Blocked tube - what happens now?

[Saltisford]

Hi everyone,

This is my first post on here but I have been reading a lot over the years!

I had a laparoscopy done two weeks ago which confirmed that I have one blocked tube and one partially blocked tube - this had been discovered in my hycosy test. They couldn’t say, however, what they were blocked with? They also found a little endometriosis on the ligaments of my uterus which they burnt. I also had a hysteroscopy at the same time (not sure why).

Now, I have my next appointment on Tuesday (Coventry NHS) and I suppose I am wondering what happens now? Every time I have an appointment I get my hopes up that they’ll just say let’s start IVF or something right away! Hopefully the investigations will have ended and this will be the case? What does everyone think? I am 35 and I think my blood results have suggested what is average for my age.

I suppose I am just posting so that people with a similar diagnosis can comment and offer ideas/support. I have lots of questions banging around my head.

There's the possibility they may want to do more surgery to sort your tubes (which generally means removing them). Or they may suggest moving to ivf.

I'd go and have a look at some studies where they have and haven't removed blocked (or partially blocked) tubes so that you can make an informed decision.

Yes - when I came round after the laparoscopy and the doctor came to talk to me briefly, I asked this. I was pretty drowsy but she suggested IVF would be the next route and then I asked about actually unblocking my tubes. She explained that it would be a lengthy process with surgery where they may pass a needle through the blocked tubes? but the recovery time and then 6 months to try to conceive naturally again would take a while. She also said they didn’t know what they were blocked with as they couldn’t actually see inside them. I suppose I’m wondering whether there are any other long term symptoms of having blocked tubes other than infertility. Is it worth unblocking them if IVF is a better option? I don’t have any other symptoms I.e. pain or anything.

Hiya. I had my first lap done end of 2016. Discovered both tubes blocked and told ivf best option for us. Referred for ivf at different hospital and whilst that was happening I was pushing them to deal with the blockages as also told me there was hydrosalphinx present (fluid in tubes) which could effect ivf success. Had another lap Nov 2017 which resulted in 1 tube removed and the other unblocked. First round of ivf jan 2018 fresh cycle failed, did a frozen transfer end of March and currently 32 weeks pregnant.

Advice would be to make sure the type of blockages you have will have no detrimental effect on ivf success. Most cases I've heard with tubal issues are they generally refer for ivf as we are very good candidates for successful ivf. Good luck x

Thanks for your reply and congratulations! Yes - I’d read about hydrosalphinx so I will ask about that. Looking at my notes, it mentions that my tubes are of normal length and diameter so perhaps this is not an issue but we’ll see.

In terms of unblocking, did this then make your tube fully open? One of mine is blocked and although my other tube is ‘patent’, they said it took 100ml of dye to pass through rather than 30-40ml as per usual. So does unblocking fully unblock? Before the lap they said that they may be able to unblock any ‘simple blockages’ but then didn’t.

It’s so good hearing from people with a similar diagnosis as I haven’t actually met anyone in person!

Mine were blocked (no idea why) so I had IVF. They didn't discuss unblocking them. Good luck to you

Yes from my understanding it made it open but they also said this could change and become blocked again? We already had our ivf start date so went straight into that. Not sure what the outcome would have been if we were to try naturally for a few months?

When the consultant discussed it briefly, she said they’d expect us to try again naturally for six months but saying that we have been trying for just under two years with one tube partially open and nothing has happened anyway. Also isn’t there more of a risk of ectopic pregnancy?

Hi @Saltisford. I had a lap and dye back in July and they found blocked left tube. They've given me 4 months of clomid and discussed increased risk of ectopic etc (although I was having anovulatory cycles too so maybe that's why they've given me clomid). Have follow up end of November where I'm hoping I'll get my ivf referral. Good luck x

Unblocking tubes is generally not recommended. There is a hugely increased risk of ectopics. Most attempts at unblocking are unsuccessful, and yes, they can just become blocked again.

The only increased risks that I am aware of from having blocked tubes are possible hydrosalpinx. But I haven't researched this area extensively - you would need to ask your surgeon and do some more research.

Patent means clear.

Twiglet2353! It seems like we are at a very similar stage with similar issues! I had the lap two weeks ago so I’m very surprised to have my follow up on a Tuesday. I did ring to speak to the secretary to arrange the date though which may have helped? I am hoping too that they will refer us for IVF then as we’ve had quite a few appointments now that have led up to this point. X

@Saltisford my follow up care has been less than ideal but that's a whole other story and I can't complain really because it's free and the nhs is so amazing at emergency care, it's just the routine outpatient stuff that is struggling quite a lot at the moment!
I'm currently cycle 2 of clomid. From what I understand they did try to unblock at the lap but the tube went in to spasm. I was offered to have the tube removed before starting clomid but it would have been another 12 week wait for a repeat lap so I chose to just persevere with clomid first. At the moment I'm yet to ovulate on my clomid but keeping fingers crossed it does it magic soon x

The care you can receive is so varied even between departments in the same hospital I find! I haven’t been offered clomid or anything but I seem to be ovulating regularly. Did you have a hysteroscopy too? I’m not sure what the purpose of that was? Another thing to ask on Tuesday! I’ve got my fingers crossed for you x

@Saltisford no didn't have a hycosy as already known to have endo so they thought it was better to cut to the chase and do another lap instead. The waiting around is just the worst. If I just had an idea of when it was going to happen so I wasn't living my life on pause then that would be great 😂

I totally know what you mean! You live your life from appointment basically and can make no plans. When then did my lap, they also did a hysteroscopy which involved looking in my uterus with a camera and doing a d & c (not sure why they did that bit?)

Ok to feed back, I had my appointment today. There was no suggestion of surgery to unblock the tube but IVF referral instead. The consultant said that if I had been 10 years younger, they wouldn’t necessarily have done that but as I’m 35 and have been trying for two years, it’s time to offer IVF. He said it was a mystery really as although the tube was blocked, it looked normal from the outside with no visible scar tissue etc suggesting what it is blocked with! IVF here we come!

@Saltisford how are you feeling about it? I was told the same re tube - healthy but blocked, maybe from endo? Have they given you an idea of how long until you can be seen by ivf clinic?x

We’re already having our appointments at the Centre for Reproductive Medicine at Coventry so don’t need to be referred to a different department/clinic as such. He discussed IUI (though chances are low especially with one blocked tube) as well as IVF and then we opted for IVF. He explained the whole process and gave us loads of handouts and we made the appointment there and then with the receptionist for our information session on November 22nd! So not a long waiting list! He said once that is done we in theory can start straight away but we have to wait for the correct cycle day and as they shut down for a few days at Christmas, it might have to be January. Otherwise it could be before!

It’s becoming real! I’m feeling optimistic as now I feel like things could really happen and hospital visits are for a shot at pregnancy not just investigations. Also people are helping us and it isn’t just the monthly disappointment scenario anymore.

Twiglet2353 - what dates and appointments do you have coming up? Any magic with the clomid yet? x

I got diagnosed with two blocked tubes after a lap in June and I'm finally starting IVF today, first injection tonight! I'm looking forward to finally getting started. They said they didn't know why mine where blocked either and that it was quite unusual. I haven't come across many people in the same situation. But apparently ivf was invented for this purpose so I'm hopeful it will work!

Hi everyone!
I had a lap done couple years ago and they found out that my right tube was blocked and for the left one, they had to put a lot of dye but it finally went through. I had the surgery to unblocked them. It was painful... I was only sedated... not a good memory. They found that the left one was too thin and couldn't let any egg go through... so they tried to "push" the walls... and the right one had endo in it. The doc said to me that he made a "path".... well needless to say, it didn't work. I had to wait the 6 months before asking for IVF. I'm now 19 weeks pregnant thanks to IVF and even though I know every case is different I wish I would have gone straight to it. The specialist there told me that blocked tubes are actually the "best" condition for IVF. I wish you all good and fast results in your journey!!

I’m so grateful for all of these posts! They give me so much hope! Makes me glad to belong to the blocked tube club if that makes sense?! X