Thanks to modern technology and medical advances, there are more effective fertility treatments available today than ever before. Of course, one of these advancements is the tuboplasty procedure. Tuboplasty refers to surgical operations undertaken to restore the functionality and integrity of a woman’s fallopian tubes. This can enable the patient to conceive and become pregnant. Tuboplasty surgery can be performed to reverse a tubal ligation, which is an intentional procedure, or to repair the fallopian tubes after damage from an infection or development of scar tissue.
Approximately 25% of all infertile couples are affected by tubal issues of some kind. This can range from a small adhesion, to complete tubal blockage. The success rate of a given tubal surgery fertility treatment is determined by whether or not the woman becomes pregnant within one year after the surgery. And some tuboplasty procedures have success rates of up to 65%.
Here, we’ll take a look at five of the most common forms of tuboplasty available today, explain what they are, and how they differ from each other:
Tubal Reanastomosis
Tubal reanastomosis is a form of surgery that is essentially tubal ligation reversal. It consists of connecting or joining two healthy tubal segments together. This allows both egg and sperm to travel along the fallopian tube and for conception to occur.
Fimbrioplasty
Fimbrioplasty is an operation that involves the reconstruction of a portion of fallopian tube tissue near the ovary that serves to move the egg into the fallopian tube, or fimbria. Essentially, this procedure repairs a blockage. Note, it is possible for women with a partial block in their fallopian tubes to become pregnant –– though this condition increases the risk of ectopic pregnancy.
Salpingostomy
Salpingostomy is a procedure in which doctors create a new distal opening for the fallopian tube. The procedure itself consists of a surgical incision directly into the fallopian tube. This procedure is done either to remove an ectopic pregnancy (one that occurs outside of the uterus) or to repair a damaged tube. Remember a salpingostomy is much different from a salpingectomy (the removal of fallopian tubes). Your doctor may recommend a fimbrioplasty instead of a salpingostomy in order to focus on the fimbria, which plays a crucial role in conception.
Salpingolysis
Adhesions on the fallopian tubes are abnormal bands of scar tissue that join together to form a blockage. For mild adhesions on or around the fallopian tube, doctors typically perform a salpingolysis. 13.6 million women in the U.S. suffer from mild to severe endometriosis –– a condition in which tissue that normally lines the uterus grows outside of it and can cause adhesions on the fallopian tubes or Pelvic Inflammatory Disease. Adhesions may cause discomfort or pain, but some women don’t experience any outward symptoms from adhesions.
Cornual Implantation
A cornual implantation is one of the more complicated forms of tuboplasty. It involves the resecting of an occluded transmural segment of the tube and connecting the distal patent segment of the tube to the uterus. This is done to allow the fallopian tube to connect to the endometrial cavity –– the inner lining of the uterus.
Learn More About a Tuboplasty Procedure
Infertility is a fairly common occurrence that can cause emotional distress as well as physical pain. By the strictest definition, a couple trying to conceive without success for one year can be considered infertile. If this is the case for you or a loved one, it might be time to seek professional medical advice on which of these options might be best for your situation. You can contact Dr. Joseph Hazan here for more information on this subject.
