Fallopian Tube Blockage; Infertility

Fallopian Tube Blockage; Infertility

Fallopian tubes are the thin tubes located at each side of the uterus (womb), which leads mature egg from the ovaries to the womb. It is at the Fallopian tubes that sperm meets egg and fertilization takes place.

Any obstruction along the way that prevents sperm from getting to the egg in the uterus or that prevents the egg from travelling down the tube is called Fallopian tube blockage or blocked Fallopian tube.

Female fertility due to this disorder is regarded as tubal factor infertility and it is regarded as the number one cause of female infertility. It accounts for 40% of female infertility globally.

Blocked fallopian tube can lead to total female infertility if blocked completely or ectopic pregnancy if blocked partially (tubal phimosis).

According to medical science, there are three main locations for fallopian tube blockages. They are:

1. Proximal Tubal Occlusion
This involves isthmus. It usually occurs after an infection from complications due to abortion, miscarriage, pelvic inflammatory disorder (PID), cesarean (D&C), and permanent birth control methods.

2. Mid Segment Tubal Obstruction
This results from tubal ligation damage. Scar tissues usually develop on top of scar tissues already present from the initial herbal ligation procedure.

3. Distal Tubal Occlusion
This affects the tubal end closer to the ovary. It is usually filled with fluid; hence, the name hydrosapinx is due to Chlamydia trachomatis (STD) infection.

Types Of Blockage

√ Hydrosalpinx
In this type, the tube is obstructed near its fimbrial end – the openning, outside of the fallopian tube that is in contact with the surface of the ovary. The tube is filled with clear watery fluid. Most IVF procedures fail due to this hydrosalpirix.

√ Psosalprix
The tube is filled with pus and acutely inflamed. It is related to acute PID.

√Hematosalpinx
This is a fallopian tube filled with blood. This is usually associated with an ectopic pregnancy.

Causes Of Blocked Fallopian Tube

👉 Pelvic Inflammatory Iisorder (PID)
PID is an inflammatory infection of female reproductive system in women with the history of STDs such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, etc. this condition can block the fallopian tube by causing adhesions, tissue scarring, tumour or polyps inside the tube.

👉 Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a very painful condition that can cause scar tissues to form in the fallopian tube and block its pathway.

👉 Fibroid
Fibroid is a benign tumour that can grow in any part of the womb (uterus) and can cause blockage in the fallopian tube.

👉 Ectopic Pregnancy
Ectopic pregnancy is caused by partial blockage of the fallopian tube (tubalphimosis) in the first place, this condition can further block the fallopian tube completely.

👉 Complication From Surgery and D & C (cesarear section)
Surgery in the lower abdominal part of the women can lead to scar tissue in the fallopian tube and block it.

👉Tubal ligation removal
Tubal ligation is a medical procedure used as permanent birth control method. In some cases if the woman decided that she wants to conceive, tuba ligation removal will be carried out on her. This can cause more scar tissues to form on the scar tissues created by the tubal ligation. In this case, the tube may be blocked.

Symptoms Of Blocked Fallopian Tube

No symptom is observed when there is a blocked fallopian tube. The only sign is the inability to conceive.

Diagnosis of blocked fallopian tube

Hysterosalpingogram: Dye is introduced into the uterus and an x –ray is used to monitor the moment of the dye.

Somohysterography: Ultrasound imaging is used to visualize the tube for any abnormalities.

Chromotubation: This test is similar to hysterosalpingogram, dye is also used but instead of x – ray to monitor the dye movement, it is done during a surgery called laparoscopy.

Medical treatments for blocked fallopian tube include:

Surgery e.g laparoscopy or open abdominal surgery
Salpingetony – removal of part of the fallopian tube
Slpingostomy – creation of a new opening in the fallopian tube entrance nearest the ovary.
Fimbrioplasty – rebuilding the fimbriae
Selection tube commutation – insertion of a catheter into the fallopian tube.

Tubal ligation removal tubal reanastomsis) removal of the tied or cauterized portion of the fallopian tube

There are some risks involved in the treatment procedures above and these risks further complicate the blocked fallopian tube. There is always a re-growth of the scar tissues and adhesion and the tube becomes blocked again or worse. In the case of adhesions, the tissues adhere to the abdominal wall, other reproductive organs or other organs in the location. 

Pelvic infection and ectopic pregnancy are other risks associated with these treatment procedures.

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