Hydrosalpinx surgery

[clazbear]

Hi everyone,
Just looking to find anyone who has had surgery to remove a hydrosalpinx or other fluid in uterus/fallopian tubes and then gone on to have a successful transfer?

I am 36, TTC for 2.5 years. I have Crohn’s disease which is now in remission but I’ve had 2 major surgeries for it in the past 5 years. We started IVF about 9 months ago and at the first scan, I was told they could see some fluid in my left tube but nothing to be concerned about. I later had another scan where they said they could still see it on the left and the doctor said if I was any other patient, he would advise surgical removal of the tube before continuing but I am classed as high risk after 2 previous surgeries so not to rush into it. We were told all fine with my husband and other blood tests for me are normal. I then did egg collection, 10 eggs, 8 fertilised and 4 good quality blastocysts (all 4AA) which was a very pleasant surprise and all seemed to be going well. Did a fresh transfer immediately after this which resulted in a chemical. Doctor then said he would recommend me to go for surgery. I said could we try a second transfer first as I really would rather not do surgery unless it’s the only option. Prior to my second transfer, I had to have 3 pelvic scans as there was some confusion around the fluid. The first one showed nothing and I was told it had gone, the second one (done by someone else) then said there was fluid there but it was on the right side after previously saying it was on the left. Third scan and she couldn’t really see anything again. I went ahead with the frozen transfer which has ended in a BFN and I know now the doctor is going to tell me surgery is my only option.

I apologise for the v long story but would love to hear from anyone who has been through anything similar, whether it’s good or bad. I really don’t want surgery, it will weaken scars in an already weak area of my body, I don’t know if it would send me into a Crohn’s flare and I honestly don’t know if it would even help with my fertility since no one can really give me a straight answer on whether there is fluid there and what side it’s on!

Thank you in advance and any stories much appreciated 🤞

Hi, i had the exact same experience. They always could see fluid in my fallopian tubes but always said that i shouldn’t worry 2 transfers later still BFN. Then i was recommended to go and check my fallopian tube with Hysterosalpingography and NHS reassured that was nothing and to keep trying.
Anyway long story short, we decided to go abroad for treatment. One of tests that we had to completely prior starting treatment was HSG, and after doing it again the results came back as blocked fallopian tube full of toxic liquid. So we removed it and i just had my very first BFP!!
so i would 100% recommend removing it as that liquid can be triggered by the hormones and enter the uterine cavity!

wish you all the best🩵

How were you diagnosed? Just by scan? Why haven't you been sent for a hsg?
I was diagnosed as having a hydrosalpinx in my left tube and was immediately coerced into signing consent forms to remove my tube there and then as I was told the fluid would prevent implantation and lower my chances for ivf.
I booked a hsg the following month and my tubes came back clear. So naturally I didn't I actually fell pregnant naturally shortly after that. It did turn out to be a chemical but I'm not suspecting my tubes at all. I have pcos and my blood sugars were badly managed. We decided to go straight for ivf as I'm 38 . I since had several scans at the fertility clinic and they were concerned at all and said I had no "big blocked tube" they thought if there was fluid it's resolved , it may have just been some blood build up or a cyst.i had my transfer and it was successful.
Before going ahead with surgery I'd get a second option and go for a hsg test

So my clinic was always keep saying thats just a fluid and i shouldnt worry etc. , even at one point i had 2 consultants one was saying was a hydrosalpinx and the other one saying thats nothing- absolute madness. Anyway in my story it was the best decision i could make (obv with facts as HSG came back as blocked - and i actually felt that was blocked! I could feel the pressure of the fluid that coudnt pass through the tube) , as after removing the tube we never ever again saw any cysts or fluids in my scans. I used to feel discomfort from the “cyst” as they used to keep calling it very often, but since removing i havent felt anything.
What im trying to say is that was affecting my fertility and well being in general and i could feel it.
The thing with the hydrosalpinx is that the fluids come and go and thats why is usually recommended by all drs and consultants to be removed as they are unpredictable!

and to answer your question - no i wasnt diagnosed just with an ultrasound, the ultrasounds were just the suspicion
1st HSG came clear
2nd HSC came as blocked tube
I took the decision to listen to my dr it came around as a positive thing

But i understand your concerns, why to remove it if there is still some possibility to conceive naturally so i think you should trust your gut and do what feels the best for yourself!
i wish you have that BFP soon

@CB2805 hi , sorry my question wondering if this was diagnosed based on just a scan was directed at the OP. Sorry for not being clear.
If you had a confirmed blocked tube then no doubt removing it was the right choice but I think women should undergo proper tests before they are made to sign away their tubes like I was in my case . I've had several tests scans and second hsg since and no blockage. The consultant who first diagnosed me told me mine was probably was never blocked in first place and admitted ultrasound is not an effective tool to diagnose a blocked tube as there can be many other reasons.
I'm personally glad I insisted on further testing before pursuing laparoscopy to remove my tube as It could have been an unnecessary removal of my tube and was just saying the op should insist on further testing like a hsg aswell before agreeing to the surgery

Oh now I understand! 100% proper investigation should be assigned and then a decision to be made. How on earth they put you forward a removal if not hsg was done? Im glad you didnt do it in that case!
hope you figure it out and im glad you follow your guts- we should always question that kind of decisions

Hi both,

Thank you so much for your replies, it really helps to know I am not alone with this and also that you have had some positive outcomes both with and without surgery.

@MoonlightDreamer no I have not had a HSG, in fact it hasn’t even been mentioned as an option so that is really useful to know I should push for that before surgery.

There seems to be some debate about whether it’s actually a hydrosalpinx or whether it could be scar tissue from my previous surgeries that is somehow filled with fluid. I’ll be honest, I don’t really know what to think. If it is scar tissue then I wonder is it actually interfering with anything or can they just see it on the scan? And if so, then why is nothing working if they can’t find anything else wrong.

I have considered getting a vaginal micro biome test done as I think this would potentially indicate if there was toxic fluid causing a problem in my uterus. All I know is that I really don’t want surgery unless it’s a necessity and I’m not sure how I would feel if I went ahead with it, only to discover there was another issue somewhere else.

@CB2805 how did you find the surgery? How long did you have to stay in for? And how long did you have to wait to recover before they would do another transfer?

@MoonlightDreamer i just realized you made a comment before and you were not referring to me sorry🫶🏻🤭

@clazbear in my case was pretty straight forward. I felt uncomfortable the first couple of days, i was discharged same day and removed stitches a week later. As the operation was done by the same doctor that did later my embryo transfer he also had the chance to have a good look at my womb and do a “scratch” as well. 2 bleeds later we were ready for a fet

@CB2805 thank you, that is really useful to know and amazing that you could do another transfer 2 cycles later. Someone had mentioned a 6 month wait to me which was another reason I didn’t want to have the surgery as I expected it to be nearly another year from now before we could transfer again. I’m so sorry, I didn’t even congratulate you on your BFP! How far along are you? Must be so exciting after everything you’ve been through already ☺️

@clazbear my doctor was happy to proceed 2 cycles later, but you should always discuss that with your dr☺️
thank you🩵its still early days i just had my first beta which came back 1971 so doctor suspect twins👼🤞
it is our very first positive after 3 BFN so we’re over the moon and just hope everything goes well.
I hope everything goes well for you and have your rainbow baby soon🤞
only advice in this journey is to trust your gut and even if someone persists on something do what feels the best for you! I always questioned my dr and not always followed his advice even tho i really trust him with my life!

wish you all the best🩵

I had mine removed and went on to have a successful transfer. The fluid is toxic to an embryo if it drips into the uterus so will decrease chances of success.

If the tube is filled with fluid then it’s a hydrosalpinx, a tube can be blocked without fluid but if it’s filling with fluid then it’s a hydrosalpinx. I had one blocked tube and one blocked & showing hydrosalpinx. I still have the blocked tube and it hasn’t caused me any bother.

My hydrosalpinx actually used to disappear between cycles of IVF - it seemed that the drugs would make it flare - but when they took it out, the tube was apparently very diseased. If you’re anywhere near London I’d recommend a specialist scan at the Gynae Ultrasound Centre with Professor Jurkovic to get further advice.

Lastly my sister suffers from Crohn’s and has had surgery for it. A laparoscopy for tube removal is a very simple surgery relative to what you’ve likely undergone in the past x

@Porridgeislife thanks for replying. I am pretty sure I do have fluid in there somewhere, the more I think about it, if everything else is ‘normal’ then it makes sense to me that this is causing the issue. It also links to the previous surgeries I’ve had and I suspect this is where it has come from. The things that make me nervous are that no one can seem to tell me for definite where/what it is, and I worry that them messing around in there will possibly cause my Crohn’s to flare when it is currently in remission. I am due to speak to the clinic on Monday to discuss next steps so I guess we go from there but I have lots more to think about now which is a good thing! ☺️