Fallopian Tube Blockage Treatment

Several factors can affect fertility in a woman. This is because a woman’s reproductive system is quite complex. One of the most integral parts of this reproductive system is the Fallopian tubes. 

For this reason, any blockage in the fallopian tubes can negatively impact a woman’s menstrual cycle and potential fertility. Let's take an in-depth look at fallopian tube blockage.  

Key Takeaways

• Fallopian tube blockages occur when inflammation or scar tissue partially or fully blocks one or both tubes connecting the ovaries to the uterus.
• Some of the most common causes of blockages include bacterial infections, surgical complications, and endometriosis.
• A blocked fallopian tube can lead to infertility, but it is possible to treat a blockage and return to normal fertility.

What Are Fallopian Tubes?

Fallopian tubes are tube-like structures that facilitate fertilization and early embryo development. In fact, this is where these two take place. They also transport the developed embryo to the uterus. In essence, the fallopian tube works as a channel between your ovaries and your uterus. 

How do Fallopian Tubes Work?

The fallopian tubes play a key role in conception and pregnancy. They:

• Hold your eggs in place: Every month, your ovary releases an egg. The fallopian tubes have finger-like structures called fimbriae whose work is to sweep the egg into the tube, where the egg waits to be fertilized.
• Promote fertilization: After a man ejaculates in the vagina during sex, the released sperm travels through the vagina, into the cervix, the uterus, and eventually into your fallopian tubes where it will be fertilized. 
• Act as a channel: Fallopian tubes move the fertilized egg to your uterus, where it can grow into a fetus. 

Fallopian Tube Blockage

Fallopian tube blockage can happen for a variety of reasons. To understand the blockage, doctors look at where the blockage is. This many times indicates what’s causing the blockage. When the blockage is near the uterus, it’s known as a proximal blockage. This type of blockage is caused by tubal spasm, scarring, or blockage from debris.

In some cases, the blockage is located in the middle of the fallopian tube. This is known as a mid-segment blockage and is caused by pelvic adhesions, endometriosis, a previous ectopic pregnancy, or tubal ligation.

Blockages can also occur at the end of the fallopian tube (distal blockage or hydrosalpinx) and they can be caused by extreme endometriosis or prior pelvic infection.

Causes of Fallopian Tube Blockage

Blockage in the fallopian tubes can be caused by the following.

Ectopic Pregnancy

In an ectopic pregnancy, an embryo develops in the fallopian tubes. Normally, fertilization happens in the fallopian tubes and the fertilized egg (embryo) is then moved to the uterus for implantation. However, in some cases, this does happen. The embryo implants in the fallopian tubes and starts to grow there. 

An ectopic pregnancy can cause the fallopian tube to rupture since the space in the fallopian tubes isn’t enough for the embryo to grow. 

Symptoms of this can be abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding, shoulder tip pain, and dizziness or weakness.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection that affects upper reproductive organs, like the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. PID triggers an inflammatory response in the fallopian tubes, leading to the formation of scar tissue that can partially or completely block the tube. The blocked tubes prevent the movement of eggs from the ovary to the uterus, hinder fertilization, and potentially cause infertility.

Studies show that bacterial infections like chlamydia or gonorrhea are the most common cause of fallopian tube obstructions through pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a condition where the uterine endometrial tissue develops outside the uterus. According to the World Health Organization, endometriosis affects roughly 10% (190 million) of reproductive age women and girls globally. 

Endometriosis can cause fallopian tube blockage by causing tubal factor infertility. This is when inflammation, scar tissue formation, and physical obstruction prevent the egg from traveling through the tube to reach the uterus for fertilization.

Surgery

Surgery from cesarean section and ovarian cyst removal creates scar tissue and adhesions that can block fallopian tubes by binding them to other organs surrounding them. 

Symptoms of Fallopian Tube Blockage

Fallopian tube blockage can go without showing any symptoms and many women can go their whole life without knowing they have a blocked fallopian tube. Many women actually know they have blocked tubes when trying to get pregnant. 

In some cases, mild, regular pain on one side of the abdomen can signal a blocked fallopian tube. This usually happens when fluid fills and makes the fallopian tube larger. This is called hydrosalpinx.

Blocked Fallopian Tubes And Infertility

As already mentioned, blocked fallopian tubes can cause a type of infertility known as tubal factor infertility. This is because a blocked fallopian tube can interfere with the egg’s ability to reach the uterus and the sperm’s ability to reach the egg to allow fertilization to occur. Studies show that around 20 percent of female infertility cases are a result of a tube blockage. 

However, through assisted reproductive treatments like intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) one can still conceive and carry to term even with fallopian tube blockage. The compassionate healthcare professionals at Ivy Fertility will perform comprehensive tests and guide you to the right treatment. 

Fallopian Tube Blockage Treatment

Fallopian tube blockage is usually diagnosed when one is trying to get pregnant and this done using a Hysterosalpingography (HSG) x-ray, which looks at the fallopian tubes using a dye. This test is usually done within the first half of your menstrual cycle. 

In some instances, the HSG results can be false positive and your doctor may need to investigate further using laparoscopy. If any blockage is found, the doctor will give the next steps that usually lead to removing it. 

Fallopian tube blockages can be treated in the following ways. 

Laparoscopic Surgery

A laparoscopic surgery is the most common treatment for fallopian tube blockage. It involves making an incision on the abdomen and inflating the abdomen with gas to see the fallopian tubes and uterus using a laparoscope (a thin instrument with a camera and light). The blockage is then removed opening up the tubes.

Recanalization

Recanalization or reopening is similar to laparoscopic surgery. This is where the doctor places a speculum into the vagina and passes a small plastic tube (catheter) through the cervix into the uterus. A dye is put in through the catheter to help the X-ray camera see the blockage and fix it. 

Salpingectomy

A salpingectomy is the total removal of the fallopian tube that’s blocked, leaving the remaining fallopian tube intact to preserve future pregnancies. If both tubes need to be removed, the procedure is called a bilateral salpingectomy. 

Bottom Line

You can go your whole life without knowing you have a fallopian tube blockage. Nevertheless, blocked fallopian tubes can affect fertility and increase your chances of an ectopic pregnancy. Nevertheless, now advances in reproductive technology, women can still go ahead and start a family. Fallopian tube blockage is mainly treated through surgery but if you plan to get pregnant, your eggs can be retrieved before the surgery and fertilized using IVF.