Doctors state the fact: in the past few decades, the number of infertile couples has been growing. Today, about 15% of couples for various reasons cannot have children. In cases where all tests are normal, the cycle is in order, and there are no visible causes of infertility, the first thing that doctors pay attention to is the patency of the fallopian tubes. In the presence of adhesions or other problems, the process of conception becomes impossible.
One of the main causes of female infertility is obstruction of the fallopian or fallopian tubes. In the presence of adhesions or other problems, the process of conception becomes impossible. Identify such a pathology using a simple GHA procedure. We will describe in more detail about this procedure, the features of conducting and reviews of women in this article below.
The role of the fallopian tubes in conception
Let us recall the anatomy of man, in particular women. In order for the conception to occur, that is, the egg merged with the sperm, it is necessary that they first meet. And this event takes place precisely in the fallopian tubes, which are small processes 10-12 cm long in length and 0.5 cm in diameter.
A ripened egg leaves their ovary and travels through the fallopian tubes, but if for some reason they are impassable, there will not be a long-awaited meeting, therefore, pregnancy will not occur. Or, as an option, conception still occurs, but due to obstruction of the tubes, the fertilized egg cannot move further and is forced to attach to the wall of the tube, that is, an ectopic pregnancy occurs. Therefore, the role of the fallopian tubes cannot be underestimated.
What is GHA?
Inflammatory and infectious processes in the pelvic area, as well as surgical interventions, can provoke an adhesion process or damage to the ciliary epithelium. This type of pathology cannot be diagnosed using conventional ultrasound.
GHA in medicine stands for hysterosalpingography. This compound word actually means a familiar x-ray. Such a procedure is carried out in order to identify pathologies and to find out if the patency of the fallopian tubes is sufficient. The whole process takes place in a hospital and under the supervision of a doctor. Thanks to the GHA, you can get answers to many exciting questions, for example, to see the presence of an adhesion process.
Indications and contraindications for GHA
A woman is referred for GHA by a gynecologist after a thorough examination. In what cases can a doctor prescribe GHA fallopian tubes? Indications for the procedure:
Infertility of unknown origin. If the couple for a long time can not have children, and there are no visible reasons for this, the specialist directs the patient to the GHA of the fallopian tubes.
With an ectopic pregnancy, there may be a suspicion of obstruction of the fallopian tubes.
Inflammatory diseases in the field of gynecology suffered by the patient.
Suspicion of the presence of neoplasms, polyps, genital forms of tuberculosis.
The presence of chronic diseases.
Each of the above items may prompt the attending physician to send the woman to a more thorough examination using x-rays. But on the other hand, there are a number of contraindications, in the presence of which, GHA of the fallopian tubes is not recommended. Namely:
If a woman is pregnant or suspected of it.
GHA of the fallopian tubes is not done during spotting.
If there are infectious diseases during the period of exacerbation.
The GHA procedure of the fallopian tubes is prohibited in acute infectious diseases.
The presence of severe somatic diseases.
- Lactation period.
Preparation for GHA fallopian tubes
First of all, a woman who is preparing for such a procedure should be mentally prepared for this. There is no need to be afraid of pain or a bad result, the internal mood is very important in the treatment of infertility. As for the physiological plan, here the doctors make their patients the following requirements:
A week before the proposed procedure and within three days after it is necessary to refuse all vaginal remedies and douching, if this is not prescribed by a doctor.
Refrain from sex 3-4 days before the GHA and another 2-3 days after the examination.
Do not eat foods that can cause intestinal upset, bloating, gas formation. It is advisable to make a cleansing enema before the procedure.
For a while, abandon intimate hygiene products and intravaginal suppositories.
Before sending the patient to GHA, the doctor will first examine her on a gynecological chair and prescribe the necessary tests to determine if there are any contraindications. Judging by medical reviews, GHA of the fallopian tubes is best done in the first half of the menstrual cycle, so the chance of accidental pregnancy is minimized.
How is the GHA done
Hysterosalpingography is carried out only in stationary conditions under the supervision of a physician. Usually, a study is prescribed in the first half of the menstrual cycle, the fact is that at this time the endometrium of the uterus is not thickened yet, and the exit from the fallopian tubes does not close. In addition, in the first 2 weeks of the cycle, pregnancy is practically excluded.
So, the step-by-step procedure is as follows:
The patient lies on a special chair, similar to a gynecological, but intended for x-ray.
The doctor again examines the woman with a mirror.
Next, a special tube (cannula) is inserted into the cervix, which is connected to the syringe.
The uterine cavity is filled with a substance of a contrasting color with a syringe. The injected drug will fill the uterus and go through the fallopian tubes.
Next, x-rays are taken, which clearly shows the passage of the substance through the tubes.
The doctor takes a tube from the cervix and gives his recommendations regarding the next few days. On this GHA of the fallopian tubes is considered completed.
Deciphering the results
After the GHA is done and the doctor has pictures on his hands, conclusions can be drawn. If the pictures clearly show how the dye preparation filled the fallopian tubes, then the patency is good. If there are adhesions in the tubes, this will necessarily be reflected in the pictures. Also, with the help of this study, the doctor receives more information about the structure of the uterus itself. According to medical observations after the procedure, the probability of becoming pregnant increases several times.
Pregnancy after GHA fallopian tubes
Usually, after the GHA procedure, the doctor recommends that the patient preserve at least one cycle, after all, this is an x-ray that can adversely affect the fetus.
But often women who cannot become pregnant already do not listen to the doctor’s recommendations, believing that pregnancy will not occur anyway. But according to statistics, the probability of conception after GHA increases many times.
The fact is that if the woman’s fallopian tubes were initially passable or there were small errors, then after passing the radiopaque fluid, the mucus that forms during a sluggish inflammatory process is washed off, and the state of the epithelium improves, and “loose commissures” are destroyed.
If you believe the numerous reviews, GHA of the fallopian tubes carried out before conception does not affect the course of pregnancy and the development of the fetus. Many women gave birth to wonderful babies, becoming pregnant immediately after the GHA.
Effects
In most cases, the procedure is well tolerated by patients. However, there have been cases when some women have had allergic reactions to a drug injected into the uterine cavity. Especially at risk are women suffering from bronchial asthma, allergic to chemicals or iodine. Such patients can be done with GHA of the fallopian tubes when all relevant tests are completed.
In very rare cases, uterine perforation and heavy bleeding are possible. In cases where the instruments are not properly disinfected, an infection can enter the uterine cavity and, as a result, acute inflammatory diseases will occur.
Feeling after the GHA
Many women, before a significant day, are asking the question "Is it painful to do GHA of the fallopian tubes?" The procedure itself is painless, except for a little discomfort during the introduction of the catheter. Otherwise, the woman simply lies still during the picture.
Many representatives of the weaker sex noted minor pains in their lower abdomen after the procedure, resembling menstrual ones. In addition, dark discharge may appear - the remains of the substance and a small layer of the endometrium. It is not worth worrying about such discharge, another thing is if the patient discovers a bloody discharge, reminiscent of menstruation, in a day. In this case, you need to see a doctor.
How much is?
The price of the procedure depends on many factors, and each clinic has the right to set its own prices for the service. The total cost of the GHA will be based on factors such as:
Thus, depending on the region of location and the particular clinic, the procedure for checking the fallopian tubes can cost from 1,500 to 5,000 rubles.
Total
If you need to summarize the above, GHA of the fallopian tubes is a procedure extremely useful and necessary in the treatment of infertility and many other diseases. According to numerous reviews of women who survived such a procedure, it can be concluded that most patients did not experience any pain or severe discomfort. Others, on the contrary, noted that it was rather painful and even had to be anesthetized.
This suggests that the body of each woman is individual, and the pain threshold, respectively, also. In any case, GHA of the fallopian tubes is a very effective method for diagnosing pathologies and, if you see a doctor in a timely manner, will help you recover quickly and without complications.