Reproductive Conditions Treated With Surgery

Our surgeons treat a variety of conditions that can cause infertility. These include, but are not limited to:

• Blocked fallopian tubes: Scar tissue, adhesions, and long-term infection can cause fallopian tubes—tubes that connect the uterus and ovaries—to become blocked. Blocked fallopian tubes can lead to ectopic pregnancies, where the fertilized egg grows outside the uterus. They can also cause hydrosalpinx/hydrosalpinges (see below).  
• Endometriosis: In this chronic condition, the endometrium, or lining of the uterus, grows outside the uterus and into the abdominal cavity. Once this scar tissue is removed, a woman’s chances of getting pregnant are greatly enhanced. An added bonus to receiving surgery for endometriosis can be an end to chronic pelvic pain.
• Hydrosalpinx/Hydrosalpinges (swollen, damaged fallopian tubes): This condition occurs when a fallopian tube becomes blocked and fills with fluid, causing swelling and sometimes damage. Hydrosalpinx means when one tube is affected; hydrosalpinges means both tubes are affected. 
• Ovarian cysts: These fluid-filled, noncancerous sacs can form on the ovaries, affecting ovulation. Ovarian cysts can occur with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a common reproductive disorder that disrupts hormones and affects menstruation and ovulation, or as a result of endometriosis, where the abnormal tissue causes monthly bleeding in the ovary.
• Uterine fibroids: These noncancerous muscular growths in the wall of the uterus can get in the way of an embryo implanting on the uterine wall. Besides infertility, fibroids can cause heavy bleeding, pelvic pain, and bladder or rectal pressure. Yet many women do not have symptoms and only discover fibroids when trying to conceive without success.
• Uterine polyps: These noncancerous growths form from endometrial tissue and range in size. They can cause heavy bleeding, irregular menstrual periods, and infertility.
• Physical anomalies: Also called Müllerian anomalies, these birth defects cause the uterus or vagina to be misshapen, affecting fertility. Sometimes, surgery can successfully correct the structure of the anatomy and restore function.