Can blocked fallopian tubes cause female infertility?

The effect depends on where the blockage lies, whether one tube or both are affected, and how well any open tube functions. Other fertility factors may exist at the same time.

After ovulation, the fallopian tube picks up the egg. Fertilisation generally occurs within the tube, after which the developing embryo travels to the uterus. A blockage can interrupt either access of sperm to the egg or passage of the embryo.

One open, healthy tube can still allow natural conception in some circumstances, especially when ovulation occurs from an ovary accessible to that tube. When both tubes are fully blocked, egg and sperm cannot meet through intercourse. Tubal scarring may also impair movement without completely sealing the passage.

A fertility work-up may use contrast imaging to assess whether fluid passes through the tubes. Ultrasound, medical history, and sometimes keyhole surgery provide other information, depending on symptoms and earlier findings. Testing also considers ovulation, the uterus, ovarian reserve, and semen because fertility is shared between partners.

Management depends on the blockage site, the extent of damage, age, previous pregnancies, and personal preferences. In selected situations, surgery may be discussed. In vitro fertilisation bypasses the fallopian tubes by fertilising eggs outside the body and placing an embryo in the uterus.

Consider a fertility assessment when pregnancy is not occurring after regular unprotected sex, or sooner if you have a history of pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, ectopic pregnancy, or pelvic surgery. Blocked tubes often produce no symptoms, so lack of pain does not show that the tubes are open.

Urgent assessment is needed for a positive pregnancy test with pelvic pain or unusual bleeding. Emergency care is appropriate for severe pain, shoulder-tip pain, dizziness, or fainting because these features can occur with internal bleeding.

Useful questions include which test will assess each tube, whether the finding could represent temporary spasm rather than fixed blockage, how any open tube appears to function, and how surgery and assisted conception compare for your circumstances.