A hydrosalpinx is a descriptive term and refers to a fluid filled dilatation of the fallopian tube. The condition can be bilateral or uniateral, and the affected tubes may reach several centimeters in diameter. The blocked tube causes infertility, while incomplete blockage or adhesions often lead to tubal pregnancy.
The major cause of this condition is pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) or chronic salpingitis (the inflammation of fallopian tubes), which can be triggered by the infection of chlamydia or gonorrhea. Fortunately, not all pelvic infections will cause the malfunction or pathological changes of fallopian tubes.
IUDs, endometriosis, and abdominal surgery sometimes are associated with this problem. As a reaction to injury, the body rushes inflammatory cells into the area, and inflammation and later healing result in loss of the fimbria and closure of the tube. 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. By the time it is detected, the tubal fluid usually is sterile, and does not contain an active infection.
In lots of cases, hydrosalpinx just remains asymptomatically, but however, symptoms may show up on some sufferers as well. Hydrosalpinx symptoms varies on patients, including lower abdominal pain or pelvic pain, and typically infertility. Some may experience abnormal vaginal discharge because of pelvic infection or inflammation. Patients who are not trying to get pregnant and have no symptom, may go undetected.
Hydrosalpinx is always diagnosed by HSG or ultrasonography. For patients whose fallopians are filled with fluid and distended, they can be diagnosed using ultrasonography. However, a small hydrosalpinx may be missed by sonography, this is when HSG is suggested for diagnosing this condition. If there's a tubal blockage at the utero-tubal junction, a hydrosalpinx may go undetected. Laparoscopy is the diagnosing method which often gets the most accurate result. The surgeon will note the distended tubes, identify the occlusion, and may also find associated adhesions affected the pelvic organs.
Tubal corrective surgery are mostly performed to fix this problem. Adhesions and blockage can be removed by this procedure. Unfortunately, however, pregnancy rates tended to be low as the damage of the tubes done by the infection is not treated. Further, ectopic pregnancy is the typical complication.
IVF is always suggested for those who don't want to undergo surgery to treat this condition. However, several studies have shown that IVF patients with untreated hydrosalpinx or tubal problem have lower conception rates than controls and it has been speculated that tubal fluid that enters the endometrial cavity alters the local environment or affect the embryo in a detrimental way.
Herbal medicine is one of the most popular alternative treatment for hydrosalpinx. Some herbal formulas are highly powerful in removing the blockage and adhesions, and even make fallopian tubes function well. Fuyan Pill produced by Dr. Lee Xiaoping, has been patented as a treatment for multiple gynecological conditions, which works on hydrosalpinx and can cure it after three to four months medication. The most remarkable advantage of herbal medicine in treating hydrosalpinx is that they can make the tubes function well, which allows the patients to conceive naturally.