falloposcopy

This fairly new treatment may prove valuable for evaluating women with tubal infertility. Falloposcopy permits a healthcare provider to visually examine the inside of the fallopian tubes and assess whether they are healthy or not. Falloposcopy is both a diagnostic and treatment procedure. Not only can it identify damage to the tubes, but the healthcare provider can also use this procedure to repair the tubes.

why it is done

Things such as obstruction, scar formation and damage to the inner lining can be identified during this procedure. Falloposcopy is also performed to confirm candidates for tubal surgery such as balloon tuboplasty. If there is damage, the healthcare provider can determine whether the tubes can be repaired, or if moving immediately to in vitro fertilization (IVF), which bypasses the tubes, is the best option.

how it is done

Approximately 30 to 45 minutes in length, falloposcopy is usually done with local anesthesia or with intravenous sedation. If tubal repair is performed at the same time, the duration will extend to two hours and general anesthesia will be used.

This complicated procedure sends a catheter (a flexible tube) through the cervix, uterus and into the fallopian tube. Once the catheter is successfully inserted, a smaller, flexible fiber optic endoscope is inserted through the catheter. The camera attached to the end of the falloposcope transmits images of the inside of the tube to a TV monitor. The healthcare provider is then able to examine the images on the screen.

Risks associated with the procedure include infection and bleeding. Some healthcare providers will prescribe an antibiotic to reduce the risk of infection. In some cases the fallopian tube can be punctured, however this is a rare occurrence and generally does not lead to injury. Your surgeon should be experienced in this procedure to insure best results.