The tortuous tube: pregnancy rate following laparoscopy and hydrotubation

Abstract

256 infertile women whose ovulatory and related male fertility factors were normal were investigated by diagnostic laparoscopy and dye hydrotubation. The tubes were objectively classed into 4 groups--normal, patent with macroscopic tubal adhesions, patent with one tortuosity, and patent with multiple tortuosities. The latter group had a highly significant response to the above procedures and 66% were pregnant within 1 year and 81% within 2 years. No significant effect was found in the other 3 groups. This multiple tortuosity group represents the type of tube that significantly responds to treatment inherent in all tubal patency tests. Its pathogenesis and management are discussed.