Hi
I had a HSG about 9 yrs ago, fell pregnant a month after and gave birth to my son. Had a cornual ectopic 2 yrs ago with right tube removed and no success in conceiving since then. Do i need another HSG? Would i be allowed another? I’m 39 and have been told that it’s probably my age and only having 1 tube what is stopping me from falling pregnant again. Any advice greatly received.
Dear MrsB2b,
I am so sorry to hear of your ectopic pregnancy and loss,
Generally, when a person has only one fallopian tube and both ovaries, they are still able to get pregnant from an egg at the opposite ovary as an egg from one ovary can travel down the tube on the other side. The fallopian tubes are not attached to the ovaries and, at the point of ovulation, some very delicate structures called the fimbriae begin to move gently creating a slight vacuum to suck the egg toward the end of the tube it is nearest to (like lots of little fingers waving and drawing the egg towards it). So, if you have only one tube then there is only one set of receptors working and one set of fimbriae creating a vacuum and so the egg is much more likely to find its way to that tube, whichever ovary it is produced from. Conservative estimates suggest that an egg produced on the tubeless side manages to descend the remaining tube around 15 to 20% of the time.
Sadly I am not medically trained so cannot give you specific advice on further testing however, we advise that women under 35 should seek medical advice following 12 months trying to conceive and those over 35 should seek advice after 6 months. As you have been trying for over a year, I would think it worthwhile speaking to your doctors who can look into any appropriate tests for you and your partner and investigate further.
Sending much love,
Karen x
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