the contrast is seen reaching the abdominal cavity, it is known that those tubes are not blocked.
• Laparoscopy: it is not a first choice test since it is a surgical intervention that requires general anesthesia. A colored liquid can be introduced through the cervix and with a camera inside the abdomen to see its passage through the tubes.

Treatment

The hydrosalpinx treatment depends on the origin, the time of evolution and the genetic desire of the patient. In the event that hydrosalpinx occurs in a patient without the desire to become pregnant and is not caused by an active infection or causes pain, no treatment is usually necessary and a clinical control may be chosen.

If it is caused by an infection that is still active, the first thing to do is an antibiotic treatment. If after this treatment the hydrosalpinx does not resolve, the treatment to be followed will be surgical.

In case the patient wants to have children, a laparoscopy is usually done to remove the affected tube since it does not work correctly and its presence usually reduces the possibility of In the event that both tubes present a hydrosalpinx, both should be removed and the patient can only become pregnant with in vitro fertilization treatment.