What Causes Hydrosalpinx?
If you've recently been told you have a hydrosalpinx, you're probably asking the same question I did:
"What exactly is it... and how did this happen?"
Until I was diagnosed, I'd never even heard the word.
Yet it turned out to be one of the most important discoveries in my entire fertility journey.
Understanding what causes hydrosalpinx can help you make sense of your diagnosis and prepare for conversations with your healthcare team.
What Is a Hydrosalpinx?
A hydrosalpinx occurs when a fallopian tube becomes blocked and fills with fluid.
The name comes from two Greek words:
Hydro = water or fluid
Salpinx = fallopian tube
A healthy fallopian tube is open at both ends.
Its job is to allow the egg and sperm to meet and, if fertilisation occurs, transport the embryo safely towards the uterus.
When the tube becomes blocked, fluid can build up inside it.
This causes the tube to swell, sometimes becoming significantly enlarged.
What Causes the Blockage?
Hydrosalpinx isn't a disease in itself.
It's usually the result of damage to the fallopian tube.
Several different conditions can cause that damage.
Endometriosis
One possible cause is endometriosis.
Endometriosis can lead to inflammation, scarring and adhesions around the fallopian tubes.
Over time, this may interfere with their normal function and, in some people, contribute to blockage.
This was my experience.
My hydrosalpinx developed as a result of previously undiagnosed endometriosis.
Previous Pelvic Infection
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), often caused by untreated bacterial infections, can damage the delicate lining of the fallopian tubes.
Even after the infection has cleared, scarring may remain.
Not everyone who develops PID goes on to develop hydrosalpinx, but it is a recognised cause.
Previous Surgery
Surgery involving the pelvis can sometimes lead to scar tissue forming around the fallopian tubes.
This doesn't happen to everyone, but scar tissue may occasionally affect the tubes' function.
Previous Ectopic Pregnancy
An ectopic pregnancy can sometimes damage a fallopian tube, increasing the risk of future blockage.
The degree of damage varies depending on the individual circumstances.
Adhesions
Adhesions are bands of scar tissue that can develop following inflammation, infection or surgery.
They may cause pelvic organs to stick together and, in some cases, affect the fallopian tubes.
Sometimes the Cause Isn't Clear
In some people, doctors cannot identify one single cause.
Medicine doesn't always provide a definite answer.
Sometimes the damage occurred years earlier.
Sometimes several factors may have contributed.
Can Hydrosalpinx Cause Symptoms?
Surprisingly...
Many people have no symptoms at all.
Others may experience:
Pelvic pain.
Lower abdominal discomfort.
Pain during intercourse.
Unusual vaginal discharge.
Difficulty becoming pregnant.
For many people, infertility is the first clue that something isn't right.
How Does Hydrosalpinx Affect Fertility?
A healthy fallopian tube plays an essential role in natural conception.
When the tube becomes blocked:
the egg may not be able to travel normally,
sperm may be unable to reach the egg,
and fertilisation becomes much less likely.
Research also suggests that the fluid inside a hydrosalpinx may reduce the success of IVF if left untreated.
This is one reason why fertility specialists sometimes recommend removing or blocking the affected tube before IVF treatment.
The most appropriate treatment depends on the individual and should always be discussed with a fertility specialist.
My Story
For twenty years, I believed I had unexplained infertility.
I had never heard the word hydrosalpinx.
When I eventually travelled to Greece for fertility treatment, I discovered that both of my fallopian tubes had become hydrosalpinges as a result of endometriosis.
Both tubes had to be removed.
Although that news was devastating at the time, it also gave me something I'd spent two decades searching for:
An answer.
For the first time, infertility was no longer unexplained.
Can Hydrosalpinx Be Treated?
Yes.
Treatment depends on several factors, including:
Whether one or both tubes are affected.
Whether pregnancy is being planned.
Symptoms.
The underlying cause.
Overall reproductive health.
Options may include monitoring, surgery or fertility treatment.
Your specialist will discuss the most appropriate approach for your individual circumstances.
Questions Worth Asking
If you've been diagnosed with hydrosalpinx, you may wish to ask:
Do we know what caused it?
Is one tube affected or both?
How might this affect my fertility?
Would surgery be appropriate?
If I'm considering IVF, how might hydrosalpinx influence treatment?
What are the benefits and risks of each treatment option?
Remember...
The purpose of these questions isn't to challenge your healthcare professional.
It's to help you understand your diagnosis and your options.
Hope
Hearing the word hydrosalpinx for the first time can feel frightening.
I know.
I remember that feeling.
But a diagnosis isn't simply bad news.
It's also information.
Understanding the cause of infertility often allows doctors to recommend the most appropriate treatment moving forward.
Sometimes the answer you've been searching for is also the beginning of a new plan.
Key Takeaways
Hydrosalpinx means a fallopian tube has become blocked and filled with fluid.
It is usually caused by previous damage to the tube.
Endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, surgery and adhesions are recognised causes.
Many people have no symptoms until fertility investigations begin.
Treatment depends on the individual and should be discussed with a specialist.
A Gentle Reminder
Your body whispers before it screams.
Not every whisper means something serious.
But persistent symptoms deserve thoughtful conversations, informed questions and healthcare professionals who are willing to listen.
If something doesn't feel right, don't be afraid to ask again.