[Female infertility: the tubal factor].

Abstract The introduction of medically assisted procreation techniques in the late '70s was an important turning-point for women with tubal infertility and still today the tubal factor, together with the male factor, is the main indication for medically assisted procreation. The outcomes of these in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments is not significantly different from those of other indications with the exception of women suffering from hydrosalpinx. There is a detrimental effect of hydrosalpinx on the pregnancy rates in women who underwent a IVF cycle and a higher miscarriage rate. It is not yet known which is the mechanism influencing negatively the embryo implantation. However, there is agreement for the surgical removal of the salpinx improving the outcome in assisted reproductive technology (ART), whereas surgical distal tubal repair is the treatment of choice only for patients with preserved tubal mucosa.