Fallopian Tube Blockage Treatment

Fallopian tube blockage is caused by various uterine disruptions such as infections, diseases, and surgical complications. It is usually discovered when patients are being treated for something else entirely.

Having blocked fallopian tubes usually does not present symptoms in the way diseases would and therefore often a person who has blocked fallopian tubes may not even know it. We will be looking into what fallopian tube blockage is, its causes, as well as the impact, detection and treatment  of blocked fallopian tubes.

Understanding What Fallopian Tube Blockage Is

Fallopian tubes are the structures on the uterus that connect ovaries to the uterus itself. Their function is that of a passageway, where eggs released  during ovulation can travel into the uterus. As well, sperm seeking an egg have an ideal location for fertilization, demonstrating how vital fallopian tubes are for natural conception.

There are a host of reasons that can cause blockage to occur. Additionally, fallopian tubes can become blocked either partially or fully, and this can happen to one or both tubes, interrupting regular reproductive function.

What Causes Blocked Fallopian Tubes?

Common causes of blockage range from inflammation due to disease and scar tissue that formed following surgery, to bacterial and sexually transmitted infections. Some blockages occur due to an ectopic-pregnancy, which is life-threatening, and in such a case emergency care must be sought immediately. 

Infections

Infections such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), gonorrhea, and chlamydia, if left untreated, can result in the formation of scar tissue and fallopian tube blockage.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) is an infection in the uterus, ovaries or fallopian tubes resulting from an intreated sexually transmitted infection - mostly chlamydia and gonohrrea - which spreads, moving from the vagina into the upper reproductive system.

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a condition where endometrial tissue - the same type that lines the uterus and shed during menstruation - develops outside the uterus. Endometrial  tissue outside the uterus can continue to grow in the area within, as well as the area around the pelvis. 

It typically develops around the fallopian tubes, uterus, ovaries, and also the space between the uterus and bladder or rectum. It can develop around the stomach, intestines, vagina, and even cervix, but these are rare cases. Where endometrial tissue is growing on or near the fallopian tubes, scar tissue can form over time, blocking the tubes.

Ectopic Pregnancy

Fertilization usually occurs in the fallopian tube, after which the embryo makes its way to the uterus and implants itself in the uterine wall lining. This is the course of a typical conception. In the case of ectopic pregnancy, the embryo implants in the fallopian tube instead. 

This can cause the fallopian tube to rupture and has the potential of killing the pregnant person if it is not addressed in time. A surgical removal of such a pregnancy can scar the inside of the fallopian tube, causing the tube to block and even lead to infertility.

Surgery

There are surgeries that can leave behind scar tissue, leading to fallopian tube blockage such as those done for cyst removal, ectopic pregnancies, as well as the mitigation and treatment of endometriosis. 

Symptoms of Blocked Fallopian Tubes

Blocked fallopian tubes do not usually present any symptoms. Most people only discover the blockage at the time they are trying to conceive and find themselves struggling with infertility. 

In cases where another condition such as PID or endometriosis is the cause of blockage, a patient presents with pelvic pain, menstrual irregularities, and other symptoms. While undergoing treatment for these, the blockage is then discovered.

Another type of blockage known as hydrosalpinx can occur whereby a previously blocked tube fills with fluid and swells. This can cause a mild, but recurring pain on one side of the abdomen. This condition is more common with blockages occurring near an ovary.

Fallopian Tube Blockage and Infertility

When a fallopian tube becomes blocked, it prevents the sperm from reaching the egg in order to fertilize it. Conversely, a blocked tube prevents the egg or embryo from reaching the uterus. 

When fallopian tubes are damaged causing infertility, the condition is known as tubal factor infertility. It occurs more frequently than one may think. One study found that tube blockage was the cause of infertility in about 20 percent of infertility cases in women.

Treatment of Fallopian Tube Blockage

On a positive note, there are treatment options for blocked fallopian tubes. Mainly this is addressed through surgical procedures or through a process known as recanalization.

A laparoscopic surgery is a surgical procedure whereby a surgeon gains access to the fallopian tube through a small incision that is made on the patient’s abdomen. Another procedure similar to this is a hysteroscopic surgery. However in this case, the surgeon gains access to the fallopian tube through the cervix. 

A salpingectomy removes the entire fallopian tube, and may be preferred as it eliminates possible complications associated with a partial blockage. The remaining fallopian tube preserve the patient’s ability to conceive in future.

A bilateral salpingectomy is a procedure that removes both tubes.  Drastic as it may seem, one can still have their eggs retrieved directly from their ovaries and become pregnant through assisted reproductive treatments such as in vitro fertilization. 

Fallopian tube recanalization is not surgical. A small catheter inserted through the uterus, provides a path, as it were, to the blocked tube.  Another smaller catheter is inserted through the first one and into the blocked area of the fallopian tube itself, thus the blockage.

The procedure is managed delicately using an x-ray camera, liquid dye injected into the uterus to create the necessary contrast and a monitor for viewing the procedure. This procedure has been found to have a 90 percent success rate, according to Stanford Medicine, and restores the fallopian tube to normal functionality. 

Be Vigilant

When it comes to fertility, fallopian tube blockages are of great concern. However, the good news is that they are treatable and even reversible, without any long-term impact on one’s fertility. In addition, assisted reproductive technology is available to facilitate conception, where both tubes may need to be removed.

For more information on fallopian tube blockage and the conditions that might cause them, Ivy Fertility offers reproductive health services in a variety of locations. We are dependable and available to assist you in addressing matters regarding your reproductive health.