Blocked Fallopian Tubes

Fallopian tubes are two thin tubes linking a woman’s ovaries to the uterus. They perform a crucial function—allowing a fertilised egg to travel through the tube to implant in the lining of the uterus.

Most women have two ovaries - left and right - where their egg follicles are stored. Each month a follicle matures and releases an egg into the fallopian tubes. The fallopian tube is where the egg and sperm meet and fertilisation occurs in the body. The fallopian tube then helps move the embryo created to the uterine cavity.

When there’s an obstruction in one or both of the fallopian tubes, this can prevent natural fertilisation - leading to female infertility. This condition is known as blocked fallopian tubes or tubal factor infertility.

It’s difficult to know whether or not your fallopian tubes are blocked. Why? Because unlike other common gynaecological conditions, blocked fallopian tubes rarely show any symptoms. Some women may have blocked fallopian tubes their entire life and not experience any symptoms at all.

Occasionally blocked fallopian tubes are seen on ultrasound and are called a ‘hydrosalpinx’, where your fallopian tube is blocked and filled with a clear watery fluid. This inflammatory fluid can leak into the uterine cavity and prevent an embryo from implanting. Women with hydrosalpinx may experience lower abdominal pain and unusual vaginal discharge—but not every woman will have these symptoms.

• Pelvic inflammation
  Pelvic inflammation is the most common cause of blocked tubes. The inflammation usually occurs inside your fallopian tubes—as is the case with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea. The inflammation can also occur outside your tubes, most likely due to an infection from another organ such as the appendix.
• Blocked from birth (congenital tubal obstruction)
  This is a very rare condition that is present from birth.
• Accidental damage following other surgery
  Sometimes, excessive scar tissue from previous surgery can lead to blocked fallopian tubes.
• Severe endometriosis
  Severe endometriosis can cause fallopian tubes to become damaged or blocked due to adhesions or scar tissue.

Fallopian tubes can cause infertility by preventing the sperm from reaching the egg. When a woman ovulates, an egg is released from one of her ovaries. If her fallopian tubes are healthy, the egg will travel through the tubes and towards the uterus. The sperm need to swim from the cervix up into the uterus and into the fallopian tube where the egg has been released. The egg and the sperm meet in the fallopian tubes—which is where fertilisation takes place.

However, if one or both of your tubes are blocked, then the sperm cannot reach the egg. And of course, without the sperm fertilising the egg—it’s impossible to get pregnant.

If only one of your tubes is blocked, this may increase the time needed to get pregnant. Tubal disease and dysfunction may also increase your risk of a tubal ectopic pregnancy.