How Fallopian Tube Blockages Affect Female Fertility
Here at Heartland Center, we are proud to help people throughout Omaha start the families that they have always wanted. We offer a number of fertility treatments to address male and female factor infertility. This includes options for addressing fallopian tube obstructions.
Some patients have questions about this particular type of female infertility issue. Because of this, we'd like to go over the basics of blocked fallopian tubes and how they can be addressed.
Blocked Fallopian Tubes Defined
A fallopian tube blockage refers to any sort of issue that causes an obstruction in a woman's fallopian tubes. When a woman's fallopian tubes are blocked, it makes it more difficult for the egg and sperm to make contact. This is because the an egg that is ready to be fertilizes is unable to travel from the ovaries to the uterus.
Given this increased difficult, it makes it more difficult to conceive through natural means.
How Common Are Issues with Blocked Fallopian Tubes?
Obstructions with fallopian tubes are a common cause of female factor infertility. It's been estimated that between 20 percent to 40 percent of female infertility cases can be attributed to problems with the fallopian tubes.
Fallopian tubes do not need to be fully obstructed to cause problems. In many cases, a woman experiences a partial obstruction of the fallopian tubes, which can lead to a number of issues, including ectopic pregnancy, a painful condition in which an egg is fertilized while located in a partial obstructed fallopian tube.
Common Causes of Fallopian Tube Blockages
Some common causes of blocked fallopian tubes include:
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
- Endometriosis
- Infections of the pelvic area
It should also be noted that a woman's fallopian tubes may be intentionally obstructed or altered as a form of contraception.
Treatment Options for Blocked Fallopian Tubes
There are multiple treatments to consider for blocked fallopian tubes.
For women who are simply trying to start a family on their own, in vitro fertilization (IVF) is a good option to consider. IVF involves the harvesting of a viable egg and the fertilization of the egg in a lab setting. The egg in embryo stage can then be transferred to the uterus and carried to term.
In other cases, a woman may undergo a full surgical revision of her fallopian tubes. Surgical treatment of a fallopian tube issue is commonly known as a tuboplasty.
The ideal option for you will depend on a number of factors, though more and more women have turned to IVF and fertility treatments for these matters since it tends to be more cost-effective and far less invasive.
When to Consider Fertility Treatment
Typically people should consider getting help from a fertility specialist if they have been unable to conceive naturally after one year. This can vary if you know for a fact that you experience certain conditions that have a negative impact on your ability to conceive.
Since having a child and undergoing any medical procedure is a big decision, we'll be sure to answer all of your questions and address your concerns as you make a decision with regard to any proposed fertility treatment.
Contact Heartland Center
If you would like more information on various treatments for female factor infertility and male factor infertility, it's important that you contact our team of fertility specialists today. The team at the Heartland Center is here to help you.
