Blocked tubes rarely hurt. That is why they are found late.

Fallopian tube problems means one or both tubes are blocked, scarred or stuck down, so the egg and sperm cannot meet or the embryo cannot reach the womb.

Each tube runs from the top of the womb to an ovary and ends in a soft fringe that picks up the egg. Fertilisation happens inside the tube. A tube must be open, and it must also work: a tube that is open but has lost its inner lining cannot move an embryo. That difference decides whether surgery can help.

Infection is the most common cause of blocked tubes, mainly pelvic inflammatory disease from chlamydia or gonorrhoea, and genital tuberculosis, which is still important in India.

Past pelvic surgery, a burst appendix, an earlier ectopic pregnancy, endometriosis and infection after a termination can all leave scar tissue. Sterilisation blocks tubes on purpose. The infection may have been silent years ago. If you or your family had tuberculosis, tell us: it can scar the tubes without ever causing a cough.

You usually cannot tell from symptoms, because blocked tubes rarely cause any; a tube test is the only way to know.

A normal pelvic scan shows the womb and ovaries but not whether the tubes are open. HSG uses X-ray dye passed through the cervix. HyCoSy or HyFoSy does the same with ultrasound and foam, without radiation. Laparoscopy with dye is keyhole surgery under anaesthesia and also shows scar tissue and endometriosis.

Surgery helps a small group, mainly younger women with mild damage near the end of a tube or scar tissue around a healthy tube; for most other cases, IVF is the shorter road.

IVF collects eggs from the ovaries, fertilises them in the lab and places an embryo in the womb, so the tubes are not used at all. It is the usual first choice when both tubes are blocked, the damage is severe, the woman is older, or there is also a sperm problem. Surgery can open a badly damaged tube without making it work again, and then mainly raises the risk of an ectopic pregnancy. Age decides a lot: surgery takes months to show whether it worked. [CONFIRM: laparoscopy at Jananam or referred]

Yes, you can get pregnant with one healthy open tube, as long as you ovulate and the sperm test is normal.

The healthy tube can pick up an egg from either ovary. A set period of trying with ovulation tracking, or IUI, is reasonable before IVF. The exception is a fluid-filled tube (hydrosalpinx), which can harm pregnancy chances even when the other tube is fine.

Yes, damaged tubes are the main risk factor for ectopic pregnancy, where the embryo implants in the tube instead of the womb.

If you get pregnant with known tube damage, or after tube surgery, ask for an early scan at about six weeks. Sharp pain on one side, shoulder-tip pain, fainting or bleeding in early pregnancy needs same-day care: call 108 or go to the nearest emergency department, then call us on +91 89399 94244.