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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.
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.
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 salpingosonography (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.
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Book an AppointmentHow to Remove Fallopian Tube Blockage
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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.
Citations
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01443610500239396https://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
If fallopian tubes are blocked partially, then laparoscopy might be recommended but based on other parameters like age/semen analysis for unblocking fallopian tubes. If the blockage is complicated by the presence of a significant amount of scar tissues and adhesions, surgery may not be possible.
It is the other way, an infection caused due to a previous miscarriage can cause the fallopian tubes to get blocked.
A blocked or damaged fallopian tube causes tubal infertility as it hinders the sperm and egg union, thus affecting fertilisation. It also blocks the passage of a fertilised egg into the uterus.
Fallopian tube blockage generally does not affect periods or menstruation cycle other than some pain or discomfort. Even if both the tubes are blocked, it won’t affect periods. However, the diseases that cause the tubes to get blocked can affect the ovaries and Endometrium and, in these cases, periods might become irregular or heavy.
Blocked fallopian tubes prevent pregnancy as it hinders the meeting of the sperm and the egg, and also obstructs the motion of the fertilised egg into the uterus. Surgery may be done to remove the blockage, but this treatment is not that effective as it can lead to ectopic pregnancy. Best is to move with IVF for the chances of a successful pregnancy.
The fallopian tubes are blocked basically due to scar tissue, pelvic adhesions or infection, which might prevent the Fertility from getting pregnant.
The fallopian tubes get blocked due to a number of factors like hydrosalpinx which is the abnormal collection of fluid in the tubes, due to scarring or some adhesions due to endometriosis.
There are three basic keys to diagnosing blocked fallopian tubes, they are and X-ray, Ultrasound, or Laparoscopy.
The most common cause of fallopian tube blockage is due to pelvic inflammatory disease, which might be a result of sexually transmitted infections or disease.
There are three basic keys to diagnosing blocked fallopian tubes, they are and X-ray, Ultrasound, or Laparoscopy.Some of the home remedies to unblock fallopian tubes naturally are quitting to smoke, having more vitamin C rich foods, managing stress etc, however, in many cases it needs surgeries like laparoscopy to unblock the fallopian tubes.
Women with blocked fallopian tubes sometimes experience symptoms such as pain in the pelvis or belly. Moreover, ectopic pregnancy can also be caused due to blocked fallopian tubes, where the implantation of embryo happens on the tubal walls itself.
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