There are millions of women who are unable to have children because their fallopian tubes are blocked.  The reason for having blocked tubes will vary.  Usually the biological reason is due to each woman getting some type of infection such as pelvic inflammatory disease or salpingitis.

As well as infections being the cause of a woman's fallopian tubes becoming blocked, some women will intentionally have them blocked as well.  This is a man-made reason.  On average, in the USA each year, thousands of women have a procedure known as tubal ligation so that they cannot have any children.

It does not matter what the reason is for the blocked tubes what it means is that the chances of a woman having a child naturally are greatly reduced.  However, what has caused the blocked tubes can be rectified by various procedures.  There are three different surgical procedures that can be used by surgeons today for treating this type of medical condition and below we look briefly at what these are.

1.  Tubal Reanastomosis (Tubal Ligation Reversal)

This is a micro-surgical procedure used to remove the scarred part of the blocked tubes in order to allow reconnection of the fallopian tubes.  Usually this method of tubal reanastomosis is used by a tubal surgeon to repair the tubes and restore fertility to a woman who had a tubal ligation.  Yes, women who get their tubes tied change their minds or they simply want to be rid of the side effects of tubal ligation called post tubal ligation syndrome.

However, this same basic procedure of reanastomosis can be used to also remove the bad sections of the fallopian tubes caused by infection or mechanical defect and then to suture the remaining healthy portions of the tubes back together again.  When healing is complete, this will restore the passage within the tubes which the egg travels down upon release from the ovary.  It is important not just for the travel but also because the egg is fertilized by the sperm within the fallopian tube and develops on its journey.

2.  Tubouterine Implantation or Tubal Implantation

Sometimes the damage done by infection or tubal ligation is nearest to the uterus requiring the removal of the tubes in this area.  Surgeons carry out this procedure to repair blocked tubes when only the distal segment of the fallopian tubes is available.  What the surgeon does is to create an opening through the uterine wall so that then the remaining part of the fallopian tubes can be inserted into the uterine cavity.  Once done, the tubes are sutured into place creating a new pathway into the uterus for the egg and sperm to travel.  A surgeon will only recommend this surgery to a woman for treating blocked tubes when he cannot carry out a tubal reanastomosis because there just isn't enough tube left close to or at the uterus.

One form of tying tubes that can be reversed by this method is the Essure device.  As this device partially sticks out into the uterus as well as part being in the tubes causing scarring in this area to block the fallopian tubes, this needs to be removed.  Once removed, the only option is a clean tube to uterus implant which is what this procedure does.

3.  Salpingostomy

This surgery, salpingostomy, can be used for the treatment of blocked fallopian tubes; however it also used when a woman loses a fallopian tube to an ectopic pregnancy.  When an ectopic pregnancy is detected, usually too late, the fallopian tube where the fetus is developing usually is partially or totally removed.

Likewise, there are methods of tubal ligation such as a fimbriectomy which will remove the fimbrial end of the fallopian tubes.  This is the end nearest the ovaries which looks something like the fallopian tubes ending in fingers.  These fingers have cilia which capture the egg as it is released and sends it down the fallopian tube.

If there is enough tube remaining from an ectopic pregnancy removal, after removal of damaged tube from an infection or in the case of a fimbriectomy, this is how a tubal surgeon will proceed.  He makes a small incision into the end of the tubes and this results in a new opening being created.  Once the new opening for the blocked tubes has been made, the tissue is then folded over exposing the cilia on the inner layer of the tubes.  The new hole that has been made is what now replaces the original opening in the fallopian tubes and the cilia take the place of the fingers of cilia of the old fimbrial ends.  So of course now the eggs following their release from the ovaries can pass through the uterus without any problems and then be fertilized by the man's sperm.

That is a quick explanation of three surgical methods of repairing blocked tubes.  As most tubal blockage, whether unintentionally caused or intentionally caused, simply requires the removal of scarred tissue and then splicing the tubes back together, most often tubal reanastomosis will be used as the surgical alternative.  However, it is good to know that other forms of surgery can repair blocked tubes as well.