Ladies with only one fallopian tube...Come on in!

sarah_e87

So I had my HSG yesterday morning. It didn't go as well as hoped. I'm still in shock and trying to make sense of what he had to say as I wasn't expecting there to be any issues with my tubes.

I did get to watch it all on the monitor. The doctor that performed the test was not my RE, but another that they pulled in from another office. He had trouble getting the catheter in...resulting in lots of moderate cramping. My right tube is open (YAY!) I watched the dye run through my right tube in less than two seconds.

My left tube wasn't so lucky. When the dye initially didn't go into my left tube, the doctor had to reposition the catheter (since he didn't get it in all the way the first time) and he tried again (with more dye) and again (with even more dye). I watched the dye slowly flow into my left tube and pool at the end by my ovary (it looked like there was a golfball in my tube at the end closest to my ovary). He eventually got the dye to slowly start "leaking" out of the left tube (which came at the expense of severe sharp stabbing pains on that side).

He asked if I have lots of moderate to severe cramping with with my period, breakthrough bleeding, or prolonged bleeding each cycle (which the answer is yes to all of the above). He also asked if I had a history of any STI (which I have never tested positive for any STI). He said something about my left tube being deformed and there being a hydrosalpinx in it and something about if we leave it untreated ther being a decreased chance of pregnancy and an increased chance of m/c, but reassured me that it only takes "one good tube to get pregnant." He also said he suspects endometriosis being the cause given my history of no STI, no abdominal surgery, no use of an IUD, no past abortions, etc.

Naturally, when I got home, I had to do some research before talking to DH (so that I could explain to him the significance of the issue above and beyond just telling him that my tube is deformed and blocked). I also wanted to be prepared with a little info before I meet with my RE later this month. I have to say, the research has me a little anxious and scared.

So, ladies with only one tube, what's your story? Did you have an occlusion that was discovered during your HSG? If so, what options for treatment were you given (ie surgery to try to open the tube or removal of tube?) What did you choose to do? Have there been any complications? What were your fertility treatment options/recommendations? Did you lose your tube because of an ectopic pregnancy? If so, what were your fertility treatment options/recommendations?

Sorry this got so long. If you made it this far, thanks for sticking with me. And TIA for your response.

DMCKnox

Hello!  Sorry about the HSG, I'm sure the moving around of the catheter wasn't so comfortable! 

I have tube issues on my right side. My HSG didn't detect that it was blocked, but I had a lap and they discovered my right ovary is essentially deformed and non-functional and my right tube is blocked and unable to be opened.  My RE said I was born that way and it wasn't the cause of anything (which may be your case?).  It's impossible to tell without them being able to get in there and look during a lap., plus, if it can be opened or fixed, that would be when they do it.  Also, if they suspect endo, then a lap would be needed for that.  Looks like you are looking at a lap surgery?  Did you RE talk to you about that?  

I only have one working side (which got me a bit down) but my RE assured me that, for me, it shouldn't affect chances of pregnancy.   He said he would have liked to take out my entire right side during the surgery but didn't (I guess for legal reasons, who knows....but I'm thinking he should have just taken it out!).  Make sure to ask lots of questions and for sure, ask about a lap.  That gave me all the answers to my questions and I'm sure, it will help you too!  Good luck!

kathrynlo

I am sorry to hear about the painful HSG and the disappointing results.

My situation is a little different. I only have one tube, my right, due to a ruptured ectopic pregnancy. They were however able to save my left ovary, which is really good in case of IVF. My RE says that my chances of a successful pregnancy each month is still 20%, as long as I am ovulating from my good side. My meds and treatment did not change after my ectopic - I was doing Femara + Ovidrel + IUI when I had the ectopic and thats what we went back to after I healed from my lap. After my lap though, for some reason, I was no longer responding to the Femara like I had previously, and I was already on the highest dose so they added in Dexamethasone. I responded with the Dex added. We did 2 rounds with the Femara and Dex and then moved onto injects after those didn't work. I am now going back to Femara + Injects due to overstimulation from injects alone. Overall, my RE had me stay on the same meds/treatment after I lost my tube.

I would have to agree with DMC in that it seems that your next step should be a lap to see if they can clear that tube and to see if anything else is going on in there, i.e. Endo. Ask lots of questions at your follow up with your RE, and bring up the lap to see what his recommendations are.

Good luck!

Amyaggie97

I only have my r tube and ovary left.  They removed my left tube and ovary in September due to endo and the tube being wrapped around the ovary.  (The pictures were pretty gross.)  Right now I don't know how this is going to work out because I didn't respond this month.

 

I agree with the others ask for a Lap and have them check things out.  When they did my lap they also checked my tube again to make sure it was open.

bulldogmama 09

My situation is a little different, in that I have both tubes but they are too damaged to use.  When I had my HSG it was discovered both were blocked. I had a lap in October with the intention of opening them both but my doc was unsuccessful.  Apparently at some point in my life I had an infection which caused scar tissue to form from my reproductive organs to my liver.  Therefore causing my tubes to become damaged beyond repair.  I was shocked, I had 28 day cycles with little to no cramps, went for an annual checkup every year since I 17 and never had any issues.  Our only option was to move right into IVF.  During monitoring my doc has found that my left tube is already filling with fluid, even though she drained it all during my lap.  She was confident it wouldn't interfere with our IVF but did give me the option of removal. I suspect at some point down the road I'll have it removed.

tgreenf

During my HSG, they were not able to get any dye through on my left side.  They moved me, turned me, and nothing would go through.  Upon recommendation of my OB, I had a lap.  They found that my right tube was actually twisted.  They said it was most likely from an infection I had when I was younger that went untreated.  I have no  idea what that would have been.  Nonetheless, they were able to repair my tube and I have not had any problems, that I am aware of, since.

That being said, apparantly that was not my only issue because that was in May of last year and I am still not KU.  But, I would recommend a lap because hopefully they can do some repairs for you and you will at least have the comfort of knowing for sure what is all going on.

 Best of luck hon!

Shayliz

I lost my left tube due to an ectopic pregnancy in November. Our treatment options haven't changed yet (still on Clomid) but last cycle I didn't have any response on my right so we had to cancel IUI. I'm really not sure what we'll do to help the tube side grow follies, it seems to be hit or miss. 

sarah_e87

Thanks for the responses. Those of you that are doing medicated IUIs, does it bother you that you are taking the drugs without the guarantee of O'ing on your good side and getting cancelled? It seems like it would be hard enough to get cancelled for a poor response or over response, but to be cancelled because you O'ed on the wrong side seems like it wouldn't be worth it.

Shayliz

sarah_e87:

Thanks for the responses. Those of you that are doing medicated IUIs, does it bother you that you are taking the drugs without the guarantee of O'ing on your good side and getting cancelled? It seems like it would be hard enough to get cancelled for a poor response or over response, but to be cancelled because you O'ed on the wrong side seems like it wouldn't be worth it.

It is frustrating, yes, and it happened to me last month. However, it's either take the chance of O'ing on the wrong side with meds or the chance of not O'ing at all and not doing an IUI.  I had to pay $728 for my cancelled cycle ultrasounds and stuff, but there was no way to know it would end that way.