Summaries for consumers

The effectiveness of fallopian tube surgery to overcome infertility caused by tubal disease cannot be determined at present.

Tubal surgery to overcome infertility caused by tubal disease is becoming popular due to the success rates (livebirths), advances in surgical techniques. including microsurgery, and because of the adverse outcomes and costs related to in vitro fertilisation (IVF), which is another option for overcoming tubal infertility. Tubal surgery, however, is also expensive; it requires additional specialist training for gynaecologists, experience to perform, and can have adverse effects (including ectopic pregnancies), and operative risks. Waiting to become pregnant without treatment (expectant management) is another option for women with tubal infertility. This review could not identify any clinical trials that compared tubal surgery with either IVF or expectant management.  The authors conclude that at present the available research is not adequate to determine the effectiveness, or otherwise, of tubal surgery compared to either IVF or expectant management. More research is needed, including information about adverse outcomes and costs.

Infertility: Overview

Not being able to have children is often a source of great emotional turmoil. Many men and women take it for granted that they will be able to have children. If they are not able to conceive, many couples start looking for medical help at some point. A number of different treatments are available, depending on the possible causes of infertility.

Intrauterine insemination versus fallopian tube sperm perfusion for non‐tubal infertility

Review question: This review compared intrauterine insemination versus fallopian tube sperm perfusion in the treatment of non‐tubal subfertility, for live birth and pregnancy outcomes.

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