The fallopian tubes are the main channels for transporting sperm, egg or fertilized egg. The fallopian tubes play an important role in human reproduction, and any factor that affects the function of tubal transit or secretion may affect conception.

The fallopian tube is the pathway for sperm and where sperm and egg are combined. If the fallopian tubes are narrowed, atretic, deformed, have adhesions for various reasons, or have poor peristalsis due to hormonal disorders, the sperm and eggs cannot meet or are poorly transported. These conditions can cause infertility or ectopic pregnancy, in which hydrosalpinx is a typical pathological manifestation of inflammatory infection.

Infertility caused by tubal diseases accounts for about one-third of female infertility, and hydrosalpinx accounts for about one-tenth of tubal infertility.

Why does hydrosalpinx occur?

1. Pelvic and genitourinary tract inflammation, such as mycoplasma infection, chlamydia infection, gonococcal infection, cervicitis, endometritis and so on. If left untreated, when these diseases have an acute attack and the inflammation spreads to the fallopian tubes, they can lead to tubal blockage.

2. Surgical injuries. Surgeries in the uterine, pelvic, and abdominal cavities, such as those for ectopic pregnancy, acute suppurative appendicitis, endometriosis, and pelvic adhesions, disrupt the intact barrier of the female genitalia and cause surgical wounds and defects. If secondary infection occurs, inflammation can cause extensive pelvic damage adhesions through direct spread.

3. Postpartum and post-abortion infection. After abortion or childbirth, due to the decline in resistance, the patient's pathogens are infected upward through the reproductive tract and spread to the fallopian tubes and ovaries, which in turn cause inflammation of the fallopian tubes.

4. Tuberculosis of genital organs. When tuberculosis of the reproductive organs arises, the fallopian tubes are usually the first to be affected. The lesion blocks the umbilical end of the fallopian tube or other segments or, due to interstitial inflammation, makes the fallopian tube peristaltic abnormality or mucosal cilia destruction, thus causing the fallopian tube to be impassable or hydrocele.

Due to the slow course and hidden symptoms, the clinical manifestations of tuberculosis of the female reproductive organs vary greatly according to the severity and duration of the disease. In some cases, there are no signs and symptoms except infertility. Most of these patients are primarily infertile, and up to 85% are infertile.

The mechanism of hydrosalpinx affecting conception mainly includes the following aspects:

The fluid contains microorganisms, tissue fragments, lymphocytes, and other toxic substances. The normal function of sperm and egg will be affected in this fluid. Some people put the sperms of mice into the tubal fluid in vitro for co-incubation, and their ability to acquire energy will be greatly reduced. In addition, the morphologic scores of embryos are reduced by the presence of tubal fluid.

Retrograde flow of tubal fluid into the uterine cavity. Due to the flushing effect, this condition can lead to embryo implantation failure.

Toxic substances contained in the effusion enter the uterine cavity and have a direct toxic effect or lead to endothelial inflammation, reducing endothelial tolerance.

Chronic inflammation in the case of hydrosalpinx may spread to the ovaries. The fluid may compress the ovarian blood vessels and affect the blood supply to the ovaries, thus affecting the reserve function of the ovaries and their response to medication during ovulation induction.

Hydrosalpinx is one of the major causes of female infertility, which affects natural conception and the success rate of IVF. Studies have shown that the post-transplantation success rate of patients with hydrosalpinx is approximately 50% lower than those without hydrosalpinx, and the rate of spontaneous abortion is two times higher.

Therefore, women must do early prevention, detection, and treatment. Once the symptoms of hydrosalpinx appear, the patient should go to a professional and regular hospital for examination and treatment in time so as not to cause serious consequences.

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