QuestionDear Dr Ramirez,
My husband and I have been trying to conceive for the last 9 months with no success. After seeing a Fertility specialist he recommended, as a first point of investigation, that diagnostic laparoscopy surgery be conducted since I'd previously had PID.
I had surgery last week, a week prior to my period being due. In surgery, dilatation and curettage, a hysteroscopy and hydrotubation was also performed. We were still trying to conceive prior to surgery and our concern is the possibility of having being pregnant while all these tests were taking place during surgery.
He concluded that both my tubes were blocked as the dye didn't spill into my abdomen but that my tubes could have just spasmed. I'm due to have an xray in a months time to further confirm indeed blocked tubes which again falls during my luteal phase. My questions are:
- Why has he decided to proceed with these test during which I perceive as a risky phase?
- If I did have a fertilized egg in my tubes during surgery, would it have been adversely affected with hydrotubation and the dye test that he performed?
- Would the dye still have passed through and spilled into my abdomen if an egg was in my tubes?
- should I be concerned about having an xray during my luteal phase where there could be a chance of pregnancy?
Would really appreciate your help.
Kind regards,
Petra
Melbourne, Australia
Answer
Dr. Ramirez portrait
Hello,
Certainly your questions are valid, and somewhat true. You should discuss this with your physician so that he is aware of your concerns.
I do not do laparoscopy, hysteroscopy or hysterosalpingograms in the luteal phase unless the patient is on oral contraceptives. Because, as you point out, there is the risk of spontaneous pregnancy that could be affected by these procedures. I only do those tests on cycle day 5-12 of a normal cycle.
Because of your valid concern, I would reschedule the HSG to be cone in the proliferative phase (5-12). There should be no reason they cannot accommodate your desires.
Sincerely,
Edward J. Ramirez, M.D., FACOG
Executive Medical Director
The Fertility and Gynecology Center
Monterey Bay IVF Program
www.montereybayivf.com
Monterey, California, U.S.A.
check out my blog at http://womenshealthandfertility.blogspot.com
