Causes of infertility include a wide range of physical as well as emotional factors. A few preventive measures that can be taken are:

• Prevent undue stress and fatigue, as this can hinder the proper ovulation and fertilization of a woman’s egg cell. Try to practice meditation and yoga. Having a relaxing massage or going to a spa to dip in a therapeutic spa treatment can also be helpful.
• Eating healthy and exercising is another way to help prevent infertility. Eating healthy foods and keeping yourself fit will help keep your body’s system running smoothly and will help keep your menstrual periods coming regularly.
• Smoking and alcohol should be avoided as it can lower your chances of conceiving. Consuming too much caffeine can also affect your bodily functions.

The most common factors for female infertility are

• Blocked fallopian tube as the result of pelvic inflammatory disease
• Repeated abortion
• Use of an intrauterine (IUD) contraceptive device.

Diagnosis is by investigations like hormone assay, Ultrasound / MRI scans and HSG.

Treating blocked fallopian tubes

Hysterosalpingography (HSG) is useful in detecting abnormalities of the uterus and the fallopian tubes. It provides an accurate picture of the site and extent of obstruction of the tubes. The procedure usually takes 30 to 45 minutes and patient can go home after one hour. This procedure is also called Fallopian tube recannulation.

There is a lack of awareness of the non-surgical treatment of blocked fallopian tubes. These procedures can be performed by an interventional radiologist and the benefits are no pain, no surgical scar, performed on daycare, return to normal daily activities immediately and it is cost effective also. A patient with both side-blocked tubes can have them fixed in one sitting.

Pic: Dominik Gwarek