In the reproductive system, the fallopian tubes are where fertilization takes place. It’s where the sperm meets the egg. From here, the fertilized zygote travels to the uterus, where it implants and grows into a fetus.
Blocked fallopian tubes are common among the many possible causes of infertility. If you want to fall pregnant and you suspect your fallopian tubes are blocked or damaged, you will be pleased to know that there are two ways to get pregnant, even with blocked fallopian tubes: repair your fallopian tubes with advanced microsurgery or bypass the fallopian tubes through in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment.
Here are 7 simple steps to follow if you want to overcome the challenge of blocked or damaged fallopian tubes and get pregnant.
Step 1- Know Symptoms of blocked fallopian tubes
Blocked fallopian tubes don’t often cause symptoms. Many women don’t know they have blocked tubes until they try to get pregnant and have trouble.
In some cases, blocked fallopian tubes can lead to mild, regular pain on one side of the abdomen. This usually happens in a type of blockage. This is when fluid fills and enlarges a blocked fallopian tube. Conditions that can lead to a blocked fallopian tube can cause their own symptoms. For example, endometriosis often causes very painful and heavy periods and pelvic pain. It can increase your risk for blocked fallopian tubes.
Step 2 – Understand why fallopian tubes are so important in getting pregnant
If your fallopian tubes are damaged or blocked (called tubal factor infertility) the egg and the sperm are prevented from interacting, and the proper movement of embryos along the tube to the uterus is obstructed, preventing a pregnancy.
Step 3 – Understand how fallopian tubes can be damaged or blocked
The fallopian tubes are delicate structures, as thin as the lead of a pencil. For this reason, they can easily become blocked or damaged, which is called tubal infertility.
Also known as one of the causes of fallopian tube damage is the use of the intra-uterine contraceptive device (contraceptive “loop”), especially when there is more than one sexual partner. Other possible causes include endometriosis and sexually transmittable disease such as gonorrhoea resulting in infection of the fallopian tubes.
Step 4 – Contact a specialist fertility clinic
Given how crucially important your fallopian tubes are in falling pregnant, and how very delicate and easily damaged they are, it is clear that falling pregnant with damaged or blocked fallopian tubes will require the help of specialists.
Step 5 – Attend your initial consultation
At the initial consultation, you will meet one of our four IVF specialists to discuss your options and start to plan your journey to parenthood.
Step 6 – Determine if – and to what extent – your fallopian tubes are damaged or blocked
The position and severity of the damage or blockage will determine which treatment is right for you.
Step 7 – Choose your treatment
If it has been established that your Fallopian tubes are blocked or damaged, are two options for treatment to enable your pregnancy: tubal surgery and IVF treatment.
Can you get pregnant naturally with blocked fallopian tubes?
Yes, you can get pregnant naturally or with the assistance of an IUI with one Fallopian tube open. However, if both tubes are blocked, then an in vitro fertilization (IVF) may be required.
If you have only one fallopian tube. Is it possible to get pregnant?
Yes. The fallopian tubes are a pair of tubes that eggs travel through to get from the ovaries to the uterus. Each month, during a process called ovulation, one of the ovaries releases an egg that travels down one of the fallopian tubes, where it may or may not be fertilized by a sperm.
You might have only one fallopian tube if you’ve had pelvic surgery for an infection, a tumor or a past ectopic pregnancy. Occasionally, some women are born with only one tube. However, you may still be able to get pregnant with only one tube if:
- You have at least one functioning ovary
- You have monthly menstrual cycles (ovulate)
- Your remaining fallopian tube is healthy
If you’re unable to get pregnant after trying to conceive, or if you have a known history of problems with your fallopian tube, see your gynecologist or a reproductive endocrinologist for evaluation.
Where does the egg go if fallopian tubes are blocked?
When these tubes are blocked, they do not permit sperm to travel to the ovary, and also, they cannot transport the fertilized egg for transportation into the uterus. When the egg is fertilized, and after the first stages of embryo development, this embryo has a four days journey to the uterus.
How common is blocked fallopian tubes?
Tubal disease or blocked fallopian tubes account for half of all female infertility. “To understand why this is such a common problem, it helps to think about the woman’s anatomy,”.
Outlook for this condition
Blocked fallopian tubes can cause infertility, but it’s still possible to have a child. In many cases, laparoscopic surgery can remove the blockage and improve fertility. If surgery isn’t possible, IVF can help you conceive if you’re otherwise healthy.