What is a hydrosalpinx?
Hydrosalpinx is a collection of watery fluid within the fallopian tube, usually as a result of damage at the distal (far) end of the tube, near the ovary.
How does a hydrosalpinx form?
Just as your knee might swell when it is damaged or inflamed, the fluid pools in the damaged tube, causing it to swell or dilate, as a natural part of healing from inflammation. Whether from a prior surgery, an inflammation, or an infection, the delicate geography of the pelvis responds to these traumas by forming adhesions and often a hydrosalpinx.
How does a hydrosalpinx cause infertility?
In most cases, a hydrosalpinx indicates that the fallopian tube is totally blocked at the far end. There, the delicate flower petal-like fimbriae, which are designed to grasp the egg as it exits the ovary, become adhered or clubbed together, closing the tube completely. Hydrosalpinx is a serious threat to fertility. It not only renders the affected tube(s) totally ineffective, but it may also lessen the effectiveness of various infertility treatments (e.g, in vitro fertilization [IVF]).
How is hydrosalpinx treated?
Surgery
Neosalpingostomy (surgery that incises the hydrosalpinx and leaves an opening in the tube) is a surgical treatment option. The tube, however, often closes again, enabling the hydrosalpinx to return. The most positive results are obtained with younger women and women with small hydrosalpinges. For others, the preferred treatment is usually total surgical removal of the tube prior to IVF.
The Wurn Technique®
The Wurn Technique® is a non-surgical infertility treatment that uses pelvic physical therapy to decrease the adhesions causing tubal damage and hydrosalpinx. Once mobility is restored, the previously blocked tube(s) often regain normal function, creating a free path for conception to occur. Many women with a diagnosis of hydrosalpinx became pregnant naturally after receiving this hands-on therapy.
“If the information in this article sounds like it may relate to what you’re experiencing, the team at Clear Passage® Physical Therapy is here to help. Many people living with this condition simply want to know if there is a natural treatment option without drugs or surgery that could work for them. The good news is you don’t have to figure it out alone. You can request more information to speak with a knowledgeable team member who will review your situation and help you understand whether this specialized therapy may be a good fit. If you’re ready to move forward, you can also apply for therapy so the clinical staff can carefully review your health history and determine the best path toward relief. Taking a few minutes to reach out could be the first step toward getting answers—and possibly getting your life back.”