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IntroductionCausesDiagnosisFAQsTreatmentDiscover

Introduction

One physical factor which could be impacting your ability to get pregnant is a blockage in one or both of your fallopian tubes. A blockage will prevent sperm and egg from meeting and fertilising. We find that approximately 20% of female infertility is related to blocked or damaged fallopian tubes.

Causes

Fallopian tubes can be blocked for a number of reasons:

  • inflammation (salpingitis)
  • blocked, damaged or absent from birth (congenital tubal disease)
  • intentional tying or clipping (to prevent pregnancy)
  • accidental damage following other surgery e.g. significant bowel surgery
  • severe endometriosis

The most common reason for blocked fallopian tubes is inflammation or salpingitis which can happen inside the fallopian tubes as a result of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as gonorrhoea or chlamydia. Inflammation outside the tubes can also cause them to block, this can occur as a result of an infection from another organ such as the appendix.

Inflammation and therefore blockage can also occur because of damage from adhesions - where two damaged surfaces join together. These adhesions can also occur after pelvic surgery, infection or as a result of endometriosis.

There is some good news! In many cases, our doctors can clear the blockage with laparoscopy, microsurgery or by inserting fine catheters into the tubes.

Hydrosalpinx and pyosalpinx

Hydro what the? There are two other forms of blockages that you might have read about. They involve liquid rather than physical scarring and they’re called hydrosalpinx and pyosalpinx.

A hydrosalpinx is a particular type of tubal blockage in which the tube is obstructed near its fimbrial end - the open, outside end of the fallopian tube which is in contact with the surface of the ovary. With hydrosalpinx, the tube becomes filled with clear watery fluid.
 
A pyosalpinx is an acutely inflamed blocked tube filled with pus. Sometimes it can be treated with antibiotics but pyosalpinx can also rupture and form an abscess in the pelvis, much like a burst appendix. If this occurs, women require an operation to drain the tube and the abscess.

Diagnosis

If you’re under 35 years old and have been trying to conceive naturally without success for more than 12 months, or if you’re over 35 years old and have been trying for more than 6 months, it might be time to speak to a Fertility Specialist. Blocked fallopian tubes might be the cause and can be detected with one of the following: 
  • Using a specialised X-ray called a hysterosalpingogram (HSG), dye is injected through the cervix using a thin catheter and x-rays are taken of the pelvic area. If the dye flows freely, results are considered normal. If it doesn’t flow freely, it indicates a blockage. Your specialist may recommend repeating the test to confirm diagnosis. 
  • An ultrasound may also be taken to identify a block
  • Exploratory laparoscopic surgery may be needed to identify any obstructions. 
  • Hysteroscopy might be recommended where a thin camera is placed through your cervix to look at your uterus.

FAQs

Treatment

If only one fallopian tube is blocked, natural conception may still be achievable and recommended by your specialist. Some assisted conception procedures such as ovulation induction or artificial insemination may be recommended to boost your success of fertilisation. 

If both tubes are blocked, laparoscopic surgery may be recommended to clear the obstruction. Another option that bypasses the fallopian tubes is IVF. Once the egg and sperm are collected and introduced to form an embryo. The fertilised embryo is placed directly into the uterus through the cervix.

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