Fallopian Tube Blockage Treatment

Fallopian tube blockage is a condition that is caused by various disruptions in the uterus. Disruptions such as infections, diseases, and surgical complications are some reasons that may cause a person’s fallopian tubes to be blocked.

Blocked fallopian tubes are not disease and as such, do not usually present any symptoms. Many times, persons with blocked fallopian tubes may not even be aware that they have blocked tubes.Often fallopian tube blockage is discovered while patients are being treated for something else.

This article will discuss what fallopian tube blockage is, what causes fallopian tubes to become blocked, the impact of blocked fallopian tubes, how fallopian tube blockage is detected, and the treatment for fallopian tube blockage.

Understanding What Fallopian Tube Blockage Is

Fallopian tubes link ovaries to the uterus. It is through the fallopian tubes that the eggs released during ovulation travel into the uterus. The fertilization of eggs by sperm occurs in the fallopian tubes. Making fallopian tubes very integral to natural conception.

Fallopian tubes can become partially or fully blocked. It can also occur on either or both fallopian tubes. This can interrupt the regular function of the reproductive organs. There are various reasons that this blockage occurs, such as scar tissue or inflammation.

What Causes Damaged or Blocked Fallopian Tubes?

The most common causes of blockage are inflammation from disease or scar tissue that formed as a result of surgery. Bacterial and sexually transmitted infections are another common cause. However, some blockages occur due to a life-threatening condition known as an ectopic pregnancy. If you suspect you have an ectopic pregnancy, you should seek emergency care immediately. 

Infections

Bacterial and sexually transmitted infections, if left untreated, can result in fallopian tube blockage. Some infections, such as Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), gonorrhea, and chlamydia, are the most common causes.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) is an infection in the uterus, ovaries, or fallopian tubes. When a person has a sexually transmitted infection that remains untreated, the infection travels from the vagina into the upper reproductive system causing pelvic pain, among other symptoms.

Chlamydia or gonorrhea are the most common infections that lead not only to PID but to fallopian tube blockages, according to a 2022 review of tubal factors affecting fertility. If PID is not treated, it can lead to the inflammation of the fallopian tubes, which in turn can lead to the development of scar tissue and tube blockage.

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a condition in which endometrial tissue develops outside the uterus. Endometrial tissue is the same type of tissue that lines the uterus and gets shed during menstruation.  Outside the uterus, endometrial tissue may continue to grow in and around the pelvic area. 

Endometriosis more commonly develops around the fallopian tubes, uterus, and ovaries, including the space between the uterus and bladder or rectum. Although rare, endometriosis can develop around the stomach, intestines, vagina, and even cervix. However, in cases where endometrial tissue grows on or near the fallopian tubes, scar tissue can form over time and block the tubes.

Ectopic Pregnancy

In typical pregnancy, fertilization occurs in the fallopian tube, after which a fertilized egg makes its way to the uterus and implants itself in the uterine wall lining. In an ectopic pregnancy, the fertilized egg does not continue on into the uterus, becoming implanted in the fallopian tube instead. 

An ectopic pregnancy can cause the fallopian tube to rupture and even potentially kill the pregnant person if not identified and surgically addressed in time. A surgical removal can, however, scar the inside of the fallopian tube, leading to a blocked tube and even infertility.

Surgery

Surgeries, by nature, result in the formation of scar tissue in the area where the surgery has been performed. Surgeries for cyst removal, ectopic pregnancy mitigation, and the treatment of endometriosis can leave behind scar tissue that can, in turn, cause fallopian tube blockage.

Symptoms of Damaged Fallopian Tubes

Most times, blocked fallopian tubes do not present any symptoms. As a result, people with blocked fallopian tubes do not know they have blockage until they try to get pregnant and struggle with infertility. 

In instances where another condition has caused the blockage, the blocked tube is discovered during treatment for the primary condition, for example, in the treatment of conditions such as endometriosis or PID, which are characterized by pelvic pain and menstrual irregularities, along with a host of other symptoms.

Sometimes, a blocked tube fills with fluid and begins to swell causing mild, but recurring pain on one side of the abdomen. This is a condition known as hydrosalpinx, and is more common with blockages that occur near the ovary.

Fallopian Tube Blockage and Infertility

Typically, fertilization of an egg by a sperm cell occurs somewhere in the fallopian tube before the fertilized egg proceeds onto the uterus, where it implants itself. In the event a fallopian tube becomes blocked or damaged, it prevents the sperm’s ability to reach the egg for fertilization, and it also prevents the egg’s ability to reach the uterus and allow fertilization to occur. 

Infertility that occurs due to damaged fallopian tubes is commonly known as tubal factor infertility. It is a problem that occurs more frequently than people think. A study assessing the impact of tubal pathologies on fertility found that about 20 percent of infertility cases in women were a result of a tube blockage of some kind.

Treatment of Fallopian Tube Blockage

Typically, fallopian tube blockages are addressed in several ways, mostly through surgery or a process known as recanalization.

One type of surgery used to address blockage is through a laparoscopic surgery of the fallopian tubes. In this procedure, a surgeon accesses the fallopian tube through a small incision on the patient’s abdomen. A similar procedure is called a hysteroscopic surgery, in which the surgeon accesses the fallopian tube through the cervix directly. 

Some individuals may opt to have a fallopian tube removed entirely if only one is blocked. This surgery is called a salpingectomy. The procedure is sometimes preferred as it eliminates the possible complications of a partial blockage, leaving the remaining fallopian tube intact to preserve the patient’s ability to become pregnant.

In cases where both tubes are removed - a process known as bilateral salpingectomy - it is still possible to retrieve eggs directly from the individual’s ovaries for use in in-vitro fertilization procedures or to be frozen for future fertility treatments.

Fallopian tube recanalization is not a surgical procedure. In this process, a small catheter is inserted through the uterus, and a liquid dye is injected to create sufficient contrast for viewing the uterus and fallopian tube. The images are observed on a monitor using an X-ray camera. 

A second, smaller catheter is then inserted through the first and into the fallopian tube itself to clear the blockage. According to Stanford Medicine, this procedure is successful about 90 percent of the time, restoring normal fallopian tube function. 

To Conclude

Fallopian tube blockages can raise many concerns, particularly as they relate to fertility. However, they are considered common. Additionally, they are treatable and, at times, reversible, without long-term effects on a person’s fertility. 

In cases where both tubes may need to be removed, assisted reproductive technology is there to help individuals and couples to conceive a child. It is, therefore, very possible to have a happy, healthy pregnancy even after tube removal.

If you have questions or concerns regarding a fallopian tube blockage, or would like more information about the conditions that might cause them, Ivy Fertility offers reproductive health services in a variety of locations. We are a dependable partner, available to assist you in addressing any concerns regarding your reproductive health.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the side effects of recanalization?

Usually, there may be some spotting after the procedure. Any side effects such as pain, cramps, vaginal discharge, or fever after the procedure require immediate medical attention. Therefore, contact your healthcare provider immediately. 

How long after fallopian tube recanalization can I get pregnant?

Once the spotting clears, it is possible to begin trying to get pregnant. This is usually within a cycle or two, with pregnancy being reported typically within two to four months after recanalization.

Can I undergo assistive reproductive treatments after recanalization?

Yes, however you must inform your healthcare provider of having had recanalization before beginning the treatments. It may be beneficial to check that the fallopian tubes are still clear before proceeding.

Can my fallopian tube become blocked again after recanalization?

Yes, it is possible for fallopian tubes to become blocked again. Recanalization may unblock the tubes, but it does not reverse the initial causes of the blocked tubes. Some studies have shown that about a third of patients return after six months to reocclude, or ‘re-unblock’ them.