Hydrosalpinx and ovary cyst

[Sweetness]

Okay girls, I'm still having my pitty party about my BFN, that I got on Wedensday. Today I have felt well enough to do a little bit of research and was wondering if any one may think I'm on to something here. My dh and I have an apt. with our doctor on Monday to discuss why our cycle failed and what to do next. I'm going to pose this question to our doctor but I also wanted to know if anyone here has had a simular problem. I have a hydrosalpinix (fluid filled tube) in one tube; and my other tube is obliterated. I also have two cyts on my right ovary, one is 3cm and the other is 4cm. I believe this is why my right ovary only produced one follicle. Last Nov. I had a polyup removed from my uterus and my doctor did not believe removing the cyts at the time was warrented. She removes them if they are over 4cm but if they are smaller than that she is afraid of destroying good ovarian tissue.

Well I read some information today about hydrosalpinx and how the fluid leaks out and into the uterus. This fluid is toxic and embryos can not survive if it leaks while they are trying to implant. My question is have any of you ladies had hydro and if so did you have surgery to drain it, and go on to concieve in another IVF cycle? I know my hydro is bad and I don't know if it were to be drained in a surgery if it would not just fill up again later; or weather to have it removed all together.

I'm contemplating asking my doctor if she would advise this in my case as well as remove the two cysts. I just wonder if this was a factor in our embryo not surviving. For those of you who don't know I only had 9 follicles, six of which were empty. I had three eggs retrieved and only one fertilized, the other to were not mature enough. I'm pretty sure our insurance would cover this operation if I were to have it, because it is not a fertility procedure per say, and the cyts are causing me pain. I believe that is because my ovaries are still swollen from all the meds.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated, my dh and I want to try again but it is so expensive, and we want to ensure the greatest outcome for us by looking into this.

I'm sure it will be a few months before we can do another cycle because of the cost factor, but I just don't think I could bare to go through this pain again without exploring this last option. If this were a free service I would keep doing it until I had a baby, but sadly we are not rich so we have to wait a while. Anyway, if anyone can give me some hope I would be so greatful. Thank you ladies you are a very special group of people and I admire you all.

Sweetness
me 37
dh 38
very damaged tubes
1st IVF March 06 failed

[TEA]

Hi Sweetness

Your case sounds exactly like mine in May last year.

I went through my first ivf and without really thinking about it everytime I went for my follow up scans the dr kept asking if I had problems with my tubes. I was oblivious to the fact that I had any such problems and during my 2ww I did some investigating on the internet (as you do) to find out what it was. The word Hyrdosalpinx kept on rearing its ugly head on each page that I searched through and after reading all the information about them I was sure that I would get a BFN and I wanted someone to blame and why they hadn't explained this to me during my treatment.

My result was of course BFN.

I am lucky enough to have my first 2 ivf cycles on the NHS here in Britain but I felt that that was 1 go wasted. On my follow-up consultation I was told that if they would have stopped the treatment half way through, that would have been 1 of my goes gone. Therefore they allowed me to finish the treatment. I believe the success rate with this condition is about 10-15%!!

Anyway, I also had a cyst on my ovary, just the one but still it measured about 2-3cm each time I was scanned. By the way, on my egg collection for the first attempt they would only collect from the right side (good side) and would not even attempt to take eggs from the one with the cyst and hydro!! I ended up with 6 eggs so it wasnt too bad.

In Sept last year I had an operation to remove the hydrosalpinx which measured 5cm x 4cm x 5cm ??? weird shape I know They also aspirated the cyst.

I am now in my 2ww for my 2nd attempt (test date 29th March) and during my monitoring the cyst had returned but on EC they aspirated it again - although I only got 1 egg from that ovary.....

My advice would be to have the tube removed as it is not any good to you anyway as you said it was not in good health even if they did drain it and the fluid can always return.

I have read on other message boards for ivf of women that have had this condition and they had it removed and gone on to become pregant so I am keeping everything crossed for the same to happen to me.

We are of similar age and I think we have to try and put right what we can before going ahead with ivf as our results are not as good as the younger women anyway. You would just be throwing your money away if you have it drained. Try and get the op done on your insurance so your chances will be in line with the proper success rates then.

Hope this helps.

Sorry to hear about BFN - was that your first attempt?

[Sweetness]

Hi Tea~

Thank you so much for this information, I was feeling all alone in this. To answer you're question, yes this was our frist attempt at IVF and I'm very, sad. I had a tubal-ligation in 1990 got divorced and then remarried a wonderful man 2 years later. I have two daughters from that marriage, my oldest daughter is 20 and my youngest daughter will be 19 in May. It sounds like we do have a lot in common as far as our conditions. My doctor knew about the hydo from a post-op report I had given her from an attempt to repair them back in 1995. She is a wonderful doctor and she did not even mention that this fluid could leak into my uterus. I had no idea these hydros leaked toxic fluid, and I certaninly was not aware this could go into my uterus an kill my embryo.

I'm defenitly going to pursue this, so you think just taking the tube out all together is best? You are probably right, it does not function anyway and draining it and leaving it there could be risky. I just want the best possible chance to concieve, we will try one more time, but that will be the last time as well so I need to be absolutly sure I have done all I need to do to increase our odds. My tubal surgery caused this mess and I also have some endo as well, I can not beat myself up over the decison I made so long ago, but it is hard, at the time I felt I had no choice.

Thanks so much for sharing you're story with me, you have given me hope again, and to know that there are other women out there who had hydro, had it removed and went on to concieve is what I really wanted to hear. I hope you have a positive pg test next week, it sounds like you have been through quite a bit as well. Yes we are about the same age, I'm a year older than you. You said something about beind on the NHS, is that some sort of free service provided to infertile couples? I have seen that term before but I did not know what it stood for. WOW, what a blessing that would be to recieve quality free treatment for IVF. My dh said we should move to the UK

Please keep me posted on how you are doing, and again thanks so much for your story and this valuable information. What is the time diffrence in Britian? I'm of course in the U.S.A. Pacific Standard Time, but when I post something it always puts some way off crazy time on all my postings. Thank you again and good luck to you in your hope for a baby.

Sweetness
me 37
dh38
very damaged tubes
1st IVF March 06 failed BFN on 3/22

[TEA]

Hi Sweetness

Glad I could be of some help. NHS is the National Health Service here in Britain. We don't have to pay for health insurance as you do in USA although strictly speaking we do as the Government takes a very small percentage from our wages which goes directly into the NHS. Yes, I was very pleased that we fit the criteria for 2 free goes but also it is a bit of a postcode (zipcode) lottery as not everyone benefits from it. It all depends where you live (which is not fair). I could go into it a bit more but that gives you a small idea what its about.........

I really hope that you do look into it some more. I pushed my local obs/gynae dept of the hospital to do my operation as it was the hospital that referred me to the IVF clinic where I get the treatment. I go to the clinic here in Britain that made the very first IVF baby. They are very famous for that reason. It didnt take long to get it done and the recovery only took a week. It was done by keyhole surgery which makes your recovery so much quicker.

So you had your tubal-ligation the same year that I had my daughter (16 years ago). Sounds a long time doesnt it and I am so wanting the feeling of being pregnant again. I havent got long to go and at this very moment I am being so positive about it that I dont want it to end. I dread the test day as I am happily in a world of my own pretending that "I am pregnant".

We have a holiday booked to go to Dominican Republic in July/Aug of this year so if I get a negative I have that to look forward to although would be so ecstatic if I were pregnant I wouldnt care if the holiday had to be cancelled.

I will keep in touch with you up to the 29th March and let you know how I get on. I hope for your sake also that I get a BFP as I will be proof that it does work after the hyrosalpinx and cysts................

You must feel the way I feel. Although I have had a child I would love to have one with my new husband (married in 2002). He would be a great dad as he is to my daughter and would love to give him a child of our own.

Take care,

Let me know if you have the op or even if your dr advises that you dont need it removed.....

TEA xx

[TEA]

Hi Sweetness

http://www.fertilityfriends.co.uk/forum ... 623.0.html

Have been trying to hunt for the one that gave me hope a few months ago but couldnt find it although I think it was on the above message board somewhere.

Check out the above site and go to the message from Andrea (about 3rd or 4th one down on list). See how much she went through and then the final outcome. Will bring a smile to you face

TEA

[LisaB75]

Hello Tea and Sweetness. I was diagnosed with hydrosalpinx two years ago and had surgery then to unblock both tubes and drain the fluid. I had another HSG done this past october - and my right tube was still open but my left was blocked. At the time my doc seemed certain that the left wasn't full of fluid. I am currently stimming and had my second scan done this past saturday. I only have 9 follicles, which I was disappointed in, and they discovered my left tube is full of fluid again. I was feeling pretty positive until then. I had another scan this morning and I told the doc I was concerned about the fluid and he was like "why?". Kind of made me feel stupid... Anyway -I have read a lot on the topic too and I know that the fluid can kill embryos. He said that the fluid is "no big deal" and that it may decrease my odds a little - but there are lots of women who have successful IVF with hydrosalpinx. So, we are going ahead with EC on Thursday and ET after that. If this cycle fails - I am going to push them to remove the tube although there are some women who say their docs have told them that removing the tube can cause more damage somehow, therefore making treatment more difficult. I will let you know if I get more information. Sweetness - I know you were feeling pretty down last week and I am glad to see you looking forward again. Good luck to both of you - wishing you BFPs!!!

[TEA]

Lisa

I wish you all the best with your EC and ET.

I really don't know what to say as naturally you would trust what your dr has said in that there is nothing to worry about.

I on the other hand did loads and loads of rummaging on the internet. All I had to put into google was "ivf fluid filled tube" and it came up with loads and loads of information about it, ALL DETRIMENTAL INFO!!

You can see that I have had mine removed as my IVF clinic advised that this was either removed/or clipped off before they would allow me to have another go.

If you are paying privately I would suggest you see your consultant and speak to him about your worries prior to ET. It costs a lot of money for each cycle and it may be that you will be throwing your money away. As you dr said, the success rates are lessened with these hydros - perhaps you could ask him what these rates are reduced to.

I had a standard 2 day transfer on my first attempt and looking at the information my chances were 10/15% success which is not a lot at all.

I am nearly at the end of my 2nd attempt (test on 29th eeeekkkk) and I am really hoping that I get a BFP. I think the hydro could have been my whole problem of infertility for the past 16 years!!!!!

Don't know whether you have had a look at the link above that I typed. It really gives me hope that after this horrible condition, there is success.

I know you don't have long with deciding what to do but I wish you all the best. - Keep in touch.

TEA x

[LisaB75]

Thanks Tea! I did check out the link you posted and it does give me some hope. I googled "hydrosalpinx in IVF" and none of the news is good. It says implantation chances decrease by 60%!! It also says that, if you have the hydro removed, chances go back to normal again - which is excellent news for you! Good luck w/your test on the 29th!! You are almost there!

[Sweetness]

Hey Tea, and hello Lisa,

Im sorry I have not been on the board, I was sick yesterday and Sunday. Thank you Lisa for your kind words and input, Tea I have not looked at the link yet that you provided but I'm about too. I wanted to let you know that my dh and I spoke with my doctor yesterday and the news was not good. I have severe endo on my right ovary as well as the 2 cysts this of course has really deminished my egg supply. She said I have the egg supply of someone in their late 40's! I asked her about the hydro. she said because my tubes were ligated, burnt and cealed and both ends, that it will not leak and to remove it is not nessassary unless it causes me pain. She did say the fluid is toxic and if it leakes into a womans uterus it is like a swimming pool to an embryo and it can not attach. But she was sure in my case it does not leak, they even kept an eye on it at each ultrasound and I was not even aware of that. If I want her to remove it like I said she will, but because it does not leak or seem to cause me pain she saw no reason to put me through a surgery. Now my ovary causes me pain from time to time but unless it gets worse or constant I will not worry about it.

So she did say if it was her she would try one more time with her own eggs, even though I don't have many, there "might" be a few good ones left. Our other option is a donor egg which ups our chances tremendously, but of course we want to try with mine one more time. I just don't know, I'm very discouraged about my egg supply, we have to do a lot of praying and talking about this before we decide. This is so hard, and I'm still so sad, and it's not fair, but getting angry does not help anything. I have never gotten angry, just very sad. Tea, I know your pg test is tomorrow I will pray you have a BFP, please don't forget to let me know..

Sweetness
me 37
dh 38
Very damaged tubes
1st IVF cycle March 06 BFN

[LisaB75]

Sweetness,

I am sorry to hear that you had some bad news at the doctors. The good news is that there is still hope. Keep praying, keep the faith. I am a strong believer that everything happens for a reason and things will turn out the way God intended them to be. If your doctor wants to try another round with your eggs, then she must believe there is still a good chance it will work! And who knows - maybe donor eggs will turn out to be your solution if the next cycle fails. I know the feelings of frustration so well - of unhappiness, despair, why me? But hang in there - you will feel better soon.

I would take it as good news that you don't have fluid in your tubes. I am very concerned about mine and have had a lot of negativity flow through my mind in the past 48 hours. I know I have a slim chance of this IVF working even though my docs act like it is no big deal - I know that it IS a big deal. I am sure my docs just want me to stay positive. It's just so hard after the years of trying, the meds, the hormonal ups and downs, not to mention the money I have spent, now the knowledge that the odds are stacked against me. But we are on this journey for a reason and i believe some day we will discover what that reason is. I am thinking of you dear - please keep in touch so we can help each other through this.

Just to let you know - Tea got a BFN. I just read it on the general forum.

Tea, if you are reading this, my heart goes out to you. I can only imagine your disappointment. Cry, get angry, let it all out - then realize there is still hope and don't give up! I will pray for you.

[VickiJ]

I had the same thing my Re tied my tubes because he did not want the fluid to leak out and lessen my chances. When they tied my tubes they also cleaned the cysts off. after 3 IVF cycles I am 30 weeks pg with a little boy. I wish you lots of luck