Many couples don’t expect to have trouble getting pregnant. It’s normal for conception to take a few months–even a year is perfectly okay for most women. But if you’ve been trying for longer than that (or if you’ve been trying for 6 months and you’re over the age of 35) it’s probably time to see your doctor for another checkup, just to see if there’s anything you can do to improve your chances of conception.
There are plenty of factors to consider when it comes to fertility, and unfortunately they aren’t all simple.Your doctor will need to check your ovaries and perhaps your hormone levels to determine if you are releasing eggs (ovulating). From there–he or she will begin looking for structural problems that could be keeping the sperm and egg from joining and/or implanting for growth.
“According to FemVue, one out of every three couples struggling with infertility will have some sort of blockage in the fallopian tubes.”
That’s where FemVue comes in. FemVue is an in-office procedure to help Dr. Hessel (or your doctor) make sure your fallopian tubes are open and clear–so that an egg and sperm can join. That’s important stuff, if you didn’t know–because the egg and sperm meet in the fallopian tubes, not the uterus–so if something’s blocking their union, then no baby. According to the Society of Reproductive Medicine, an assessment of the fallopian tubes is a key component of an infertility evaluation.
According to FemVue, one out of every three couples struggling with infertility will have some sort of blockage in the fallopian tubes. There are plenty of ways to check for a blockage–including X-rays and even surgical procedures–but this means exposing your body to unnecessary anesthesia, contrast and radiation that can be avoided with a simple 30-minute in-office procedure.
How does FemVue work?
It’s simple really. You will be awake and won’t need any pain medication for the procedure. To begin, Dr. Hessel will use a speculum (the same tool she uses to open the vagina for a Pap smear) to visualize the cervix. Then a flexible, small tube with a balloon on the end is passed through the cervix and up through the uterus to toward the fallopian tubes.
Using ultrasound, Dr. Hessel will add normal saline (sterile water) and a bit of air to make bubbles through the tube. The bubbles will show up clearly on the ultrasound and she will be able to watch them flow through your fallopian tubes and out the other side if they are clear. If they are blocked, the bubbles will stop, and a problem will be easy to identify.
Who is FemVue right for?
Femvue is right for any woman who:
- has a history of irregular or no periods
- has suspected tubal disease or endometriosis
- has been taking Clomid or any of its similar drugs
- has been told she needs an HSG (hysterosalpingography)
Dr Hessel is proud to offer FemVue to her patients. If you would like to learn more, please contact our office or visit FemVue online and then give us a call–we’ll be happy to answer any of your questions.