• Blocked fallopian tubes are among the most common causes of infertility in women
• Certain medical conditions are particularly associated with blocked fallopian tubes
• It is also possible to reverse a tubal ligation
• Many affected women benefit from modern reproductive medicine

Have you ever heard of blocked fallopian tubes? We don’t hear much about blocked fallopian tubes, even though this topic should actually be a major and important one! To shed some light on this underrated issue, this article offers you a concise and

General Information About Blocked Fallopian Tubes

Even though relatively little is said about blocked fallopian tubes, fallopian tube blockages are the most common cause of female infertility! According to studies, in about 20% of infertile women, a fallopian tube blockage is responsible for the challenges they face on their journey to conceive (Maduka, N. R., et al., 2026). A fallopian tube blockage can occur on both sides, affecting both fallopian tubes, or it can affect only one fallopian tube. Fallopian tube blockages are often painless and go unnoticed until the journey to conceive proves to be more difficult than hoped for. A blocked fallopian tube usually cannot be detected during a “routine” ultrasound as part of a checkup with your gynecologist. Specialized tests, such as a hysterosalpingosonography (HyCoSy) or a laparoscopy (abdominal endoscopy), are often performed. Blocked fallopian tubes can be surgically reconstructed and thus reopened.

Fallopian Tube Blockages and Diseases

Fallopian tube blockages are often associated with various medical conditions, and while this is sometimes justifiably the case, some diseases are likely unrelated to fallopian tube blockages. Let’s take a look at a few of these conditions together to clarify the situation.

Abdominal Inflammation or Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Inflammation in the pelvic region can have various causes and effects. Unfortunately, one possible consequence is a blockage of one or both fallopian tubes. As mentioned earlier, the fallopian tube can be surgically reopened. In this context, researchers report on a 33-year-old woman who, due to pelvic inflammatory disease, required fallopian tube reconstruction to address her secondary infertility. Just 10 weeks after the procedure, the patient became pregnant naturally. A true ray of hope for those affected! (Kumari, S., et al., 2025)

Chronic Endometritis

Chronic endometritis is also an inflammatory condition that primarily affects the lining of the uterus. However, the term “chronic endometritis” is only used when the inflammation persists over a prolonged period. You can find more detailed information on this topic here. Unfortunately, women who suffer from chronic endometritis are more likely to have blocked fallopian tubes, particularly on both sides. Chronic endometritis can also increase the risk of hydrosalpinx. Hydrosalpinx is a blockage at the end of a fallopian tube, causing it to fill with fluid. The more severe the chronic endometritis, the more frequently both of these conditions occur (Zou, Y., et al., 2022).

Endometrioma (“chocolate cyst”)

An endometrioma, also known as a chocolate cyst, is a blood-filled cyst on the ovaries. It develops as a specific form of endometriosis. Endometriomas increase the risk of hydrosalpinx and can thus make pregnancy more difficult. Experts also recommend checking for the presence of a hydrosalpinx before IVF treatment and treating it if necessary, as a hydrosalpinx can reduce the chances of success with IVF (Yazicioglu, C., et al., 2025).

Fibroids

Unfortunately, fibroids can also lead to an increased risk of fallopian tube blockages. A more detailed examination may therefore be worthwhile in this case as well (Mayrhofer, D., et al., 2024).

PMOS (formerly PCOS)

Despite all the challenges associated with PMOS, those affected can at least take comfort regarding blocked fallopian tubes: Fallopian tube blockage does not appear to occur more frequently in women with PMOS who are struggling to conceive than in women without PMOS (Ghobrial, S., et al., 2022).

Abnormal Sperm Analysis in the Partner

Although it is unclear whether there is a causal relationship between the man’s sperm analysis and the woman’s fallopian tubes, an abnormal sperm analysis is associated with a significantly increased risk of blocked fallopian tubes (Mayrhofer, D., et al., 2024).

Reopening the Fallopian Tubes After Tubal Ligation

Some women undergo tubal ligation—surgical closure of the fallopian tubes—to prevent pregnancy. This procedure is considered the female counterpart to male sterilization and is regarded as a reliable method of contraception. However, some women later regret this decision and wish to have their fallopian tubes reopened to fulfill their desire to have children. Studies show that the clinical pregnancy rate after reopening the fallopian tubes is around 49%, and overall, about 25% of women have a live birth. The younger the women are, the higher these chances are. On average, these couples took nine months to conceive (Atay, A. O., et al., 2026).

Pregnancy Rates in Cases of Fallopian Tube Blockage

Perhaps the most pressing question is what the pregnancy rates are for women with a blocked fallopian tube.

As a general rule, a blockage in one fallopian tube consistently results in higher pregnancy rates than blockages in both tubes.

Researchers have found that women with fallopian tube issues have a similar pregnancy rate with IVF treatment as women with patent fallopian tubes: this rate is around 34%, which is roughly in line with the average (Kozinszky, Z., et al., 2024). You can find more information on the chances of success with IVF here.

Encouragingly, studies also show that two years after a hysterosalpingosonography, about 37% of women with a unilateral fallopian tube blockage had become pregnant naturally. Similarly, 21% of patients with a unilateral hydrosalpinx were able to celebrate a small miracle. Natural conception was particularly successful among women under 35 years of age (Yang, H., et al., 2025).

However, a study from Vienna shows that difficulties may persist in cases of bilateral fallopian tube blockage that was opened laparoscopically. While 21% of the treated women became pregnant within six months after the procedure, 47% of the control group did so as well. Nevertheless, a 21% chance of natural conception is a resounding success, since fallopian tubes that are blocked on both sides and left untreated usually prevent pregnancy. Nevertheless, the study authors recommend that affected couples seek artificial insemination sooner in order to achieve pregnancy (Bormann, F. E., et al., 2025).

Other researchers, however, have found that after treatment of blocked fallopian tubes, the chances of natural conception and intrauterine insemination (IUI) are roughly equal. For this reason, these authors recommend attempting natural conception (Karadag, C., et al., 2025). If necessary, IVF may also be considered.

However, in cases of unilateral fallopian tube blockage combined with male fertility issues, it appears that IUI without ovarian stimulation is worth trying (Tang, Y., et al., 2023).

Frequently Asked Questions on the Topic

How common are fallopian tube blockages as a cause of infertility?

Fallopian tube blockages are among the most common causes of female infertility. Studies show that approximately 20% of women who are unable to conceive have at least one blocked fallopian tube.

Can a fallopian tube blockage be detected during a routine ultrasound exam?

Generally not. Since blockages are often painless, they are usually diagnosed only during specialized tests such as a hysterosalpingosonography (HyCoSy) or a laparoscopy.

What conditions can lead to blocked fallopian tubes?

Pelvic inflammatory disease, chronic endometritis, endometriomas (“chocolate cysts”), and uterine fibroids are associated with an increased risk of fallopian tube blockages or hydrosalpinx.

Does polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS, formerly PMOS) affect the risk of fallopian tube blockage?

No. Studies show that women with PCOS do not have a higher risk of fallopian tube blockages than women without this syndrome.

Is it possible to become pregnant again after a tubal ligation (sterilization)?

Yes. After surgical reopening of the fallopian tubes, the clinical pregnancy rate averages about 49%. The chances of success depend heavily on the woman’s age.

Is a natural pregnancy possible with a unilateral fallopian tube blockage?

Yes, with a unilateral blockage, there are still good chances of natural conception. Studies show that within two years of diagnosis (e.g., HyCoSy), about 37% of affected women became pregnant naturally.

What are the chances of success with IVF when there are problems with the fallopian tubes?

 Women with fallopian tube problems achieve an average pregnancy rate of about 34% with IVF treatment, which is in line with the general success rates of in vitro fertilization.

Why is it important to treat a hydrosalpinx before IVF?

A buildup of fluid in the blocked fallopian tube (hydrosalpinx) can make it difficult for the embryo to implant and reduce the chances of success with IVF treatment. Therefore, treatment is often recommended before IVF.

References

• Maduka, N. R., & Ilikannu, S. O. (2026). Prevalence and Etiological Pattern of Infertility in Women Presenting to a Gynecology Clinic in a Secondary Health Facility, South-South, Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Study. Nigerian medical journal : journal of the Nigeria Medical Association, 67(5), 1752–1762. https://doi.org/10.71480/nmj.v67i5.1192
• Kumari, S., Reyes Lizaola, S., Dabiri, T., & Wang, P. (2025). Natural Conception After Tubal Reconstruction: A Rare Success Following Bilateral Fimbrioplasty for Post-pelvic Inflammatory Disease Occlusion. Cureus, 17(12), e100262. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.100262
• Zou, Y., Li, S., Ming, L., Yang, Y., Ye, P., & Zou, J. (2022). The Correlation between Chronic Endometritis and Tubal-Factor Infertility. Journal of clinical medicine, 12(1), 285. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12010285
• Yazicioglu, C., Yuceturk, A., Karaosmanoglu, O., Aslan, I. O., Peker, N., Cakiroglu, Y., & Tiras, B. (2025). Why should we check the tubes in IVF patients with ovarian endometriosis before embryo transfer? a retrospective study. BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 25(1), 403. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-025-07492-5
• Mayrhofer, D., Holzer, I., Aschauer, J., Selzer, C., Parry, J. P., & Ott, J. (2024). Incidence and Causes of Tubal Occlusion in Infertility: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Journal of clinical medicine, 13(13), 3961. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13133961
• Ghobrial, S., Parry, J. P., Holzer, I., Aschauer, J., Selzer, C., Brezina, A., Helmy-Bader, S., & Ott, J. (2022). The Prevalence of Fallopian Tube Occlusion in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Seems Similar to Non-Subfertile Women: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Journal of clinical medicine, 11(19), 5610. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11195610
• Atay, A. O., Mutu, C., Sendag, F., Ulukus, M., & Akdemir, A. (2026). Reproductive Outcomes After Tubal Reanastomosis in the Era of Assisted Reproduction. The journal of obstetrics and gynaecology research, 52(8), e70440. https://doi.org/10.1111/jog.70440
• Kozinszky, Z., Bereczki, K., Vedelek, V., Bicskei, P., Tabi, M., Ekes, C., Lajkó, N., Nagy, O., Sinka, R., Vágvölgyi, A., & Zádori, J. (2024). Pre- and Procedural Factors Influencing the Success of In Vitro Fertilization: Evaluating Embryo Quality and Clinical Pregnancy in Cases of Tubal Factor Infertility. Journal of clinical medicine, 13(19), 5754. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13195754
• Yang, H., Xu, Y., Cheng, S., Zhang, H., Cheng, J., & Gao, F. (2025). Evaluation of pregnancy outcomes using a novel hysterosalpingography scoring system for tubal patency. European journal of obstetrics & gynecology and reproductive biology: X, 29, 100437. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurox.2025.100437
• Bormann, F. E., Hager, M., Thieme, S. L., Parry, J. P., & Ott, J. (2025). Influence of discordant tubal blockage on clinical pregnancy rates: a retrospective cohort study. Archives of gynecology and obstetrics, 312(5), 1799–1804. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-025-08186-1
• Karadag, C., Karadag, B., Kesen, E. Y. K., & Gürses, C. (2025). Pregnancy outcomes following fluoroscopy-guided tubal recanalization: a comparison of spontaneous conception and intrauterine insemination-a retrospective cohort study. Scientific reports, 15(1), 32141. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-17762-z
• Tang, Y., He, Y. X., Ye, Y., Zhang, T. T., Wang, J. J., & He, Q. D. (2023). Pregnancy outcomes of intrauterine insemination without ovarian stimulation in couples affected by unilateral tubal occlusion and male infertility. BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 23(1), 376. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-023-05705-3