Children are an extension of ourselves, so almost every woman dreams of a happy and healthy offspring. However, some are faced with the inability to conceive after hearing the terrible diagnosis of "infertility". To find out the reasons, decide on the methods of treatment, the gynecologist will refer you for a test. fallopian tubes. This is one of the first procedures on which the reproductive functions of the body depend. How is the patency of the fallopian tubes checked, how painful is the procedure? Let's look into these issues.

Why is the patency of the fallopian tubes disturbed

The uterus is the most important organ, the health of which determines the possibility of conceiving and bearing a child. Fallopian tubes ( vernacular name- oviducts) - a paired organ that connects the abdominal cavity with the uterus. They are located horizontally on both sides of the uterus, have a cylindrical shape with a diameter of 4 to 6 mm. The inner surface of the fallopian tubes is covered with epithelium with cilia, which help the egg to move.

The fallopian tubes differ slightly in length from each other, which ranges from 10 to 12 cm. An egg and a sperm cell meet in them. The more “correctly” the cilia of the epithelium inside the fallopian tubes function, the more likely a woman is to become pregnant. A fertilized egg moves along them and enters the uterus for further development.

According to doctors dealing with infertility problems, from 30% to 40% of all cases of a disappointing diagnosis are associated with obstruction of the fallopian tubes. The causes of the disease can be:

• Organic:
  • the presence of inflammatory processes of a nonspecific nature, which are caused by the ingress and active reproduction of bacteria;
  • sexually transmitted infections - gonorrhea, chlamydia, ureaplasma, mycoplasma infections, trichomoniasis, genital herpes;
  • gynecological operations and complications after them;
  • abortions;
  • surgical interventions in the treatment of diseases of the abdominal cavity (appendicitis, peritonitis), diseased pelvic organs;
  • diseases of the reproductive system - salpingitis, saktosalpinks, endometriosis, uterine fibroids.
• Functional. These reasons are caused by deviations in the structure of the fallopian tubes, congenital complete or partial absence of the latter. In rare cases, they occur due to severe stress or hormonal disorders.

To identify or refute the diagnosis of "infertility", to understand the causes of the disease, to prescribe an adequate, effective treatment, a specialist consultation and clinical studies are required. Many women find out about the presence of inflammatory processes, cysts, fibroids by chance during the diagnostic process. Do not forget about the need to undergo gynecological examinations at least once every six months.

Effective methods for determining the patency of the fallopian tubes

How is the patency of the fallopian tubes checked? Methods proven over the years are painful, require lengthy clinical studies, and are performed under general anesthesia. Newer, modern methods of diagnosis are relatively painless, do not require general anesthesia. To choose the most suitable method:

• Consult a gynecologist for advice.
• The doctor should take a gynecological history.
• Depending on the results, diagnostics / treatment or surgery is prescribed to restore the patency of the fallopian tubes.

HSG (Hysterosalpingography)

This procedure consists in conducting an examination of the patency of the fallopian tubes using an x-ray. Hysterosalpingography helps determine if the fallopian tubes are patent; the presence of deformation changes in the uterus, appendages; learn about the state of the endometrium, the presence of pathologies. The essence of the diagnosis is the introduction of a special substance into the cervix through the cervical canal, visible on x-ray photos.

The specialist sees in the picture the condition of the uterus and appendages: the presence of extensions, constrictions, adhesions, tumors. On average, about 13 mg of fluid is injected. If the fallopian tubes have patency, then the fluid flows out of the uterus, around the ovaries. The procedure is performed 7-12 days after ovulation. It is important that there are no inflammatory processes. The reliability of the method is 80% or more.

Ultrasound (Hydrosonography)

It is possible to check the patency of the fallopian tubes with a reliability of at least 90% without a high dose of radiation using ultrasound in 2D, 3D or 4D measurement. This method is called hydrosonography or echosalpingography (echohydrotubation). For visual confirmation / refutation of the diagnosis, a special vaginal probe is inserted into the uterine cavity. The main disadvantage of the procedure is the high dependence of the results on the qualifications of the operator servicing the apparatus, his ability to correctly and competently decipher the images.

Diagnostic laparoscopy

This expensive operation requires a hospital stay of one to two days. It is a surgical procedure in which a laparoscope is inserted through a small incision in the abdomen into the fallopian tubes. The accuracy of diagnosis is 99.9%. The procedure is used to diagnose the patency of the oviducts, possible complications (cysts, tumors) after infectious, inflammatory processes, treatment of the pelvic organs (uterus, ovaries, appendages).

Fertiloscopy

The difference between fertiloscopy and laparoscopy lies in the introduction of the endoscope through the cervical canal. This relatively new method helps to accurately control the condition of the uterus and its appendages. The less likely it is to detect obstruction of the fallopian tubes, the more preferable is fertiloscopy. Unlike HSG, this method gives more accurate results for uterine spasms, which negatively affect the reliability of hysterosalpingography.

What tests should be done before the examination

Before being sent to check the patency of the fallopian tubes, the gynecologist will offer you to take tests:

1. Urogenital discharge (gynecological smear).
2. Cytological examination of scrapings of the cervix and cervical canal using the PAP test.
3. For sexually transmitted infections, HIV, TORCH infections by polymer chain reaction (PCR).

Where to do and how much does a study cost in Moscow

Public, private clinics and hospitals offer a wide range of services for women who need to check the patency of the fallopian tubes. If a few decades ago, such a diagnosis put an end to a woman’s desire to become a mother, then modern achievements of scientists help restore the functionality of the fallopian tubes, giving joy, the happiness of motherhood.

The price of services differs depending on the type of diagnosis, the degree of reliability end results, possible consequences and side effects:

Clinic name	Type of analysis
Clinic InVitro	Taking gynecological material
	Comprehensive analysis of "Sex in big city»: 12 infections + swab
	Cytological examination of scrapings of the cervix and cervical canal PAP test
Polyclinic "Otradnoe"	Cytology
		180 to 2780 Fallopian tube and infertility Recurrent miscarriages, menorrhagia, metrorrhagia, uterine bleeding after menopause, menstrual cycle abnormalities, and some cases of premature birth. Sterility can be caused by a problem affecting the fallopian tubes or "fallopian tubes". It is more commonly referred to as "tubal infertility". Fallopian tubes are a kind of tube that connects the ovaries to the uterus and they play leading role in fertility. During ovulation, around the 14th day of the cycle, the egg is released from the ovary and travels through the fallopian tubes to the uterus.
Women's Health Center	Comprehensive tests for the detection of latent infections + PAPP test
	Study of infections by PCR from 1 to 18 infections	From 350 to 2950
	smear on flora
	Taking a biomaterial (smear)
	Comprehensive service (tests to detect tubal patency)	From 5500 to 15000 It can be fertilized with a sperm along the way, the fertilized egg will then make its nest in the uterus when it is successful. When the fallopian tubes suffer from any disease, they can be blocked, thereby ceasing to fulfill their role. Pathologies affecting the tubes have various causes. Sexually transmitted infections, bacterial infections of genital origin, appendicitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, tuberculosis, fibroma, endometriosis, endometrial cancer, uterine cancer. This is a simple exam that can be performed on an outpatient basis but requires preparation, including administration of anti-edema, antispasmodics, and antibiotics. the end of menstruation and the 14th day of the cycle. It does not require anesthesia. Your gynecologist puts the speculum in place, disinfects the cervix, and then inserts the probe into the uterus. He then injects an iodinated contrast product that will contaminate the organs.
OnMed Gynecology	Taking a biomaterial (smear)
	Study of infections by PCR from 1 to 20 infections	From 300 rub.
	Cytology

Types of diagnostics and prices for them in various clinics:

Type of clinical/diagnostic study	Approximate cost, rub. He will then take several pictures of the area to look for possible anomalies. Complications are rare, but they do exist: ask your doctor. In the hours following this study, it is normal to bleed very easily. If the bleeding is more severe, talk to your gynecologist. Exam, hysterosalpingography, "medical images", trunk, "fallopian tube", "fallopian tube", uterus. This study is very useful in sterility reviews to check for fallopian tube permeability. A medical prescription is required to receive an appointment for this exam.	Clinic name
Hysterosalpingography		He Clinic (international medical center)
Description of the picture by the doctor
Echosalpingography (ultrasound)		Clinic "Lama" (center of operative gynecology)
Anesthesia (intravenously)
Reception and examination by a gynecologist	is free Hysterosalpingography is performed by a gynecologist assisted by a medical technologist. During the examination, you lie on your back or are placed in a gynecological position. The exam is conducted sterile. The gynecologist positions the mirror, and then inserts the probe into the uterine cavity. The introduction of the probe is the most unpleasant moment, but it does not last long. Injection of iodine-based contrast media can sometimes cause temporary pain similar to menstruation. Images are taken under fluoroscopic guidance at the time of injection. Several images were taken in different positions. At the end of the examination, the probe is removed. The duration of the inspection is about 30 minutes. This study is carried out in the first part of the menstrual cycle. Hysterosalpingography should not be performed during pregnancy.
Hysterosalpingography		Clinic InVitro
Laparoscopy 1st category		Clinic "Family Doctor" Moscow, St. Petersburg
Laparoscopy 2nd category
Injection into the cervix
Hysterosalpingography		Polyclinic "Otradnoe"
hydrosonography
Consultation with a gynecologist + ultrasound (echosalpingography)		Center for Reproduction and Family Planning
Diagnostic laparoscopy
Operative laparoscopy + hysteroscopy
Sonohysterosalpingography		Center for Traditional Obstetrics
hydrotubation

Video: how to check the fallopian tubes for patency

Checking the fallopian tubes for patency begins with preparation:

• Treatment of inflammatory processes of the genital organs.
• A thorough hygienic toilet.
• Taking antispasmodic drugs at a dosage recommended by a gynecologist.

When choosing research methods, consult a gynecologist: find out which one is suitable for your case, ask to justify why. If you are afraid of pain, unpleasant symptoms, discuss in advance the possibility of painkiller injections into the cervical region. Try to calm down as much as possible before the procedure: spasms caused by nervous tension can adversely affect the diagnostic results. You can learn more about the benefits of individual methods for checking the patency of the fallopian tubes by watching the video below.

Preparation for the examination

Diagnosis of patency of the fallopian tubes

Advantages of methods for studying the patency of the fallopian tubes

Opportunity to conceive, bear and give birth to a healthy child - main feature, value and joy in a woman's life. It is no coincidence that in ancient times even the very meaning of a woman's life was evaluated by her ability to bear children. We live in much more enlightened and freedom-loving times, when women can afford to plan a family, the number of children and the time of their birth at their discretion. But as before, motherhood remains the most important and happiest period of life, without which it is difficult to fully experience all its facets. An important condition for the implementation of this function is the health of the body in general and the reproductive system in particular. Especially important role play the fallopian tubes and their ability to pass through an egg ready for fertilization.

Violations of this function, that is, the patency of the fallopian tubes, are fraught not only with diseases of the female genital organs, but also with a complete loss of the ability to have children. That is why it is so important to diagnose developing deviations in time and take all possible measures to prevent the problem from worsening. Moreover, obstruction of the fallopian tubes, complete or partial, is far from a sentence and not a guarantee of infertility. With timely and high-quality treatment, you can get rid of it and give birth to a healthy child, not even one. That is why modern medicine has developed and actively uses methods for checking the patency of the fallopian tubes. Effective and safe, they allow you to identify deviations at an early stage and prevent possible complications. But for this you need to know about these methods and understand their importance, and also not to neglect regular examinations by a specialist.

Fallopian tubes: structure, functions, health
The fallopian tubes in science and medicine are called fallopian tubes or, more simply, oviducts. The second name in itself quite clearly describes their role in the female body. Indeed, the fallopian tubes are a paired organ that connects the ovaries with the uterine cavity and creates a kind of "corridor" through which the egg enters the uterus. In the fallopian tubes, fertilization occurs when the ovulated egg is captured by the cilia of the epithelium and moves into the fallopian tube, where it can stay from 8 to 24 hours. All this time, she remains viable thanks to a special environment inside the oviduct and is waiting for a meeting with a sperm cell. If that meeting occurs and the egg is fertilized, then the cilia on the surface of the tubal epithelium propel it further into the uterus. If the egg remains unfertilized, then through the same oviducts it still goes to the uterus, where it gradually dies.

Thus, it is from these small tubes located on both sides of the uterus that it directly depends on whether the female and male sex cells will unite, whether conception will occur, whether the zygote (fertilized egg) will enter the uterine cavity. This is the role of the fallopian tubes in the implementation of the function of childbearing, and it is provided by their specific structure. The walls of the oviducts are similar in composition to the walls of the uterus and, like her, have several layers of mucous and epithelial tissue. This fabric forms tubes from 8 to 20 cm long (about 12 cm on average). The main difference between the fallopian tube mucosa and the uterine mucosa is the presence of mobile cilia designed to transport elements that enter the tubes: eggs, spermatozoa and zygotes. At the same time, each of the two pipes is quite mobile and flexible. Healthy, developed oviducts consist of:

1. A funnel located on the side of the abdominal cavity, that is, the ovaries, and having a diameter of about 20 cm. With the help of many fringes, the funnel covers the ovary and ensures that the egg enters the tube, and then moves along it.
   
2. Ampullary area, narrower than the infundibulum, but still wide enough for the egg to pass through.
   
3. Isthmic area, which narrows as it approaches the uterus. This narrowed part of the oviduct forms a kind of isthmus.
   
4. The uterine area - that is, the place where the fallopian tube passes directly into the uterine cavity.
   

This structure corresponds to the ideal state of a healthy female body. But any deviations in the structure or functioning of the listed elements threaten to disrupt its reproductive ability. Dysfunction and / or obstruction of the fallopian tubes may be associated with their infection or failure, inflammatory processes and damage are fraught with the formation of scars and scars that glue and block the narrow passage to the eggs. And the causes for such inflammations are most often bacterial infections and sexually transmitted diseases. Timely detected and not cured, they proceed as they will and lead to serious damage to the oviducts and their individual sections, which threatens infertility.

Even medical manipulations performed without direct contact with the uterus and / or oviducts can cause damage and obstruction of the fallopian tubes. For example, previous operations on other pelvic organs - even a common appendectomy - can lead to obstruction. The “soldered” place of the tube can be located both along its length and between the tube and the ovary. Such places are called - soldering - and are, in fact, stuck together walls of the oviduct and the ovary itself. Treatment in this case can be both medical and surgical. Of course, no doctor can give a 100% guarantee of a complete cure. But the removal of the fallopian tubes in the event of the formation of adhesions is an extreme measure, which is extremely rare. In most cases, conservative and surgical treatment in combination lead to a favorable resolution of the problem.

Checking the patency of the fallopian tubes
Today, medicine has a whole range of methods for diagnosing the condition of the fallopian tubes.
Thus, you can check the patency of the fallopian tubes with one or more different ways, each of which has its pros and cons, indications and warnings. In any case, the study is necessary for women who cannot become pregnant for the first time, who have undergone ectopic pregnancy, inflammation of the pelvic organs and / or suffering from endocrine diseases. And even if the results of the test are disappointing and show obstruction of the fallopian tubes, there are also several medical and surgical methods for restoring patency. And in vitro fertilization always remains an emergency exit. So, the main thing is not to despair, to undergo diagnostics in a timely manner, take care of your health and strive to become a healthy and happy mother of a beautiful baby.