The fallopian tube is a part of the female reproductive system that plays an important part in conception. The ovum from the ovaries of a female is picked up by the fallopian tube. The fallopian tube is the place where the sperm and egg meet and fertilization takes place. It is a muscular tube which is lined by ciliated epithelial cells. The cilia is a hair-like structure present that helps in moving the embryo down to the uterus after 3 days of fertilization and helps the sperm to travel up from the uterus.
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The fallopian tube can be blocked by the scar tissue produced due to injury or damage to any part of the tube. The blocked fallopian tube is one of the possible reasons for infertility. Blockage of the fallopian tube is known as tubal occlusion. There are no direct symptoms of tubal occlusion, but a number of factors may show a risk.
The fallopian tube can be blocked due to many reasons. Few of the condition are discussed below.
1) Having a pelvic infection history
2) A previous condition of a burst appendix
3) Sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhoea or chlamydia can cause fallopian tube blockage.
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4) Such condition which causes the lining of the womb to grow outside of the uterus like endometriosis can lead to such blockage.
5) If you have had abdominal surgery, there is a possibility of your fallopian tube is blocked.6) Swelling and fluid at the end of the fallopian tube is called hydrosalpinx and can lead to fallopian tube blocked. All these conditions can cause scar tissue formations in the tube and lead to fallopian tube blockage.
Hysterosalpingography (HSG) and Laparoscopy can be used to diagnose blockage of fallopian tubes.
HSG- It is X-ray of the uterus and fallopian tubes after injecting a radio-opaque dye through the vagina into the uterus. The dye fills the uterus, the fallopian tubes and spills over if the tubes are healthy. Otherwise, the tube is not visualised, if there is a block. The swelling of tubes and the coiling of tubes can be documented.
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Fallopian tube cannulation can be done by HSG to remove the block.
It can also be done by hysteroscopic cannulation that is removing a block through a guidewire passing the tubes through the vagina via a hysteroscope.
But tubal blockage cannot be removed always. If the tubes are damaged very badly, it is better to do In Vitro Fertilization.
In IVF the egg and sperm are joined. So fertilization happens in the lab instead of the fallopian tube.
IVF is the best treatment for tubal factor infertility.