Infertility

Fertility is defined as being unable to get pregnant after six to 12 months of regular sexual intercourse without the use of birth control. The causes for female infertility include problems with the reproductive organs, hormones and even lifestyle factors. Sometimes infertility is caused by a blockage of the fallopian tubes, the passages that the eggs travel through to get from the ovaries to the uterus. If the fallopian tubes become plugged or narrowed, the egg may be prevented from reaching the uterus. If a blockage is discovered, an interventional radiologist may be able to help by recanalizing (or unblocking) the affected fallopian tube.

Treatment

Interventional radiologists at Silver Cross offer minimally invasive treatments with less risk, less pain and less recovery time than traditional surgery to open up blocked fallopian tubes.

Fallopian tube recanalization is performed by an interventional radiologist using X-ray images to pass a small, flexible tube, known as a catheter, into the vagina, through the cervix, and into the uterus. A thin wire is used to gently open the blockage in the fallopian tube. The patient is awake, but sedated for this treatment, with minimal recovery time (approximately one hour) prior to release. The treatment is very effective, where blockages have been detected, with few side effects or risks, and a high success rate.