The fallopian tubes play a crucial role in natural conception. Damage or blockage of one or both tubes can make it more difficult to achieve pregnancy and is responsible for approximately 25–35% of female infertility.
At Genus Fertility, we provide specialist assessment and treatment of tubal factor infertility, helping you understand the cause of tubal disease and the treatment options most likely to help you achieve a successful pregnancy.
The fallopian tubes play a crucial role in natural conception. Damage or blockage of one or both tubes can make it more difficult to achieve pregnancy and is responsible for approximately 25–35% of female infertility.
At Genus Fertility, we provide specialist assessment and treatment of tubal factor infertility, helping you understand the cause of tubal disease and the treatment options most likely to help you achieve a successful pregnancy.
The fallopian tubes connect the ovaries to the uterus and play an essential role in natural conception. Following ovulation, the egg is collected by the fallopian tube, where fertilisation by sperm typically occurs. The resulting embryo then travels through the tube into the uterus for implantation.
Tubal disease occurs when one or both fallopian tubes become blocked, damaged or function abnormally, reducing the chance of natural conception.
Importantly, a fallopian tube may appear open but still function poorly. Damage to the delicate inner lining of the tube can impair egg transport, fertilisation and embryo development even when no blockage is present.
Tubal damage is most commonly caused by conditions that lead to inflammation, scarring or distortion of the pelvic anatomy.
Common causes include:
In some women, no clear cause is identified.
Many women with tubal disease have no symptoms and only discover the condition during fertility investigations.
Tubal assessment may include:
While tests such as HyCoSy can determine whether a tube is open, they cannot fully assess tubal function. This is one reason why fertility specialists consider the wider clinical picture when recommending treatment.
The most appropriate treatment depends on your age, ovarian reserve, fertility history, the severity of tubal damage and whether any additional fertility factors are present.
For women with mild tubal disease and no other fertility concerns, natural conception may still be possible.
In selected circumstances, surgical treatment may be considered to improve pelvic anatomy or address specific tubal abnormalities. However, surgery is not appropriate for everyone, is associated with risks and may not always improve fertility outcomes.
For many women, particularly those with significant tubal damage, bilateral tubal blockage or hydrosalpinx, IVF offers the highest chance of achieving pregnancy. IVF bypasses the fallopian tubes entirely by fertilising eggs in the laboratory before transferring an embryo directly into the uterus.
Where a hydrosalpinx is present, treatment of the affected tube before IVF may improve the likelihood of successful implantation and pregnancy.
At Genus Fertility, we take an individualised approach and will discuss the potential benefits, limitations and expected success rates of each treatment option before making a recommendation.
How does tubal disease affect my ability to conceive?
Tubal disease affects the fallopian tubes, which play a vital role in natural conception. The tubes are responsible for collecting the egg after ovulation, providing the environment where fertilisation usually occurs, and transporting the resulting embryo to the uterus.
When one or both tubes are blocked or damaged, sperm and egg may be unable to meet, or a fertilised egg may not be able to reach the uterus. Depending on the severity of the damage, this can reduce fertility, increase the time taken to conceive, or prevent natural conception altogether.
Can I get pregnant if only one fallopian tube is open?
Yes. If one fallopian tube is healthy and functioning normally, natural conception is still possible.
The likelihood of pregnancy depends on several factors, including your age, ovarian reserve, sperm quality, whether ovulation occurs from the ovary connected to the healthy tube, and whether any additional fertility factors are present.
If pregnancy does not occur within an expected timeframe, fertility treatment may be recommended.
Why is IVF recommended for tubal disease?
IVF bypasses the fallopian tubes entirely. Rather than relying on the natural journey of egg and sperm through the tube, IVF involves collecting eggs from the ovaries, fertilising them in the laboratory, and transferring the resulting embryos into the uterus.
Because IVF does not depend on normal tubal function, it is often the most effective treatment for women with significant tubal damage, bilateral tubal blockage or hydrosalpinx. In these situations, IVF can offer a higher chance of pregnancy than attempting surgical repair of the tubes.
The decision between IVF and tubal surgery depends on several factors, including your age, ovarian reserve, the severity of tubal disease and any other fertility factors that may be present. Following the assessment, we will discuss the treatment option most appropriate for your individual circumstances.
What is a Hydrosalpinx?
A hydrosalpinx is a fallopian tube that has become blocked and filled with fluid, usually as a result of previous infection, inflammation or endometriosis.
In addition to preventing normal tubal function, the fluid within a hydrosalpinx can reduce implantation rates and negatively affect IVF success. For this reason, surgical removal of hydrosalpinx is often recommended before proceeding with embryo transfer.
Will I need surgery before starting IVF?
Not necessarily. Most women with tubal disease can proceed directly to IVF without requiring surgery.
However, if a hydrosalpinx (a blocked, fluid-filled fallopian tube) is present, treatment of the affected tube may be recommended before IVF. Research has shown that fluid from a hydrosalpinx can reduce implantation rates and lower the chance of a successful pregnancy.
The decision to recommend surgery depends on the severity of tubal disease, your age, ovarian reserve and overall fertility history. Where surgery is advised, the aim is to optimise your chance of a successful IVF outcome.
What are my chances of success with IVF for tubal disease?
Tubal factor infertility is often one of the most successfully treated causes of infertility with IVF because the treatment bypasses the fallopian tubes entirely.
Success rates are primarily influenced by factors such as age, ovarian reserve, egg and sperm quality, embryo development and overall reproductive health, rather than the tubal disease itself.
Following a detailed fertility assessment, we will provide realistic, individualised expectations about your likelihood of success and discuss the most appropriate treatment approach for your circumstances.