Becoming pregnant might look like a straightforward process. However, a report by the World Health Organization (WHO) states that one in every six people struggles with infertility. Tubal blockage is one of the common causes of female-factor infertility. In fact, up to 30% of the infertility cases in women are linked to tubal blockage.
You might wonder what tubal blockage is, what exactly causes it, and how to know if your fallopian tubes are blocked. We’ve discussed everything about tubal blockage, how it affects fertility, and the symptoms to look out for.
Role of Fallopian Tubes in Pregnancy
Fallopian tubes connect your womb to the ovaries. They work both ways, allowing sperm to travel up the tube to meet the egg and guiding the fertilized egg down to the uterus for implantation.
These have a fimbriae (finger-like structure) at the end, which catch the egg after it’s released from the ovary. A fallopian tube plays a very crucial role in fertilization, as that’s where the sperm and egg meet. This fertilized egg travels through one of these tubes to the uterus, where it implants and develops into an embryo.
Understanding Blocked Fallopian Tubes
A blocked fallopian tube is exactly what the name suggests. One or both tubes can get blocked due to pelvic infections, scarring from the previous surgery, and other causes. The blockage prevents sperm from traveling up the tube and meeting the egg. Or, if they meet, the fertilized egg might never travel through these tubes to implant in the womb. In either case, pregnancy is highly unlikely.
Causes of Blockage
- Pelvic Infections: Pelvic infections that occur after childbirth, miscarriage, abortion, or other causes can increase your risk of adhesions and scarring, which can eventually cause a blockage in the tubes.
- Endometriosis: The tissues similar to your uterine lining can grow in unusual places, such as around the fallopian tubes, causing partial or complete blockage.
- A Surgical History: Surgery of the pelvis or abdomen, such as appendectomy or a surgery to remove ovarian cysts, can lead to scar tissue, which can block the fallopian tubes.
- Structural Problems: Although less common, some females are born with structural defects in the fallopian tubes.
Common Symptoms of Blocked Fallopian Tubes
Women do not really notice symptoms of blocked fallopian tubes until they try to conceive. If you are unable to conceive after having regular, unprotected intercourse for over a year, see a fertility specialist in Pakistan to rule out tubal blockage. Although symptoms may not be very pronounced, some women might experience:
Not Getting Pregnant: The most obvious sign of tubal blockage is infertility. Pregnancy might be possible if one of the tubes is blocked, but it might still take longer than usual, as the egg released into the blocked tube won’t lead to pregnancy. If both tubes are blocked, pregnancy is not possible. Your healthcare provider might run tests to check if the tubal blockage is the cause of your infertility.
Pelvic or Lower Abdominal Pain: If the infection is caused by a previous surgery or endometriosis, you may experience a dull ache in the lower abdomen and pelvis. Some women report persistent pain while others experience it during menstruation or intercourse. The pain is often more severe than regular cramps.
Pain During Sexual Intercourse: Not everyone with blocked tubes experiences pain during sexual intercourse, but if you have excessive scarring or endometriosis, deep penetration can hurt.
Abnormal Vaginal Discharge: Blocked tubes are not directly linked to abnormal vaginal discharge, but if they are caused by pelvic inflammatory disease, an infection, or scarring, you may experience yellow or greenish discharge accompanied by a bad smell.
Does the Fallopian Tube Increase Your Risk of Ectopic Pregnancy
If the tube is partially blocked, the sperm and eggs might meet. The fertilized egg might, however, not travel through the tubes down to the uterus, increasing your risk of having an ectopic pregnancy.
It occurs when the fertilized egg, instead of implanting in the uterus, begins to develop in the fallopian tubes. Symptoms include severe pelvic pain, spotting, bleeding, pain in the shoulders, and fainting. If not addressed promptly, blocked tubes can rupture, posing a health risk for the mother.
When to Seek IVF Treatment
While blocked fallopian tubes might make it difficult to get pregnant naturally, advanced fertility treatments have made it possible for women with tubal blockage to conceive. Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), such as In-vitro Fertilization, is a modern treatment option for infertility.
The procedure is considered especially effective for women with fertility issues due to tubal blockage. IVF bypasses the tubes completely. The eggs produced by the ovaries are collected through a minor surgical procedure and are fertilized in an embryology lab. The resulting embryo is transferred into your womb. There’s no role of the tubes in the procedure.
When Should You Consider IVF?
This raises the question: When should you consider IVF?
A surgical repair to unblock your fallopian tubes can be considered if the blockage is small. However, surgery may not always be successful. Even if the tubes are successfully cleared and opened, there’s a small risk of the scarring returning.
Besides that, IVF is recommended to reduce the risk of ectopic pregnancy. The medication may improve the egg/sperm quality or balance your hormones, but it can’t directly unblock the fallopian tubes.
You are considered a good candidate for IVF if you have:
- Severe blockage in both fallopian tubes
- You have a history of ectopic pregnancy
- You underwent a fallopian tube repair surgery, but still couldn’t conceive
- You are in good health and are fit for IVF
7 Steps to Getting Pregnant With Tubal Blockage Using IVF
If you are wondering how IVF works for women with blocked fallopian tubes, here’s a step-by-step guide.
Step 1: Consult a Fertility Specialist for Evaluation
The first step in your fertility treatment is consulting a fertility specialist for a proper evaluation. They will ask about your medical history, whether you have had a pregnancy before, past infections, any surgeries, or other reproductive health issues. You can ask about how fallopian tubes are linked to infertility and how IVF can help in such cases.
Step 2: Complete Fertility Testing
Before starting treatment, your healthcare provider will run tests to detect tubal blockage and assess the overall health of the uterus. They may also conduct blood tests to check your ovarian reserve and an ultrasound to determine the severity of the blockage. Your partner may need to undergo a semen analysis to determine sperm count, motility, morphology, and overall quality.
Step 3: Ovulation Induction and Egg Stimulation
Normally, a woman’s body matures a single egg every month (around her ovulation cycle). Egg stimulation increases the number of eggs released per cycle, thereby maximizing the chances of conception. Your fertility specialist will start you on medication (either tablets or injectables). These last 8-12 days.
The medication triggers your ovaries to produce multiple eggs. Throughout this period, you will need to visit the hospital for ultrasounds and check-ups so that your doctor can monitor the follicular growth.
Step 4: Egg Retrieval and Sperm Collection
As soon as your eggs are produced, you will receive a trigger shot that matures them. After this, the eggs are released in an outpatient setting. You will be given a sedative so you don’t feel the pain. The sperm sample from your partner is collected on the same day.
Step 5: Fertilization and Embryo Culture in the Lab
Once the eggs and sperm are collected, they are stored in a petri dish in an embryology lab and kept overnight for fertilization. Sometimes, an additional fertility procedure, “Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)” may be needed to inject sperm into the egg for the highest possible chance of fertilization. The fertilized egg is monitored. Once it reaches the blastocyst stage, it’s considered ready for the transfer.
Step 6: Embryo Transfer to the Uterus
Using a thin catheter, the surgeon releases the embryo into the uterus. Hopefully, it implants successfully into the uterine lining. The procedure is simple, short, and quick, and is generally performed without anesthesia.
Step 7: Pregnancy Testing and Early Monitoring
You are ready to take the blood test after two weeks of transfer. The test measures HCG levels (a pregnancy hormone). If the embryo has implanted successfully, the HCG will rise.
Alternative Treatments and Therapies
Before you proceed with IVF, you may want to learn about other available options that can help you become pregnant naturally. Let’s discuss alternative treatments that can help women with tubal blockage conceive.
Surgical Repair
A surgery may be suitable for patients who have a blockage located at specific points, such as near the uterus. Tubal cannulation involves the insertion of a thin catheter into the tubes through the cervix to clear the blockage. The procedure is straightforward, but it may not work for patients with severe scarring.
If your tubes are damaged from the tubal ligation surgery, you can have them reopened with Tubal Reanastomosis, a tubal ligation reversal surgery, which cuts the damaged portions of the tubes and joins the remaining part. The success of the surgery, however, depends on the remaining length and overall health of the fallopian tubes.
While tubal ligation reversal is a possible treatment option for restoring your fertility, it’s considered a major surgery and is associated with fertility risks, such as ectopic pregnancy.
Fertility Medications
Clomid and other hormonal injections can trigger your ovaries to produce multiple eggs, but as mentioned earlier, they can’t directly unblock the fallopian tubes. They might work if the blockage is confined to a single tube.
Natural Remedies
You may have also heard of the herbal teas, massages, and other natural supplements that can boost fertility, but there’s no scientific evidence that proves their effectiveness in unblocking fallopian tubes. They might be effective in improving your overall fertility, but no home remedies or even oral or injectable medication can remove scar tissue and unblock fallopian tubes.
Conclusion
Conception and childbirth are possible despite blocked fallopian tubes. Some women might find surgical repair of the tubes helpful, while others might notice improved fertility after starting home remedies or prescribed supplements. If none of these options work, your best and safest bet is IVF. Book your first consultation with a fertility specialist to learn more about IVF for blocked fallopian tubes, the procedure, and the success rate.
FAQs
How long does the egg stay in the fallopian tube?
An egg stays in your fallopian tubes for 12-24 hours.
Can ultrasound detect blocked fallopian tubes?
You need more than a standard ultrasound to detect blocked fallopian tubes. For example, a sonohysterogram can detect a tubal blockage.
How do you know if your fallopian tubes are blocked?
Your doctor can diagnose blocked fallopian tubes with an ultrasound. If you can’t conceive within 12 months of trying or have a history of ectopic pregnancy, it can indicate tubal blockage.
Can you conceive with blocked fallopian tubes?
If both tubes are blocked, you may need to consider IVF to become pregnant, as the procedure bypasses the fallopian tubes.
Where does the egg go if the fallopian tubes are blocked?
The egg stays in the abdominal cavity until it’s reabsorbed by your body’s tissues. If there’s a partial blockage, the egg might reach the fallopian tube.
