Blocked Tubes: All you Need to Know!

An infertility specialist in Delhi often treats patients who come with a problem of blocked tubes. While this is a commonly heard problem, yet, the exact details and its effects on pregnancy are not completely known.

Let us discuss the issue in details.

Overview

The organs that connect the uterus with the ovary are called tubes. Usually, there are two tubes, one on each side of the uterus. They, not just function as a conduit for the transportation of egg but are also the site of fertilisation of sperm with the egg to form the embryo, which then rolls down to the uterus and attaches to make a woman pregnant. If this procedure is happening in its natural course, there is no need to approach an IVF specialist in Delhi.

However, what happens when the natural course is disrupted, i.e. the tubes are blocked?

Symptoms

There are usually no other symptoms of blocked tubes except infertility. Only when the blocked tube is filled with water, blood or pus leading to hydrosalpinx, which causes pain in the lower abdomen and is localised to that site. An experienced infertility specialist in Delhi can identify the problem immediately and suggest remedies.

Effect on Fertility

If the tubes are blocked in a woman, the egg is not picked up from the ovary, the sperm cannot travel to the egg, and no embryo can be formed. In some scenarios, the tube is partially blocked or open, yet it is diseased, in which the embryo may develop. Still, it is not transferred to the womb for attachment and instead attaches itself in the tube causing an ectopic pregnancy.

In some cases, however, only one tube is blocked, and the other is functioning well.  In such cases, the chances of pregnancy are okay while ovulation happens on the side of the open tube. Yet, a thorough consultation with an infertility specialist in Delhi is always recommended in such cases.

What are the causes of blocked tubes?

1. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease: Infection that ascends from the lower reproductive tract of women and travels up, causing infection of the tube, leading to permanent destruction of tubal structure even when treated with appropriate drugs.
2. Endometriosis: A disease that causes blood deposits in the lower tummy of the women leading to scarring and adhesions that destroys the tubal tissue and obstructs its functioning.
3. Ectopic Pregnancy: A previous pregnancy in the tube, can cause damage to the lining even after medical management/ surgical management.
4. Surgical Removal or Ligation of Tube: Sometimes infected tubes, ruptured tubal pregnancy needs to be removed, leaving the opposite tube to function. Some women undergo the process of sterilisation by getting their tubes blocked by ring who may later wish to have the child.
5. Any other Abdominal Surgery: operation for appendix, kidney, ovary etc. can cause post healing scarring leading to adhesions around tube making them non-functional.

Diagnosis by IVF specialist in Delhi

The first test used for tubal evaluation in infertility is HSG (Hysterosalpingogram) or SSG ( Sonosalpingogram). Dye or saline is introduced into the uterus, and its flow is observed through the tubes in the lower tummy using either radiation method or ultrasonography.

Laparoscopy with Hysteroscopy: This is a surgical procedure performed under anaesthesia to detect and simultaneously correct any diagnosed tubal blockage.

Recommended Treatment

Laparoscopy & Hysteroscopy

An experienced infertility specialist will perform these procedures to restore the tubal structure, function and its relation to the ovary. The probability of doing this can be decided only intraop. Sometimes the tube is severely damaged, and it is useless to repair it structurally because it may still not work. However, many times there are just flimsy adhesions that need to be released to make a tube both structurally and functionally apt. The success rate for restoration can vary from 15-80%. And the sure short test of the functioning tube is pregnancy in the womb.

In cases where restoration of the tube is impossible or useless, the role of In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) specialist comes in who can help to conceive a test tube baby. This process bypasses the tubes. The ovaries are stimulated to make multiple eggs, which are retrieved and fused with sperms to form the embryo. These embryos are now placed back the uterus by process of embryo transfer, thus bypassing the tubes.

Possibility of Pregnancy

The possibility of pregnancy depends upon the treatment offered by the IVF specialist in Delhi. When treated laparoscopically, the chances of opening it is much better if the tubal block is closer to the uterus than when it is closer to the ovary. Also, severely damaged tubes may not be able to correct surgically, and even if they are corrected, they may not function well.

In the era of IVF-In Vitro fertilisation test-tube baby, the possibility of conceiving in women with blocked tubes is much better than women who undergo laparoscopy for severe tubal disorders.

It is hence advisable to see infertility specialist in Delhi at the earliest possible so that couple can be guided well about the options available. The specialist can also offer anindividualised plan based on the age, egg reserve, years of infertility and hysterosalpingography can be made. This will optimise the chances of pregnancy with the shortest time to conception.