Blocked Fallopian Tubes : Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Blocked Fallopian Tubes: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

What is Blocked Fallopian Tubes? The fallopian tubes are part of the female reproductive system connecting the ovaries to the uterus. They play a role in transporting the egg from the ovary to the uterus and allow sperm to reach the egg. When the fallopian tubes are blocked, it prevents sperm from reaching the egg, thus hindering fertilization.

this case can occur due to various causes. This article will discuss these causes, symptoms, treatment, and how blockage affects pregnancy.

Symptoms of Blocked Fallopian Tubes

Often, there are no noticeable symptoms of blocked fallopian tubes except for difficulty conceiving, which is defined as trying to get pregnant for a year without success.

In some cases, this problem may cause symptoms such as:

Pelvic or abdominal pain, which often occurs regularly, such as during menstruation.
Ectopic pregnancy, which can cause pain on one side of the body (pelvic area) or light vaginal bleeding.

Causes of Blocked Fallopian Tubes

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) most commonly causes this condition, often resulting from sexually transmitted infections (STIs), though not all PID cases link to STIs.

Other potential causes of this case, include:

Current or past STIs, specifically chlamydia or gonorrhea.
History of uterine infections due to miscarriage.
Abdominal surgeries, including those involving the fallopian tubes.
Previous ectopic pregnancy.
Endometriosis.
History of appendicitis.

Impact of Blocked Fallopian Tubes on Pregnancy

Blocked fallopian tubes are a common cause of infertility. As previously mentioned, sperm and egg meet in the fallopian tubes for fertilization. Thus, blockage prevents this process from occurring.

If both tubes are completely blocked, treatment is necessary for natural pregnancy. However, if one tube is partially blocked, pregnancy might still be possible, but the risk of ectopic pregnancy increases.

If only one fallopian tube is blocked and the other remains healthy, the egg can still pass through the healthy tube, so fertility may not be significantly affected.

Treatment for Blocked Fallopian Tubes

If only one tube is blocked and the woman remains otherwise healthy, the condition typically does not prevent pregnancy or significantly affect fertility rates.

The primary treatment for this case is surgery. Here are some surgical options:

Laparoscopic Surgery

In some cases, laparoscopic surgery can help open blocked tubes or remove scar tissue. Factors influencing the success of this procedure include:

Age, younger women typically have better success rates.
Severity and location of the blockage.
Cause of the blockage.

If the tube is blocked but healthy, surgery offers a 20-40% chance of pregnancy. However, keep in mind that these surgeries may not always succeed.

Tubal Reversal Surgery

This surgical procedure involves reconnecting blocked or cut sections of the fallopian tubes, allowing eggs and sperm to pass through the tubes again for fertilization.

Other Treatments

If surgery does not improve pregnancy chances, other options include:

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

If surgery does not enhance the chances of pregnancy, IVF is often a viable option. Doctors retrieve eggs directly from the ovaries and fertilize them with sperm in a lab. They then select healthy embryos and transfer them to the uterus.

Although IVF does not require functional fallopian tubes, some research suggests that inflamed tubes can significantly reduce the success rates of IVF. If there is a hydrosalpinx (fluid-filled tube), doctors might recommend removing the affected tube through surgery before attempting IVF. After recovery, the patient can proceed with IVF.

References:

Hersh, E. (2019, May 15). What you should know about blocked fallopian tubes. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/womens-health/blocked-fallopian-tubes#symptoms

Blocked Fallopian Tubes: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment