FALLOPIAN TUBES BLOCKAGE/DAMAGE

Fallopian tubes are located on either side of the uterus, and are responsible for transporting the female egg cell from the ovaries to the uterus during every menstrual cycle.The egg then-

• Either is fertilized with a sperm if the woman has sexual intercourse when the egg is still in the uterus, and plants itself in the endometrium.
• Or, it plants itself in the endometrium without fertilizing and gets ejected out of the female body at every menstruation along with the endometrial cells.

However, if there is a blockage of the Fallopian tubes, the egg cell cannot move into the uterus, and hence, there is no chance of fertilization and inadvertently of the woman getting pregnant.

Causes

The blockage in a Fallopian tube may be either natural or surgically inducedNatural causes include-

• Tumors or buildup of scar tissue
• Fluid retention
• Tubes getting pinched due to other organs

The Fallopian tubes can also be surgically blocked as a means of sterilization. This procedure is known as Tubal Ligation.The Fallopian tubes are either cut, tied or blocked in other ways to prevent the egg cell from reaching the uterus.

Symptoms

Fallopian tubes blockages do not show any immediate symptoms-

• Infertility.
• Irregular menstrual cycle.
• Slight pain in the abdomen.

Surgical Procedures to Remove any Blockage

Depending on the cause of the blockage in the Fallopian tubes, the treatment may differ. Following are the types of tubal surgeries

• Tubal reanastomasis - This is performed to reverse a tubal ligation. In this surgery, the tubes which have been previously blocked by surgery are unblocked, by either removing the clips or untying. However, if the tubes are cut during the ligation procedure, it is impossible to reverse the effects.
• Salpingectomy - In this surgery, a part of the Fallopian tube which is blocked is removed.
• Salpingostomy - This is performed in order to drain fluid that is built up in the tubes due to blockage.
• Fimbrioplasty - It is the rebuilding of fringes of the Fallopian tubes which have been blocked or developed scar tissue.

Post surgery

After a tubal ligation, the following are common occurrences

• Slight bleeding through the vagina
• Cramps in the lower abdomen
• The patient is advised to avoid any physical activities for at least 24 hours after tubal ligation
• In case of tubal implants, it is advised to use another method of contraception for at least 3 months
• No backup is needed in case of surgical procedure
• In case of any abnormal discharge from the vagina or the wounds, contact the doctor immediately, as it may be a sign of infection

"Authored By Dr.Niraj Mahajan"