7 steps to getting pregnant with blocked fallopian tubes

There are pivotal moments in every person’s life, and for future parents, the moment they decide to start a family is one of them. Some pregnancies are unplanned surprises, while others are planned out months beforehand. But what is often not planned or prepared for is running into fertility problems. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 10 percent of women (6.1 million) in the United States have difficulty getting pregnant or staying pregnant. Several factors can cause fertility issues, but it usually does not mean that pregnancy is impossible, thanks to science and technology. In today’s article, we will discuss blocked fallopian tubes and the effect that they may have on fertility. We will also share 7 steps to getting pregnant with blocked fallopian tubes.*

Fallopian Tubes

If you have taken a reproductive health class, then chances are you know what fallopian tubes are. However, when people think of getting pregnant, they often overlook the role that the fallopian tubes’ role. They are reproductive organs that connect a woman’s ovaries to her uterus and when a woman is ovulating (typically in the middle of a menstrual cycle), the fallopian tube carries an egg from the ovary to the uterus. So the egg either becomes fertilized or does not…either way, it is sent to the uterus. Pregnancy occurs after the fertilized egg travels to the uterus, and monthly periods occur when the egg is not fertilized.

Blocked Fallopian Tubes

Blocked fallopian tubes can cause fertility issues in women. It is responsible for about 25 percent of infertility cases in the U.S if treatment options are not explored. Fallopian tubes can be partially blocked, only blocked on one side, or can be completely blocked on both sides. Depending on the severity of the blocked tubes, pregnancy may become more difficult or even impossible without treatment.

Several different causes of blocked fallopian tubes are typically blocked by scar tissue or pelvic adhesions. Blocked tubes may be a result of many factors, including:

• Endometriosis
• Specific STD’s that may cause scarring
• Fibroids
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Abdominal surgery
• Previous ectopic pregnancy

In most cases, blocked fallopian tubes don’t cause many symptoms, and are often only diagnosed after a woman experiences difficulty becoming pregnant after months of trying.

Getting Pregnant With Blocked Fallopian Tubes

There is light at the end of the tunnel, though. If you are trying to conceive, but you have blocked tubes, there are several things you can do to increase your chances of getting pregnant. As always, be sure to talk to your doctor about what works best for you.

Here are 7 steps to getting pregnant with blocked fallopian tubes:

1. Track Everything
   Once you and your partner decide to try for a baby, be sure to log symptoms, cycles, ovulation cycles, etc. It is not uncommon for women over 30 to have some difficulty conceiving, especially if birth control was taken for an extended period. If you still have difficulty conceiving after 3 months of trying, it may be time to talk to your doctor.
2. Talk to your Doctor
   There can be several things contributing to problems with conceiving, and the only way to find out if your fallopian tubes are blocked is to talk with your doctor. Keep in mind that most women do not experience symptoms of blocked tubes, and the only proper way to find out is to start the diagnosis process. This is something you can bring up during a routine checkup with your OB-GYN, but if you do not want to wait until your next scheduled visit, you should request an appointment sooner to have your tubes checked.
3. Understand Your Diagnosis
   Sometimes hearing a diagnosis can be scary, so it’s important that you understand what your diagnosis means. Talk to your doctor about what your diagnosis means for fertility and discuss your options. Some women only have one blocked fallopian tube or only partially blocked tubes, which may make pregnancy difficult or delayed but not impossible. Other cases may require a more technical treatment plan.
4. Discuss Infertility Medications
   You can consult your doctor about infertility medications that may help with partially blocked tubes. This treatment plan involves hormonal medicines that work to stimulate and produce certain hormones that increase the chances of pregnancy. Generally, this course of action might be taken if the woman with partially blocked tube(s) is otherwise a healthy adult with no other health conditions.
5. Discuss Alternatives
   If infertility medications are not successful, you can consider other options that may help you get pregnant with blocked fallopian tubes before more advanced surgical options are discussed. Artificial insemination or selective uterine fertilization are medical procedures that may increase your chances of becoming pregnant.
6. See a Fertility Specialist
   It may be time to see a fertility specialist if you have exhausted your other options and still are having fertility issues. Fertility specialists have a lot more experience and can help to determine what is the best course of action for you. They may recommend surgical options that can help remove scar tissue and unblock your tubes, or they may even recommend salpingectomy– removing part of your uterus.
7. Consider In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
   There may come the point where your doctor or fertility specialist recommends IVF. This is a ubiquitous alternative method of becoming pregnant because it removes, or bypasses, the need for the fertilized egg to travel through the fallopian tubes. Keep in mind that not all women are candidates for IVF and this process can be risky and expensive.

*For informational purposes only. Not intended for medical purposes.