You have been trying to conceive, your periods are regular, the semen report is normal, and yet nothing has happened. Then a test shows blocked fallopian tubes. For many couples in Vizag, this is the first clear explanation after months of uncertainty, and it also raises many questions.
This guide explains what the fallopian tubes do, what causes them to block, the tests used to check them, and the treatment options, including surgery and IVF, in plain language.
Quick answer: Blocked fallopian tubes stop the egg and sperm from meeting, which can cause infertility. They usually cause no symptoms and are found with tests such as an HSG or laparoscopy. Depending on where and how badly the tubes are blocked, options include tubal surgery or IVF, which bypasses the tubes.
The fallopian tubes are two narrow tubes, one on each side of the womb (uterus). Each month, the tube near the ovary that released an egg picks it up. Sperm swim up through the womb into the tube, and fertilisation usually happens inside the tube. The tube then gently moves the early embryo into the womb, where it implants.
If both tubes are blocked, the egg and sperm cannot meet, so natural conception and IUI are not possible. If one tube is blocked, pregnancy can still happen through the other tube.
Most women with tubal blockage have no symptoms. Periods are often normal, which is why the problem is usually discovered only during a fertility check. Some women notice:
The WHO lists tubal disorders among the main causes of female infertility, often linked to untreated sexually transmitted infections or complications of unsafe abortion, childbirth infections and pelvic surgery. Common causes include:
A hydrosalpinx is a tube that is blocked at its far end and has filled with fluid. Apart from blocking the tube, this fluid can leak back into the womb and may reduce the chance of an embryo implanting during IVF. This is why doctors often discuss treating a hydrosalpinx before IVF.
Key points so far
Tubal tests are usually done after a few basic fertility checks, such as confirming ovulation and a semen analysis for the partner. They are timed after your period ends and before ovulation, to make sure you are not pregnant.
An HSG is an X-ray test. A thin tube is passed through the cervix and a special dye is gently pushed into the womb. X-ray images show whether the dye flows through both tubes and spills out at the ends. It takes about 15 to 30 minutes and you can usually go home straight away. Many women feel period-like cramps; your doctor may suggest pain relief beforehand.
This is similar to an HSG, but uses ultrasound and contrast fluid instead of X-rays. It also shows the womb and ovaries at the same time.
In a laparoscopy, a doctor looks inside the tummy through a small camera under general anaesthesia, and passes dye through the tubes. It is usually advised if you have symptoms or a history suggesting endometriosis, PID or adhesions, because problems found can sometimes be treated in the same procedure. NICE NG257 also discusses these tests.
A tube that looks blocked on an HSG is sometimes simply in spasm. If results are unclear, your doctor may repeat the test or suggest a different one.
The right choice depends on where the tubes are blocked, how damaged they are, your age, your egg reserve, your partner's semen results and how long you have been trying. NICE guidance (NG257, 2026) and the NHS describe these main options:
| Situation | Option your doctor may discuss |
|---|---|
| Mild tubal damage or adhesions | Tubal surgery (usually laparoscopic) to open the tube or release adhesions |
| Blockage near the womb (proximal) | Tubal catheterisation or cannulation, after discussing IVF as an alternative |
| Hydrosalpinx before IVF | Laparoscopic removal (salpingectomy) or sealing of the tube; fluid drainage if surgery is high-risk |
| Severe damage to both tubes, or other fertility factors | IVF, which bypasses the tubes |
| Only one tube blocked, other tests normal | Trying naturally or IUI may be discussed, depending on age and other factors |
For mild damage, a gynaecologist may perform keyhole surgery to remove adhesions or open the end of the tube. After surgery there is a higher chance of an ectopic pregnancy, so an early scan is important once you are pregnant.
In IVF (in vitro fertilisation) (padmasrihospitalsandivfcentre.com/in-vitro-fertilization.php), eggs are collected from the ovaries and fertilised with sperm in the laboratory, and an embryo is placed directly into the womb. Because the tubes are bypassed, IVF is often the main option when both tubes are badly damaged, or when tubal problems occur alongside other factors such as age or low sperm count.
IUI (intrauterine insemination) (padmasrihospitalsandivfcentre.com/intra-uterine-insemination.php) places washed sperm in the womb, but the sperm still need at least one open, healthy tube to reach the egg. It is not suitable if both tubes are blocked.
With one healthy open tube, natural pregnancy is still possible. With both tubes blocked, natural conception is not possible, but pregnancy can happen after successful tubal surgery in selected cases, or through IVF. Your doctor will explain what your test results mean for your own options, without promising outcomes. There are no proven home remedies, herbs or massages that open blocked tubes.
Not every cause can be prevented, but you can lower the risk: use condoms with new partners, get tested and treated early for vaginal infections or pelvic pain, complete the full course of any antibiotics, and seek safe, medically supervised care for any pregnancy loss or termination.
NICE and the NHS suggest seeing a doctor if you have not conceived after a year of regular unprotected sex. You may be advised to have tests sooner if you:
Questions to ask your doctor
Our fertility services (padmasrihospitalsandivfcentre.com/fertility-services/) include female infertility treatment with tubal and endometrial evaluation and hysteroscopy, and we provide laparoscopic surgeries (padmasrihospitalsandivfcentre.com/laparoscopic_surgeries.php) and IVF at our Akkayyapalem centre. Please bring any earlier HSG films, scan reports and your partner's semen analysis to your first visit.
To discuss tubal tests or fertility treatment, call +91 80083 36677 or use our contact page. Padmasri Hospitals & IVF Centre, 49-48-16/5, NH16, NGGOS Colony, Akkayyapalem, Visakhapatnam 530016.
Most women have no symptoms and normal periods. Some have pelvic pain, painful periods or pain during sex, usually because of the underlying cause such as infection or endometriosis. Difficulty conceiving is often the only sign.
The most common test is an HSG, an X-ray with dye. HyCoSy (an ultrasound with contrast) and laparoscopy with dye are other options; laparoscopy is used especially when endometriosis or adhesions are suspected.
Many women feel period-like cramps for a few minutes during the test. Your doctor may suggest taking a pain reliever beforehand. Most women go home soon after.
No proven home remedy, herb or massage opens blocked tubes. Sometimes a tube that appears blocked on an HSG was only in spasm, and a repeat test shows it open. Treatment, where needed, is surgery or IVF.
Yes, if the other tube is open and healthy and ovulation and sperm are normal, natural pregnancy is possible. Your doctor may also discuss IUI depending on your age and other test results.
Fluid from a hydrosalpinx can flow back into the womb and may reduce the chance of an embryo implanting. NICE guidance suggests laparoscopic removal or sealing of the tube before IVF, with fluid drainage as an alternative if surgery is high-risk.
Written by Padmasri Hospitals & IVF Centre Editorial Team · Updated 26 October 2026
This article is for general information and does not replace a consultation with a qualified doctor.