Hysteroscopy

[mandp82]

Hi, i am 38 with very low AMH and trying for baby number 2. I am moving from my UK ivf clinic to one in Greece because it is much cheaper. They have recommended I have a hysteroscopy before doing ivf with them. Just wondering if anyone else has done this and if it has helped things? I know the main problem is my low egg reserve but willing to try anything if it will help. many thanks

[Running79]

Before we started IVF that was one of the mandatory investigations the NHS did.

Along with running dye through you to make sure everything was clear and running okay.

Had the tubes been blocked that would of explained why we were not successful naturally, equally with egg collection, if your tubes are blocked the treatment would be a waste of time

So they are sensible to suggest it!

[mandp82 in reply to Running79]

ok thanks, i did start ivf with the NHS but they never suggested this although i did have the dye thing to check my tubes which were open at the time. However i’ve since had an ectopic pregnancy so had left tube removed.

Did you have the uterine cuts as well? my new clinic is suggesting to do this.

thanks

[Running79 in reply to mandp82]

No I didn’t I literally had the cavity check and dye - I was all good no issues there!!

I’ve also got a history of polyps which can effect implantation - fibroids is another one, also if you’ve had an ectopic I’m assuming they may want to check that there isn’t any of these that may have caused that - especially as they’ll be putting embryos back

[mandp82 in reply to Running79]

ok great, thanks for your message

[Indigoa in reply to Running79]

You don’t need your tubes for egg collection the eggs are retrieved directly from the ovary?

[Running79 in reply to Indigoa]

The eggs are normally collected through a catheter inserted into the cervix. A bit like a mini vacuum cleaner.

If you don’t have tubes the eggs can’t make their way into the uterus

[Indigoa in reply to Running79]

Very strange as I have blocked tubes and had 26 eggs retrieved via the ovaries. Taken out of each folicale which is how I thought it was always done. Weird

[Running79 in reply to Indigoa]

I’m not saying that they can’t retrieve them directly from the overies, I assume that would be a vastly more intrusive way of doing it then the normal way of collecting them in a catheter

[Indigoa in reply to Running79]

I think we mean the same thing as everything you are saying is correct as they get collected in a catheter that is passed through the vaginal wall and the eggs are drawn out by suction. All I’m saying is that Fallopian tubes are not used during this process they are missed out. The process I’m saying is not more invasive it’s the normal process. Just a confusion x

This is the first thing that comes up on google -

In IVF treatment, your egg does not need to be picked up by the fallopian tube but is collected directly from the ovary and fertilised in a lab, before the embryo is transferred to your uterus

[KateBrian in reply to Indigoa]

Just to clarify, IVF was originally developed for patients with blocked fallopian tubes and during IVF treatment eggs are collected from the follicles in the ovaries. You can find out more about how it works through the links on this page - rcog.org.uk/en/patients/fer...

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK in reply to Running79]

Hi. If you have blocked Fallopian tubes, you can still have IVF as we use your ovaries and womb. Often blocked tubes are clipped or removed prior to IVF/ICSI, to prevent any natural lubrcation leaking into the womb, as it is widely believed that the fluid could prevent a developing embryo from implanting. Ovaries can easily be stimulated in order to collect eggs ready for fertilisation in the laboritory. obviously blocked tubes would prevent IUI or treatment with medicaqtion such as Clomid. Hope that explains it for you. Diane

[Purpledoggy]

A hysteroscopy on its own might not be super helpful unless they are looking for something specific but I guess they may just want to rule out any sneaky abnormalities. I have had two due to longstanding abnormal bleeding and a suspect polyp seen on other imaging. They didn’t really help my TTC journey other than failing to identify any significant physical issues causing the bleeding (the polyp was tiny). I didn’t find either procedure onerous- they were fairly quick with some brief period type cramping. The biopsy they took for one was nippy as they did not use any local, but they don’t routinely biopsy unless there is a reason (mine was they thought the polyp was hiding so took a big chunk to try and remove it). Maybe you could ask the Greece clinic what they are looking for? Xx

[mandp82 in reply to Purpledoggy]

They said it was just something standard they do when people have had embryo transfers that haven’t worked. I guess i’ll go ahead. can’t do any harm!

thanks for coming back to me.

[Purpledoggy in reply to mandp82]

Good luck! Xx

[katiehopeful81]

For people who have had hysteroscopies were you able to do a FET on your next cycle or did you have to wait a month?

[Purpledoggy in reply to katiehopeful81]

Mine was a long fresh protocol and I started downreg the cycle after the hysteroscopy. You may be able to do FET the cycle after as people having an endo scratch during hysteroscopy do transfer the next cycle. But if you have a mass removed like a polyp they may say to wait one more cycle. Xx

[katiehopeful81 in reply to Purpledoggy]

Ok thanks for the info xx

[Cinderella5]

I had a hysteroscopy in Athens when I was having treatment. They sometimes do something out there called implantation cuts and have a look round to see I'd there is anything untoward that needs treatment and do that at the same time. I'm not sure whether I can say for sure that it helped me as they removed scar tissue and did lots of biopsies that ruled lots of things out but I did have success further down the line. I have however spoken to others that believe it helped them. Good luck.xx

[mandp82 in reply to Cinderella5]

Yes I think that is what they are planning to do on me. did you go on to have ivf at the Athens clinic? Was it successful? Thanks!

[Cinderella5 in reply to mandp82]

I did have treatment over there and thankfully we were successful in the end. I've just had twins though we had a few attempts and was using donor eggs. We had an ERA done in the UK and think that made a huge difference to us an my implantation window was out compared to normal ladies.xx

[mandp82 in reply to Cinderella5]

congratulations!

[Latetotheparty38]

How did you go? What protocol were you on? I am also 38 super low AMH and 4 failed rounds

[mandp82 in reply to Latetotheparty38]

Hi, i had the hysteroscopy last month and they didn’t find anything that they thought was stopping me getting pregnant. they did do the uterine cuts so hopefully that will help in the future. they also did a biopsy and found i had an infection so gave me antibiotics for that.

i’m planning to do ivf again on my next cycle. short protocol mild ivf but using letrozole and bemfola this time. not used these before.

are you going to give it another go?

[Latetotheparty38 in reply to mandp82]

Thanks! Yeah going to do a long protocol for the first time. I’ve only done flare so interested to see if this has an impact. Do they know how you would’ve got an infection in your uterus? I had a Hysteroscopy today but don’t know what they found yet x

[mandp82 in reply to Latetotheparty38]

no not sure. they said it might have been there a while. hope your next round is successful 🤞🤞