...

Blocked Fallopian Tubes: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Blocked Fallopian Tubes

The most common cause of female infertility is tubal occlusion or blocked fallopian tubes. Fallopian tubes are crucial for the movement of ova from the ovaries to the womb. They are also the sites where fertilization occurs. When these tubes are dammed up, such sperm will not be able to reach the egg, resulting in unable to get pregnant. In this blog, we will get down to the details about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of the problem of blocked fallopian tubes, which affects reproduction as well.

Symptoms of Blocked Fallopian Tubes

Blocked fallopian tubes are often devoid of any clear symptoms. As a result, this makes it hard for women to understand the symptoms until it becomes problematic for them to conceive. In most cases, women are found to have a blockage in their fallopian tubes after one year of trying to get pregnant with no success. Yet, some signs include:

  • Abdominal or pelvic pain: Some women with blocked fallopian tubes may suffer from pain in the abdomen or pelvic area. Particularly during the monthly menstrual period.
  • Ectopic pregnancy: Besides such blockage, a fertilized egg is prevented from moving further down the fallopian tube and out into the uterus. This leads to implantation in tubes which results in ectopic pregnancy. Which, on the one hand, leads to effects such as pain in the belly and unusual discharge of blood through the vagina. And in some cases, it may even lead to a feeling of sickness.

While these symptoms can suggest a malfunctioning of the fallopian tubes, it needs to be mentioned that many women suffering from blocked fallopian tubes remain asymptomatic and discover the condition only when asking for infertility treatment.

Causes of Blocked Fallopian Tubes

A medical condition or complication may be the reason why fallopian tubes are blocked. This may result in scarring or injury to other structures. A few of the common causes include:

  • Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID): infection of female reproductive organs. Most commonly caused by sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as chlamydia or gonorrhea. It may lead to scarring and blockage of the tubes.
  • Endometriosis: This condition is characterized by the growth of tissues that normally line the inside of the uterus outside the uterine cavity. Even in the fallopian tube Causes blockage or adhesion.
  • Previous Surgeries: The surgeries done (especially) to the pelvis and abdomen. This can be appendicitis or surgery on the reproductive organs. Scar tissue from these operations can lead to the obstruction of the fallopian tubes.
  • Hydrosalpinx: This is the condition in which the distal end of the fallopian tube is filled with watery fluid. Obstructs the way for the egg and sperm.

All these conditions involve affecting the female reproductive system, including the fallopian tubes. This results in infertility or ectopic pregnancy in most cases.

How Blocked Fallopian Tubes Affect Fertility?

In assisted reproductive technology, the fallopian tubes are of critical importance during natural conception. Their primary purpose is to carry the ovum from the ovary to the uterus and to assist in fertilization. If one or both of the fallopian tubes are blocked, it becomes nearly impossible for the ovum and sperm to get together.

  • Single tube blockage : In the instance that one of the tubes is blocked, a woman can still get pregnant as the other tube is functional.
  • Both fallopian tubes are blocked:  When both fallopian tubes are blocked the likelihood of pregnancy occurring without any intervention is almost impossible. Here, some interventions like surgery or IVF will be necessary.

Diagnosis of Blocked Fallopian Tubes

It can be difficult to have a blocked fallopian tube diagnosed. Because tubes can open and close at different times, however, several diagnostic tests can help to diagnose a blockage in the fallopian tubes:

  • Hysterosalpingogram (HSG): An X-ray test is done after a dye is injected into the uterus to check the patency of the fallopian tubes. If the tube does not allow the dye to go through, then the tube is possibly blocked.
  • Sonohysterosalpingogram: This test is similar to an HSG; however, sound waves are used to find blockages in the fallopian tubes instead.
  • Laparoscopy: a minimal invasive surgery procedure where the fallopian tubes are visualized directly by inserting a small camera through a small incision into the abdomen. This technique is the most precise but is usually considered to be the last option since it is invasive.

Treatment for Blocked Fallopian Tubes

The management of obstructed fallopian tubes differs based on the severity of the blockage as well as its etiology. In such cases, surgical procedures may be done to clear the duct, particularly if the blockage is minor or due to fibrous tissues. Some of the widely used surgical methods include:

  • Surgical correction of the fallopian tube: The surgeon performs the removal of the fibrous structure or constructs a new fallopian tube.
  • Tubal sterilization: This is aimed at improving the outcomes of IVF and other fertility-enhancing procedures. It involves removing the diseased fallopian tube.

 

  • Tubal anastomosis: In case when patient earlier went through tubal sterlization & need to reanastomosis for that they can undergo Tubal anastomosis surgery. Although it’s much surety that complete anastomosis is possible.

For the women access to whom conservation of the tubes is difficult, most of the time in vitro fertilization (IVF) is suggested.

IVF with Blocked Fallopian Tubes

In cases where surgery is unsuccessful or impossible, IVF offers another option for conceiving. This is because artificial reproductive technique completely bypasses the fallopian tubes. It is therefore an effective solution for women suffering from blockage or damage. During artificial reproductive technique, Eggs are retrieved from the ovaries. It is then fertilized with sperm in the laboratory. and placed directly into the uterus. However, the success of IVF depends on many factors. including the woman’s age, the quality of your partner’s sperm, and the overall health of the reproductive system.

Complications of Surgery

Though surgery to unblock fallopian tubes restores the ability to conceive, there are also risks involved, including:

  • Infection: Like with every surgical procedure, tubal surgery involves a risk of infections.
  • Formation of excess fibrous tissues: In other cases, surgical procedures can thicken the tissue, leading to blockage of the tubes again.
  • Ectopic pregnancy: There is a risk of ectopic pregnancy after tubal surgery. If not treated, this may be life-threatening.

Women should discuss with their physician and consider all the advantages and disadvantages involved before opting for the surgical intervention.

Conclusion

Infertility in women is commonly associated with blocked fallopian tubes. However, in most cases, this problem is not identified until it is very difficult to conceive. Typical symptoms are not, however, always prominent. It is worth noting that pelvic infection, surgery, endometriosis, etc., can serve as risk factors for possible blockage of the fallopian tubes. Diagnostic examinations such as the HSG and endoscopy can reveal those symptoms. Treatment can be surgical or non-surgical, like in vitro fertilization.

Those looking for treatment for problems related to infertility caused by blocked fallopian tubes have various options. And indeed, after an appropriate treatment regimen, many individuals can get pregnant. Discuss with your fertility specialist the best approach based on your health records and reproductive aspirations.

Also Read : What is AMH ? High-Level AMH in IVF

Enquire Now