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Fallopian Tubes
The female reproductive system includes two fallopian tubes, one on each side of the uterus. These flexible, trumpet-shaped tubes extend to the surface of each ovary. When the ovary releases an egg, finger-like projections at the flared end of the tube catch the egg. It is there, in the tube, that conception occurs if the egg meets sperm and becomes fertilized. Tiny hairs inside the tube’s lining push the resulting embryo (fertilized egg) out of the tube and into the uterus where it implants and grows.
Tubal-related infertility may result when one or both tubes are blocked, or scarring or damage to the tubes occurs.
What Causes Problems with Fallopian Tubes?
Blocked fallopian tubes may be caused by an infection from a sexually transmitted disease such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which causes scar tissue to build up on the walls of the tubes. Endometriosis also may result in scar tissue and adhesions which can block the fallopian tubes.
In an ectopic pregnancy (also known as a tubal pregnancy) the embryo grows in the fallopian tube instead of in the uterus. Surgery for an ectopic pregnancy can cause the fallopian tube to rupture and lead to infertility. An ectopic pregnancy can also be a life-threatening situation.
In other instances the fallopian tubes are blocked because the structure of the tubes is abnormal. Structural disorders are usually due to birth defects.
Tubal Factor Infertility
Adhesions may distort the normal structure of the fallopian tubes and make pregnancy difficult. Blocked, damaged, or scarred fallopian tubes can prevent the tubes from functioning properly. When scar tissue blocks the tubes, fertilization cannot occur since the egg can’t get through the blockage to the sperm. The blockage can also trap a fertilized egg near the ovary preventing it from traveling through the fallopian tubes to the uterus.
About 20 percent to 25 percent of infertility cases are due to problems with the fallopian tubes. Depending on the extent and location of the blockage, some fallopian tube problems can be corrected with surgery.


Comments
abortion
I just had the most
Hi LV -- Endometriosis is
my friend has the same
I am 26 years old and have
Hi Alexis, I'm sorry to
I had a ectopic pregnancy
I have a question, I got my
i am 41 and married for the
Did you find the doctor? I
Please use our directory to
i have a question i was try
I'm very sorry to hear
I want to ask if you do the
I have had two ectopic
I have a question!!! I have
ivf
ive been having problems
RIGHT.ok ive had two
I am 32 yrs old and am a
Yes but It's really
Ok! ive had four ectopic
Hi - I'm so sorry to hear
Hi, Six yrs ago after
I had a TL in 2004 after
Wow, so you grew a 3rd
when I was 16 i got
I was trying to figure out
you have to get your
i recently had an ectopic
have faith in GOD
Hi Claire, I'm 30 years and
When I read this I was
i had a tubal ligation six
i had a tubal ligation six
After my daughter was born
The question I having been
I also had both tubes
i just had an appendicitis
I have question- I'm 46 and
I need to know if you have
Ok for starters when I was
i had a fallopian tube
Honestly you should not
Well, im a 29 yr old mother
I am two months pregnant
This sounds like a scary
hi I last year I had a
i had both my tubes removed
There's a lot of
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