What Procedure Is Needed to Unblock My Fallopian Tubes?
Jun 01, 2023
Blocked fallopian tubes are a common issue, creating between 30% and 40% of infertility in female patients. If you have been diagnosed with fallopian tube blockage, several options may still allow you to conceive a child.
Here at Gen 5 Fertility, we do everything we can to help our patients achieve the dream of becoming parents. Dr. Samuel Wood, Dr. Benito Villanueva, and Dr. Martin Bastuba — the providers at our office in San Diego, California — all have extensive knowledge about the issues associated with blocked fallopian tubes and the procedures available for their treatment.
If your fallopian tubes are blocked, it means you could have a tough time conceiving. For one, the fallopian tubes are the part of your body that carries mature eggs to your uterus during ovulation. They’re also where the sperm fertilizes the egg, so blockages can make it hard for both actions to occur.
Blocked fallopian tubes can have many causes. An infection or a condition like endometriosis could create scarring, making it hard for the fallopian tubes to work properly. Because the issue often has no symptoms, most people who have fallopian tube blockages don’t realize it until they’re trying to get pregnant
When you seek help for a blockage, one of our providers will need to determine the severity of the issue. It’s possible only one tube may be blocked or that the issue is not severe. If this is the case, ovarian stimulation through fertility drugs could be very helpful.
If your fallopian tubes have minor scar tissue, a procedure like laparoscopic surgery can allow us to separate the blockages from the tubes, possibly making it easier for you to conceive naturally. But there are some cases where the blockage is too severe to be removed this way.
If your fallopian tubes are significantly blocked, you have options, including a few surgical options — like fimbrioplasty and salpingostomy — that vary in their effectiveness, depending on your specific case.
Surgery for severely blocked tubes can come with an increased risk of ectopic pregnancy, a serious condition. It’s important to keep us informed of your periods and if you possibly become pregnant after this surgery. The best results occur in younger patients who are using healthy sperm.
Finally, if none of these options work for you, you may want to consider IVF. IVF involves fertilizing healthy eggs with healthy sperm in an artificial environment, then transporting them to your uterus, bypassing the fallopian tubes.
Blocked fallopian tubes can’t always be unblocked, but many treatment options may allow for a successful pregnancy. To discuss your options, make an appointment online, or call us at our San Diego, California, office.