Blocked Fallopian Tubes & IVF: Can In Vitro Fertilization Help?

When you're trying to conceive, it's natural to focus on ovulation, timing, and sperm health. But another key piece of the fertility puzzle is the fallopian tubes—the delicate passageways where fertilization typically occurs. If your tubes are blocked, it can significantly reduce your chances of getting pregnant naturally. 

At The Reproductive Medicine Group, we frequently see patients with blocked fallopian tubes and help them navigate their fertility options. 

Why Fallopian Tubes Matter for Conception 

Your fallopian tubes are essential for natural conception. After ovulation, the egg travels from the ovary into the fallopian tube. If sperm cells are present, fertilization happens there. The resulting embryo then moves to the uterus for implantation. 

When a fallopian tube is blocked or damaged, it can prevent the egg and sperm from meeting—or block the embryo from reaching the uterus—making pregnancy unlikely or impossible without intervention. 

What Causes Blocked Fallopian Tubes? 

Fallopian tube blockages can result from a variety of conditions, including: 

• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID): Often caused by untreated sexually transmitted infections, PID can lead to scarring in the reproductive tract. Many times, women aren’t aware that such an inflammation occurred as it may have been painless and without fever. 

• Endometriosis: Endometrial tissue (the tissue lining the cavity of the uterus) growing outside the uterus may damage or block the tubes. 

• Previous Surgeries: Pelvic or abdominal surgeries, including those for ectopic pregnancies, may cause scar tissue (adhesions) around the tubes. 

• Tubal Ligation: A surgical procedure for permanent birth control that may be reversed in some cases, though IVF is often a more effective option. 

How Are Blocked Tubes Diagnosed? 

Your fertility doctor may recommend one or more of the following fertility tests to assess your fallopian tubes: 

• Hysterosalpingogram (HSG): A specialized X-ray following the injection of contrast material through the uterine cervical canal - this helps visualize blockages or structural issues in the uterus and fallopian tubes. 

• Hysterosalpingogram–contrast sonography (HyCoSy): Uses ultrasound and saline mixed with air, contrast or foam injected through the cervical canal to evaluate the uterine cavity and look for tubal issues. 

• Laparoscopy: A minimally invasive surgical procedure that allows direct visualization of the tubes and surrounding organs. 

All these tests assess tubal patency but not tubal function. The tubes are not just anatomical ducts; they contract and have secretory functions. Unfortunately, there is no test for fallopian tube function, but if both tubes look patent and of normal anatomy on imaging – they are likely functional.  

Can You Get Pregnant with Blocked Tubes? 

If only one tube is blocked, and the other is open and healthy, natural conception may still be possible. However, if both tubes are blocked, natural pregnancy is unlikely without treatment. 

In such cases, IVF (in vitro fertilization) is often the best option. That’s because IVF bypasses the fallopian tubes altogether. Eggs are retrieved from the ovaries, fertilized with sperm in a lab, and then the resulting embryo is transferred directly into the uterus—no fallopian tube involvement required. 

IVF and Blocked Fallopian Tubes: How It Helps 

IVF can be a highly successful treatment for individuals or couples facing tubal factor infertility. It offers several advantages: 

• Bypasses the blockage: The fertilization process happens outside the body, so damaged or blocked tubes do not affect success. 

• Overcomes other fertility issues: Many times, there are other fertility issues such as a lower sperm count, IVF addressed these challenges as well. 

• Gives control over embryo selection: Embryologists can choose the healthiest embryos for transfer. 

• Offers an option even in severe cases: Even if both tubes are fully blocked or filled with fluid (hydrosalpinx), IVF remains a viable pathway to pregnancy. 

Treatment Options for Blocked Tubes 

Depending on your situation, your fertility specialist may recommend one of the following: 

• Surgical repair: In some cases, tubal surgery may restore function. 

• IVF: Often the most effective and least invasive path to pregnancy when both tubes are blocked, there are other infertility factors or surgery isn’t successful. 

• Tubal removal before IVF: Sometimes even with IVF, it is recommended to remove a blocked fallopian tube. Such is the case when a blocked tube is filled with fluid (a condition called hydrosalpinx), A hydrosalpinx can interfere with embryo implantation and therefore removal of the tube is recommended.