Blocked Fallopian Tube

[hipposinacircle]

I had a HyCoSy today in preparation for starting Letrozole. Unfortunately I found that one of my fallopian tubes is blocked. I had an ectopic pregnancy in the same tube a few months ago (I don't know if the ectopic has caused the blockage or if it was ectopic because of the blockage. Irrelevant now, I guess.)

I just wondered if anyone had been in this situation before and what the next course of action is? I've requested a follow up appointment with our consultant so hopefully we shouldn't have to wait too long for answers.

I know it's not totally out of the question still falling pregnant naturally with 1 remaining tube, but I have a low AMH & follicle count for my age (38). So I'm feeling a little lot less positive than I did this morning.

Any experiences (especially positive ones!) would help.

Usually an etopic is caused by an obstruction in the fallopian tube which prevents the egg from travelling through it in the first place. There's tiny little hair fibres that push the egg along and damage ( vast majority being from infections but thats not always the cause ) They can desolve the hair fibres making it difficult for the egg to travel but etopics can definitely cause more damage to the delicate tube.
My fertility consultant told me you only need one tube open to be able to get pregnant. I hope that eases your mind a little. You ovaries usually alternate which side they release an egg from.
Have you been advised what the source of the blockage is ? Scar adhesions or fluid ?

I understand how disappointing it can be having poor test results. Allow yourself the time and opportunity to feel sad about it if that’s what you need. But ultimately you are in a better position for knowing what’s going on because there are treatment options. Essure or removing the tube might be considered further down the line. I have one swollen non functioning tube but still managed to have my DD with IVF.

You only one open tube really. Your next treatment depends on the causes of the block

P.s I'd say your tube was blocked prior to getting pregnant hence why it got stuck in the fallopian.

I'd go for ivf because of age and amh but don't give up trying naturally

Thank you all for your advice. Despite the recent ectopic, I really wasn't expecting there to be any issues so it has blindsided me but at least we know now. Will put my positive pants back on and keep pushing on.

Hi @hipposinacircle

I am in the same situation as you! I had an ectopic in my right fallopian tube and I’m also 38 soon, I had the HSG dye test and my blockage is at the top of my tube, my left fallopian tube is open and spilled on the test so they advised me if my right tube wasn’t leaking fluid in to my womb that I could still conceive but it can take a while to conceive and to keep trying after an ultrasound on my womb and ovaries and every thing looking normal on the scan. However I haven’t conceived so I’m back under the dr fertility to see what the next step is! I was so advised if they remove the blocked tube it can make you conceive quicker as it will just be the good side picking up. How have you got on with every thing? I can’t afford ivf so hoping they can do something else to help me.

Hi @Tarn85 sorry about your ectopic. If it's any reassurance, I actually got a BFP just a few weeks after my last post and am currently 30 weeks pregnant (no IVF or Letrozole). So it is certainly possible despite only having 1 working tube and low AMH.

Wishing you all the best of luck with the fertility doctor. I would be inclined to ask for a few rounds of Clomid/Letrozole to ensure an egg is released on your 'good' side each month.

Thank you @hipposinacircle for your reply.

I have been trying a long time so I was staring to get really worried! I am waiting to be seen by the fertility dr, so I’m going to ask for the letrozole to help me and see if that works. I was reading up about the tube leaking fluid when it’s blocked so I hope that’s not the case with me. Congratulations on the BFN 💕 hopefully it will work for me.

Ah @hipposinacircle your recent reply has just made my day. Currently in our fertile window after finding out about a blocked tube at hsg and making sure we dtd at least every other day. I hope we share your luck!

@hipposinacircle how can these work to ensure to 'good' tube releases an egg every month? I also have a blocked tube and it's been suggested to just get it removed but this would seem like a potentially very helpful less intrusive option. Thanks!

Good luck @Eagerlywaiting1990 will keep everything crossed for you!

As I understand it @Anon8729 the Letrozole makes you release an egg from both sides so that you have higher chances of conception. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm not entirely accurate on that though!

So for me it means I've got a better chance of catching an egg of my good side every month rather than every other month. Although apparently you can still get pregnant from the blocked side ovary too.

It hasn't been suggested to me to have my blocked tube removed although I can understand why it's been discussed perhaps if it increases risk of ectopic.

@hipposinacircle @Anon8729

Hi Both, I was told with my blocked right fallopian tube that it’s impossible to get pregnant with a blocked fallopian tube by my Fertility dr and that I could only conceive on me left tube that is open, I actually fell pregnant 2 months ago after 13 years of not conceiving but unfortunately I had an early miscarriage. I’m waiting to be seen by the fertility dr again to see what is going on with me. X

I know you didn’t really ask this but I managed to fall pregnant naturally 3 times with only one tube.

I wish you the best, don’t give up x

Hi @BumWad ,

it’s took me a very long time to conceive 😫they told me that when a tube is blocked the sperm can’t Rech the egg due to the blockage in the tube.

I wish they removed my tube because then the only good tube can pick up. They was going to remove the tube as they said to me it’s supposed to make it easier to conceive.

do you still have your blocked tube? I now feel lost on what to think after conceiving after all those years and then miscarrying. X

Hi everyone, I've just been told I have a hydrosalpinx on my left tube so it needs removing. I also have a low AMH level of 4.7. I'm so scared that we won't be able to conceive naturally. I'm not sure if we'd go down the ivf route as we already have a 4 year old. I miscarried at 11 weeks in July 2022. It's been tough seeing the negative tests each month since and this news has floored me. Its so reassuring to hear other success stories.

Wanted to revive this thread in the hope some of you have had good news since?
@Journeytonumbertwo @Tarn85
ectopic last year and miscarriage this year, found out at Hycosy’s this week one tube is blocked, other was fine.
feeling so deflated and at 37 worrying this won’t ever happen for me. 😢

Hi @Quaver9 I still have a blocked right fallopian tube and an open left one, I always struggled to conceive with one open fallopian tube due to the ectopic in 2013 and it took me years to finally conceive last year and I ended up having a mc at 5 and half weeks. I still haven’t conceived since! 😓 however my fertility doctor has started me on letrozole also known as Femara to help me release more than one egg on my left side.

I did do one cycle of letrozole and I ovulated on my right side with a dominant folicle but was no good as that is the side thst is blocked, I was then told to stop the medication as they found a polyp in my womb on an internal scan and told me I had to have it removed before the next cycle, I had this done last month and the Hycosy procedure. I am starting my next round of letrozole on my next cycle so I will let you know how I go as I have a 4 month course to take so hopefully it will work or it will have to be ivf.

I feel your pain it’s so frustrating!! 😭and I’m also 39 this year so I have really started to panic over it all.

speak with your fertility doctor about letrozole as it will help you release more eggs on the open tube. X

@Tarn85 thank you so much and I’m wishing you all the luck in the world for your next cycle 🩷

@Quaver9 thank you so much and don’t loose hope 💕keep me updated on how you get on xx

@Quaver9 No good news here I'm afraid. The surgery didn't result in loosing a fallopian tube which was great, but still no sign of a positive test. I'm on my third cycle of Letrozole now. Currently 4dpo and had bleeding this morning which is unusual for me at this time so not sure if it's a good or bad sign. I'm going to guess it's a bad one though.
Fingers crossed you can get more help now you know you have one healthy tube.

@Tarn85 sorry another qs! Just wondering if they left your blocked tube alone or removed it?
im seeing consultant finally this week so hoping to get a plan together. Really hope the wait for IVF isn’t years and they’ll start me on letrozole while on the ivf wait list in the hope that works first.

@Quaver9 Hi, I still have my blocked fallopian tube they left mine in, it’s just harder to conceive when you have one tube that’s blocked because it still will release an egg on the blocked side. The letrozole will help you release more than one egg to help the chances of conceiving. I’m on my second round of letrozole now. Did you see the consultant? X

@Tarn85 yes saw consultant, it’s being left as waiting lists to remove are long when it’s not an emergency - moving straight to IVF and just waiting for first appointment which will likely be end of year/jan so we will be starting cycles early next year.

i did ask about letrozole but they didn’t think it would be of any use given my cycles are regular and I ovulate every month