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25-07-2024 Team Medicover fertility

Written by Medicover Team and Medically Reviewed by Dr Beena Rawat

Fallopian Tube Blockage: Its Causes, Symptoms And Treatment

Fallopian tubes, also called uterine tubes, are two fine tubes on either side of the uterus that carry a mature egg from the ovary to the uterus and the motile sperm that swim up through the cervix.

The tubes are lined with ciliated epithelia, which move back and forth to help the egg move from the ovary into the uterus each month. They also help move the sperm towards the egg.

The ciliary action of the epithelia also helps the fertilised egg move down the fallopian tubes into the uterus. Any scarring or adhesions in the fallopian tubes can cause a blockage that affects a Fertility 's fertility.

What Is a Fallopian Tube Blockage?

A fallopian tube blockage is any obstruction in the tubes that prevents the egg from travelling down the uterus and also prevents the sperm from reaching the egg, thus affecting fertilisation and pregnancy. It can occur in one or both tubes and is the cause of female infertility in 40% of cases.

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Functions of Fallopian Tubes in Reproduction

Egg Transport: After ovulation, the egg is released from the ovary into the fallopian tube.
Fertilization Site: The fallopian tube is where the sperm meets the egg.
Passage to Uterus: Once fertilized, the embryo travels through the tube to implant in the uterus.

A blockage at any point along the tube disrupts this process and can prevent pregnancy.

Types of Fallopian Tube Blockage

Proximal Tubal Blockage: Near the uterus.
Mid-segment Blockage: Middle section of the tube.
Distal Tubal Blockage: Near the ovary, often due to hydrosalpinx (fluid-filled tubes).

Fallopian Tube Blockage Symptoms

The fallopian tube blockage symptoms are infrequent. Most women don’t even know they have blocked tubes until they try to get pregnant and then face difficulty in conceiving.

Period pain
Pain during sex
Pain while urinating

Recommendation:

Consult a doctor if any of these symptoms arise.

Hydrosalpinx:

A blockage in the fallopian tube. This causes the tube to swell and fill with fluid Symptoms includes :

Lower abdominal pain
Extreme pelvic pain
Unusual vaginal discharge

Fallopian Tube Blockage Causes

The most common reasons for a blocked fallopian tube are

Inflammatory pelvic disease can lead to scarring of tissues and infections and can cause hydrosalpinx, which is the abnormal collection of fluid in the fallopian tube, thus blocking the tube.
Sexually transmitted diseases like Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea can cause scarring of tissues, which can cause the tubes to get clogged.
Tuberculosis of the genital tract mainly targets the fallopian tubes and the uterus, thus affecting the chances of conception.
Previous surgery of fallopian tubes can cause pelvic adhesions that block the tubes.
Prior operation of ectopic pregnancy can also cause blockage of fallopian tube by scarring of tissues.
The growth of fibroids, which are attached near to the uterus can block the fallopian tubes.
Endometriosis can cause endometrial tissue to accumulate in the fallopian tubes and cause a blockage. Adhesions caused by the growth of endometrial tissues on the outer parts of other organs can also create a tubal blockage.
Congenital tubal obstruction is a rare cause of blocked fallopian tubes that is present from birth.

Diagnosis Of Fallopian Tube Blockage

Blocked tubes are diagnosed using a specialised X-ray called a hysterosalpingogram (HSG).

Involves placing a dye through the cervix and taking X-rays of the pelvic region.
If there is no blockage, dye passes through the uterus and fallopian tubes, spilling into the pelvic cavity.
If the dye doesn’t pass, a blockage might be present, though HSG can give false-positive results.
Laparoscopy, considered highly accurate, can also diagnose tubal blockages.
An ultrasound called a sonohysterogram uses sound waves to create an image of the fallopian tubes.
Saline salpingo sonography (SSG) is performed under ultrasound:
Involves passing sterile saline through the uterus to check fluid flow through the tubes.
This test needs to be more accurate.

Is The Fallopian Tube Test Painful(HSG TEST)?

It depends on some women having mild to moderate cramping, and in some, the dye passes through the uterus and then into the fallopian tubes without causing any pain. However, if the tubes are blocked, the dye can create pressure, which can eventually cause discomfort and pain.

Treatment For Blocked Fallopian Tube

The fallopian tube blockage treatment would depend on the severity of the obstruction.

If the blockage is due to fallopian tube scarring that is not very complicated and less in amount, then laparoscopy surgery is recommended to check the patency and open the tubes.
To repair tubes that are damaged either by ectopic pregnancy or due to the presence of a damaged fallopian tube-, surgery may be done to remove the damaged part and restore the healthy part.
If the tubes are very severely damaged, it may affect fertility, and then it is advisable to proceed with IVF technology. It is a process in which fertilisation takes place outside the body by retrieving eggs and sperm, and the embryo thus formed is transferred back to the uterus for implantation.

Blocked Fallopian Tubes And Pregnancy

The Fallopian tube blockage can also cause infertility. The sperm and the egg unite in the fallopian tube, and if the tubes are blocked, then the sperm and egg cannot meet, and fertilisation wouldn’t happen, thus affecting fertility.

If both tubes are blocked, pregnancy is not possible without treatment to increase the chances of conception.
If one tube is blocked, pregnancy chances decrease by half as it is unpredictable which ovary will release an egg.
Fertility drugs may be suggested to increase the chances of ovulation on the side with an open fallopian tube.

If a fallopian tube is partially blocked:

A Fertility can get pregnant, but the risk of ectopic pregnancy increases.
Clogged tubes should be bypassed with IVF technology, provided sperm, egg, and womb (uterus) are healthy.

How to Remove Fallopian Tube Blockage

Medicover Fertility Clinics are among the top fertility clinics in Europe and India. We have a team of highly dedicated, skilled, and experienced doctors who have successfully treated men and women with infertility. Our success rate is high because we use the most advanced technology in Assisted Reproductive Techniques (ART).

Blocked fallopian tubes are a common cause of infertility in women. Surgery on the blocked tubes may lead to complications such as infection and scar tissue, which can increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy. In such cases, IVF is recommended to bypass the fallopian tube. Our services have helped many couples who had lost hope after multiple failed attempts at parenthood.

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Citations

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01443610500239396

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.7863/jum.1994.13.6.429

https://academic.oup.com/humrep/article/22/7/1861/2357490

Frequently Asked Questions

There’s limited scientific evidence that natural remedies can reverse tubal blockage. While some therapies may improve overall reproductive health, surgical or medical intervention is often necessary to restore tubal function.

Yes, ovulation can still occur even if one or both tubes are blocked. The issue lies in the egg’s inability to travel through the tube to meet sperm for fertilization.

Recovery from tubal surgery usually takes 1 to 2 weeks for laparoscopic procedures. However, healing time may vary depending on the surgical technique and individual health.

If a hydrosalpinx (fluid-filled blocked tube) is present, it can lower IVF success rates. In such cases, the tube is often removed or clipped before IVF to improve outcomes.

Hydrosalpinx is a type of fallopian tube blockage where the tube is filled with fluid due to infection or injury. Other blockages may not involve fluid but still prevent egg passage.

While stress does not directly block fallopian tubes, chronic stress can impact overall reproductive health and hormonal balance, possibly affecting fertility.

Hormonal contraceptives don’t prevent tubal blockage directly but may reduce the risk by lowering the chances of pelvic infections and endometriosis flare-ups.