Laparoscomy Eggs kept or not if good ? Would I use donations eggs or can mine be saved ?Do I need to worry about freezing eggs etc?

[Flashcloud1]

Laporoscomy - I'm waiting for operation with NHS. Been told follicles and eggs seem fine. They may cut the tubes because of possible Hydrosalpinx and if damaged. I can try IVF after this they've told me , I'm just worried are they going to keep my eggs and use them for the IVF process when they may be healthy? Or chucked them away just because my tubes may be damaged? Feeling anxious about this . Phoned reception and they said they think so. Il need to wait until prep in ten months to a year to ask. But it may be to late to do egg freeing privately then. I've been looking into egg freezing privately for peace of mind and back up. Or do I not need to worry really because they will keep my eggs I'd they are healthy? It's frustrating to think it'd be a waste otherwise and I will use donar eggs if needed but shame if mine were OK. :/

[mmmangos]

Hi Flashcloud1,

Sending you big hugs... I hope my response will allow you to breathe easier and de-stress... Having your tubes removed has absolutely no effect on your ovaries.

Your fallopian tube are not even directly connected to your ovaries, there's naturally a tiny gap between the ovary and the tube. Your ovaries are held in place by muscles and ligaments inside your body, so if/ when your tubes are removed, your ovaries (and all the eggs contained in them) will remain in exactly the same place that they are currently in, and will continue to function in exactly the same way, so your hormones won't be affected at all.

Assuming your hormones are already normal, you will continue to have the same hormonal fluctuations and cycles that you currently have, including ovulating each month and having your period as normal. Each month, one of your ovaries will continue to mature and release an egg, the only difference is that when it pops out into your body cavity, it won't have a tube to go down, it will just remain in your body cavity and break down and get cleaned up by your body naturally. There are no issues from that. Your uterus will also continue to function normally. The lining development each month is from the hormonal changes in your body. The only function of the tubes is to allow the egg to physically get from the ovary down into the uterus (and sperm may go up the tube to fertilise the egg during its journey), the tubes have no function hormonally, or anything else. The areas where the two tubes come into your uterus will be sealed, so the only opening will be at your cervix.

For anyone undergoing IVF/ fresh or frozen embryo transfer, the tubes are, at best, completely redundant anyway because for the egg collection operation, the eggs are harvested directly from the dominant follicles on the ovaries, the fertilisation obviously happens in the lab, and then at the time of transfer, the doctor places the embryo directly inside the uterus, where it will either implant itself or not implant itself. At worst, the tubes can cause problems, as you would have discussed with your specialist. If fluid from the tubes goes into the uterus, as in cases of hydrosalpinx, even if a viable embryo is already in there from an embryo transfer, the fluid can create an inhospitable environment for the embryo, which can prevent implantation. You can also get ectopic pregnancies, most commonly from the embryo getting stuck and implanting somewhere along the tube after natural fertilisation, but also even after an embryo transfer (although uncommon) it can move from the uterus up slightly into the tube (at the end where it enters the uterus). So, with no tubes, you will have no risk of an ectopic pregnancy.

So, if you are going to do IVF anyway, if there's any chance at all that your tubes are not perfectly healthy, it's much better to get them out. Although it means you won't be able to get pregnant the old fashioned way, it has no negative effect on IVF treatment, and potentially some positive effects on the outcome post-transfer.

Good luck for your laparoscopy. This "journey" truly sucks, but maybe this will be the start of some answers and positive outcomes for you. Wishing you all the best.

[Flashcloud1 in reply to mmmangos]

Hi mmangoes,

Thank you for your reply, it really helped clarify things. That's reassuring. I was frustrated at idea if the eggs and follicles seemed good, but the surgeon would of got rid of them anyways because of having to potentially get rid of the tubes. I thought they were all attached, didn't know there was a gap and they would leave them.

Its an emotional journey but thank goodness we have this chat and support with so many people experiencing the same journey. Sending hugs back thank you !