Assessing Fallopian Tube Patency through Ultrasound
A female’s Fallopian tubes are responsible for performing significant duties in the reproductive cycle. After passing through the uterus, the sperm move through the Fallopian tubes in search of the oocyte to be fertilised. The fertilisation process takes place in the outer end of one of these tubes. Next, the fertilised oocyte (now an ovum) undertakes the first stages of division on its way through the Fallopian tube.
Continuous tubes are therefore an important prerequisite to achieving a natural pregnancy.
When discussing the wish for a biological child, it’s therefore of great importance to assess the continuity and functioning of the Fallopian tubes.
One way this can be done is to conduct a laparoscopy, in which the pelvic organs specifically are examined, and chromopertubation of the Fallopian tubes may be undertaken too. Chromopertubation is a procedure generally performed during a laparoscopy to visualise the Fallopian tubes in order to ensure that they are patent.
For this purpose, a medical ink (coloured dye) inserted through the uterus is injected into the Fallopian tubes, where the subsequent colour discharge from these tubes is observed in the abdominal cavity. In most cases, this is done on an outpatient basis, where they’re able to go home the same day.
However, a continuity assessment of the Fallopian tubes can also be carried out with a special ultrasound examination in our clinic, for which no surgery is required, and hence no anaesthetic is necessary.
In this process, the patient is seated in the examination chair, while a thin plastic tube is inserted into the cervix and a harmless, foamy solution is injected into it. First, the filled uterine cavity is examined. Then, the flow of the solution through the Fallopian tubes as well as the discharge into the abdominal cavity is observed. Afterwards, the solution is excreted by the body without residues.