Blocked Fallopian Tubes - IVF?

[Verkey81]

Had a lap/dye/hysteroscopy etc last week and was told that I've got blocked fallopian tubes and can't conceive naturally. Had a gynae appt to discuss with the consultant today and have been referred for IVF. Think I'm still in shock as went in to have non-existent endometriosis removed and came out infertile! I'm told its quite common and that I'm ovulating ok, womb, ovaries are ok, but that IVF is only option. Doing other hormone test next week for FSH LH etc. I'm shocked, scared and am desperately hitting google to find out what this all means so I thought this is probably the best place for advice! I'm just wondering how long IVF would take to get started, or to actually go through following a referral? The gynae said today that I should hear from the clinic within 2 weeks as she was dictating the letter today.

[Verkey81]

Sorry Naty1 I got a bit confused! Still on morphine so not surprising! So hydro's can come and go? Is there a way of knowing what causes them? I find this all so confusing! What I don't understand is why a doctor would say to have it removed without checking if it might go first!

Auntlinny, that's what they said was wrong with mine, that one side was completely filled with fluid and could not be fixed so needed removing and the other side was mostly filled up, a slight hole but could not be fixed so as they didn't work it was best to remove them, only clearly when they went to remove them, the doctor says no signs of hydrosalpinx..!? Congratulations on your twins, that's absolutely amazing :) Did you have the second one removed as well? xx

[Auntlinny]

I was diagnosed with blocked tubes. The surgeon had to remove one as it was in a very poor state and filled with fluid. The other, he tried to clear to give me a chance of natural conception, but it was blocked again within three months. We went down the ivf route, which was nowhere near as bad as i expected. Completely expected it to fail - had no faith (I was 37). My twins were born almost exactly two years after the blocked tube diagnosis. The science is getting better and better - and I was very very fortunate.

[naty1]

Sorry, no, they didnt say that. I suspected it as during ivf you are told to drink more so i was but also they struggle to do blood draws on me and tell me to drink beforehand.
I think the consultant must have seen them go down again as she said another scan rather than surgery but as i say id previously had lots of scans maybe 12 with no hydro.
Id also had a lot of CM during that cycle.
I guess it depends what causes it whether it could go down. Have seen posts of people with one appear in ivf and it went down before transfer

[Verkey81]

They said your tubes may be blocked from drinking water? I'm so confused?! I didn't know a blockage could come and go!

I cannot believe I nearly had my fallopian tubes taken out over something which could be affected by drinking water?? Or something that could even be temporary, how could they advise me to have them removed if a blockage isn't permanent!? Anyone else with any comments, please help!

[naty1]

I had a hydro in last ivf (maybe). So we cancelled it as also few follicles. We gad scan start of next cycle and it looked fine so now doing stimms again and will see next week if it has popped up again. Though i only had it appear on day 14 of stimms after id drunk lots of water even though id had 3 scans already in the cycle so no idea how it happened. I have pcos and the right side had no large follicles on and that was the side with hydro. So not sure its the same as yours was not diagnosed only by ultrasound.
Dr said to me as it hadnt been there before during 2 other ivf it could go down and it did. Im thinking if it comes up again i will freeze all embies and wait see if it goes down again.

[Verkey81]

Well I felt I ought to come back on here to add an update incase it ever helps anyone else.

I saw the NHS fertility clinic after my initial laproscopy and was told that we should have IVF due to my TERMINAL HYDROSALPINX on one side and 'left tube - convoluted, slow fill and spill'. Was told no chance of natural birth for one tube and such high etopic pregnancy risk on the other, IVF is the only option and in order to make it work - removal of my tubes was the way forwrad. If I didn't remove the tubes, higher risk of IVF not working etc. made decisionto have them removed as they don't work and was told cannot be fixed so take them out to increase the IVF chances.

Operation booked for this week for bilateral salpingectomy leaving no chance of natural conception.

We also have a final consultants appointment in two weeks at which we are due to be rerferred to the actual IVF clinic

Today I have come home form hospital following three days inpatient stay after my 'day surgery' (!) to complete the op to take the tubes out. When I woke up in recovery, the surgeon told me good news, my tubes were not blocked and has not taken them out.

We won't know for two weeks until the next appointment we have booked how it has happened but his notes for the operation say that he did a lap and dye, fill and spill at the BEGINNING of the operation and my tubes showed FULL FILL AND SPILL, NO HYDROSALPINX.....

He did some other fixing work inside me and after the operation, he did fill and spill again and still free movement, no hydrosalpinx... My tubes are no longer blocked...

I am in shock and feel like a miracle has happened - is this normal? Did I really nearly have my tubes removed when they have managed to fix themselves in 6 months?

We still need ivf as he said probable damage in tubes and still high risk of ectopic but my tubes are NOT blocked...

I really thought I asked the doctors before and they said the damage was permanent and my tubes could NOT be unblocked....

Any thoughts anyone??

[Verkey81]

Wow MrsCakes your process didn't take as long as I would have thought it would at all! That's fantastic that it worked so well, and quite quick from once you got the consultation :) It's good to hear the success stories as well as the struggles to get a realistic picture :)

Suzylee, you totally talk sense, though now each month I just wonder if maybe there's any chance still, when I get strange symptoms or funny periods, I just start to wonder if maybe, just maybe I won't need the IVF - even though I know I do! Any plans on when you're starting your second try? I rang the GP for results but was told that I am not allowed to be told them over the phone, I can only get them when I see the fertility doctor apparently!

I haven't had any more appointments just due to waiting lists but finally they rang on Monday to say there's been a cancellation and I have my first appointment with the fertility nurse tomorrow :) It's been 10 weeks since my initial referral and I'm told by the secretary it's a 5 week waiting list for the fertility nurse but they excused it by saying my referral wasn't typed for 10 days, then it took a further 8 days for the doctor to 'grade the referral', then it has to be sent so took a few more days etc. Anyway I've finally got the first appointment so that's the ball rolling! It's just me for the appointment tomorrow but they said my partner needs to come next time. I suppose I'm just documenting the timescales as I go along in case it helps anyone else in this situation!

[suzylee73]

I was heartbroken when I found out my tubes needed removing, I felt that all hope of a natural BFP were been taken away from me. But afterwards it was actually a blessing as I didn't grieve with every AF and it forced me to make a plan. I'm going to try 3 times and then adopt :) First try failed so 2 to go still

I understand your husband wanting to wait until your more prepared but this can be a long journey especially if your getting NHS funding. I know early to mid 30's isn't old but reproductively your no spring chicken.

Chase your GP for the results, if they are anything like mine they will forget to inform you!

[MrsCakesPremonition]

You sound as though you are in the same place I was 7 years ago.
I had an ectopic, lost a tube, was diagnosed with endo, then during treatment for the endo I found my remaining tube was blocked. IVF was pur only option.

This happened in the Sept-Nov. We thought about it for a few months, then contacted the clinic in April. We organised the GP referral and had an initial consultation at the start of June. Then started our first cycle in July and were pregnant by August. DS is nearly 6yo now.

It was a private clinic as we already had DC1, so many have been a bit smoother.

Good luck. IVF is a serious thing to consider, but outcomes are improving all the time. Good luck.

[Verkey81]

Thanks for the replies, sorry it took me ages to get back on here, I've been finding the past few weeks a bit tough. I read the replies and advice but just couldn't string a reply together! Anyway I've pulled myself together a bit now so here's an update! :) (well enough to type something!)

My partner doesn't want to rush things with starting ivf... not ready... its a difficult process... stressful.... (hormones etc)... house too small.... money... etc etc (all valid points) and I would start it today if I could but taking the advice from on here and him, I am trying to let it all sink in a bit before rushing ahead. Still waiting for contact from the clinic (that 'you'll hear in two weeks' comment was clearly not true!!) so I think we'll follow the process right up to the ivf point (tests etc) then make a decision when to start the actual cycle?

Its definitely hard trying to balance my fears of age (near mid 30's) versus fertility and all of the statistics of it only being around 30% success rates with taking the time and not rushing things. I'm just in a panic that every day we leave it now the less chance we have of it working. My partner is amazingly supportive, as much as he can be, but I think noone can understand how this makes a woman feel - even I can't, I can't even understand how it makes me feel...... All I know is I can't stop crying every day :( I just can't imagine never having children, and we are so happy as a couple that I can't imagine us not being a proper family :(

He says if we can't have children then that's okay, we can be really happy just the two of us, but I can't help but feel he'll resent me in the future, or worse, if we delay the ivf for any time, then it doesn't work, or we have complications, will I resent him for the delay? I hope not, but I keep thinking that it will always be in my head that if we had gone private and sped up the process then it might have worked better etc... so confused right now!

Suzylee73, I keep thinking back to your comment about not needing the tubes, its helped me to see that in black and white as even thought the doctor says have them clipped /or out, it still feels like its so final, like its not real until they do that, that maybe there's a chance still (even though I know there's not!) but the idea of having tubes out still feels so huge!

I'll keep you posted with how long things take and how it goes so others can see the process as well. That's been another scary bit for me, not knowing how long it will take, or what to expect, or even what I'm meant to do next - I'm guessing just wait until someone sends me a letter saying they want to see me!?

Since I last wrote I have had the day 3-5 hormone blood tests, LH, FSH etc etc - no results yet - not even sure who I see for them, or how I find them out! I'm assuming maybe they'll be sent to my consultant who will send them on to the fertility clinic and I'll find out then!?

My partner has also decided that he wants to be more prepared and to take the next few months to move us from couple to family, so the houses are being sorted and we've had the estate agents round and I'm off to view a bigger house today. Lets hope we need it in the end :)

[suzylee73]

I'm so sorry, it's the hardest thing for a woman to hear.
All is not lost though :) I am in the same position and if you think about it positively all you need is a little help getting your egg from A to B, everything else is fine. Some women have many more fertility issues that are so much harder to get around.
That said, if your tubes are filled with fluid they will need removing as the fluid can seep into the womb and cause miscarriage. You don't need them so better out than in.
Good luck and keep us posted. There are lots of us on here than can give you advice, knowledge and support x

[worldgonecrazy]

A family member had to have IVF due to two previous ectopic pregnancies which took out her fallopian tubes. As everything else was okay, she had a really good chance of IVF being succesful, so hold on to that thought. She now has two IVF babies, both rounds of IVF were succesful. Good luck - I know it must be a terrible shock to you, so be gentle on yourself for a few weeks.

[ohfourfoxache]

Enormous (((hugs))) - what a shock for you

All IVF clinics are different, but as a rough guide:
Appointment with he clinic
Order a repeat ultrasound to check ovarian access
Order repeat semen analysis so that it is up to date
Make sure all other tests have been completed (including virology screening for you both)
Review in clinic, discuss treatment options
Coordination appointment to explain injections etc
Start treatment with your next cycle.

Now, this is just a rough guide, and everywhere does things a bit differently so don't take this as gospel.

The important thing to remember is that you should go at your pace. If you don't feel ready to start then you can always delay it for a bit, or permanently if you prefer.

It is very, very early days, give yourself some time and space and be kind to yourself xx