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Why Would Fallopian Tubes Get Clogged?

Fallopian tube clogs or blockages are physical conditions that stop eggs produced in the ovaries from passing to the uterus. Potential sources for tube blockages include a wide range of underlying disorders.

  1. The Facts

    • Under normal circumstances, an egg travels through the fallopian tubes and becomes available for fertilization within 24 hours, according to the Mayo Clinic. Sperm unite with the egg inside the fallopian tubes, and the fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the uterus.

    Primary Causes

    • Fallopian tube blockage or damage most commonly results from an inflammatory condition called salpingitis, according to the Mayo Clinic. In turn, most cases of salpingitis result from the sexually transmitted disease chlamydia.

    Pre-Existing Conditions

    • The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library cites a number previously existing conditions that may trigger fallopian tube blockages. These include infections such as pelvic inflammatory disease, surgical complications, use of an intrauterine device, appendix ruptures and a pregnancy abnormally located in a fallopian tube (ectopic pregnancy).

    Present Conditions

    • Present conditions that may lead to a fallopian tube blockage include uterine fibroids (fibroid tumors), birth defects of the uterus or fallopian tubes, uterine tissue growing outside the uterus (endometriosis) and abnormal collections of scar tissue.

    Considerations

    • Infections of the fallopian tubes also increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy, reports the Mayo Clinic.

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