If you have trouble getting pregnant and your doctor says it's because your fallopian tubes are blocked, a procedure called tubal cannulation may be for you. Unlike fallopian tube surgery, your doctor doesn't have to make any cuts in your body. You usually don't need to stay overnight in a hospital after the procedure.

What Happens During Tubal Cannulation Your doctor inserts a tube through your vagina called a catheter, which is guided over a wire. Either ultrasound or real-time moving X-rays of the fallopian tubes may be used to help your doctor find the correct spot. He opens up the blocked area using a balloon on the catheter or with the wire. Tubal cannulation may be done immediately after you have a procedure called hysterosalpingography In this, your doctor flushes dye through the catheter to identify and locate a fallopian tube blockage. You may or may not get anesthesia during the procedure. Your doctor might give you a mild sedative to help you relax.

Is Tubal Cannulation Right for Me? You should get it done only if an imaging test clearly shows a blockage in one or both of your fallopian tubes. The procedure is most successful when the blockage is in the part of the tube closest to your womb. You may hear your doctor call this a "proximal tubal obstruction." If the imaging test shows a blockage, some doctors recommend that women consider tubal cannulation before having more expensive fertility procedures, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF).