Patient's question:
How to treat infertility?Doctor's answer:
In infertile patients, tubal blockage accounts for about one-third of infertility cases. The fallopian tubes are one of the main components of the female reproductive system, responsible for transporting sperm, eggs, and fertilized eggs, as well as providing a site for sperm storage, capacitation, acrosome reaction, and fertilization. If the fallopian tubes are blocked, infertility will inevitably result. The most common cause of tubal blockage is infection, particularly post-abortion, postpartum, and postoperative infections, as well as urinary tract infections, sexual activity during menstruation, endometriosis, and severe appendicitis, which may also affect the fallopian tubes, leading to blockage, adhesion, and accumulation, ultimately causing tubal blockage. Additionally, congenital malformations, fallopian tube developmental disorders, torsion, dysfunction, and polyps can also cause tubal blockage.1. Treatment Methods for Tubal Obstructive Infertility
The treatment of tubal obstructive infertility requires a comprehensive, symptomatic approach based on the patient's specific condition. The physiological functions of the fallopian tubes, such as egg retrieval, egg transport, sperm transport, and activation, depend on the ciliary activity of the fallopian tube mucosa, as well as peristalsis and intermittent contractions. Sperm entering the vagina must pass through multiple checkpoints to achieve fertilization. There are many methods for treating tubal blockage, such as tubal irrigation, tubal insufflation, intracavitary drug injection, oral medication, acupuncture, and external treatments. For severe adhesions, surgical interventions such as tubal adhesion dissolution, tubal anastomosis, and tubal ostomy may be necessary. Lastly, it should be noted that relying solely on irrigation methods for treatment is not advisable. Multiple irrigation procedures can exacerbate tubal accumulation, lead to uterine enlargement, the formation of water cysts in the fallopian tubes, disrupt tubal function, and complicate infertility further. Moreover, due to the significant discomfort associated with tubal irrigation, patients with low pain tolerance are highly susceptible to false blockage. Therefore, patients must seek treatment at well-equipped, reputable hospitals to achieve better outcomes.
2. Hysteroscopy and Laparoscopy Techniques
Hysteroscopy and laparoscopy are advanced gynecological diagnostic technologies widely used in the treatment of infertility. Uterine infertility accounts for 30% of female infertility cases, with common factors or causes including endometritis, uterine adhesions, uterine malformations, uterine fibroids, and endometrial polyps. Due to the ability of hysteroscopy to directly observe various lesions within the uterine cavity through its lens and imaging monitoring system, and to determine the location of the lesions, it holds high clinical value in diagnosing uterine diseases and abnormalities.