Women’s Health

Fallopian Tube Recanalization

A common cause of female infertility is a blockage of the fallopian tubes, usually as the result of debris that has built up.  Occasionally, scarring from surgery or serious infection can lead to a blockage as well.  Fallopian tube recanalization (FTR) is a non-surgical procedure to treat these blockages.

Recanalization is the medical term for “reopening”.  During the procedure, which does not require any needles or incisions, the physician will place a speculum into the vagina and pass a small plastic tube (catheter) through the cervix into the uterus.  Then liquid contrast, sometimes referred to as x-ray dye, is injected in order to visualize the uterine cavity and the fallopian tubes.  This will help determine if there is a blockage and whether is on one or both sides.  To clear the blockage, a smaller catheter and/or wire will be threaded through the first catheter and then into the fallopian tube.