Are my fallopian tubes working?

Using ultrasound imaging, we can test if your fallopian tubes are open. Visit our East of England clinics, including those in Cambridge, Colchester, Norwich and Wickford, for expert fertility tests.

The fallopian tubes play a vital role in natural conception. They are the place where sperm and egg meet and where the embryo is nurtured for the first five days of its existence. We test them using the HyCoSy diagnostic test.

This involves placing a thin catheter into the uterus. A small balloon on the tip is inflated to seal the uterus entrance. Once in place, a small amount of effervescent fluid is injected into the uterus.

By ultrasound imaging the fluid can be tracked in real time as it passes from the uterus and through the fallopian tubes. If the fluid is seen spilling from the end of each tube, tubal patency is confirmed. If this fails to happen, the tubes may be damaged.

The procedure is similar to an internal examination like a smear test and is available at our clinics in Cambridge, Colchester, Norwich, Wickford and throughout the East of England. It is best carried out between day eight and day 15 of your cycle, although it can be done at any time after bleeding has stopped.