Hydrosalpinx
A hydrosalpinx is a fallopian tube that is blocked at its far end and swollen with fluid. It is usually the result of an old infection or of endometriosis, and it matters because the fluid can leak back into the uterus and lower the chance of an embryo implanting.
Where you'll meet it
Most people first see it on a tubal patency test such as an HSG, where the dye fills a tube but does not spill out of the end. Larger ones can also be seen on an ordinary ultrasound scan.
Why it matters before IVF
IVF bypasses the tubes, so a blocked tube is no obstacle in itself. A swollen one is different. The fluid it holds can drain into the uterus around the time of transfer and make implantation less likely. Removing the tube, or clipping it where it meets the uterus, before IVF clearly improves the odds of a cycle.
What can be done
The operation is a laparoscopy, done as a day case or with one night in hospital. It is one of the clearest examples in fertility care of a short operation making a cycle work better, and it belongs before any embryo goes back.
Related pages
New to fertility treatment?
The Start Here guide walks through the tests, the treatments, the order they usually come in, and how to read the success figures.
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