In Ayurveda, tubal blockage is Srotorodha (obstruction of the channels) in the Artava/ bija vaha srotas (the fallopian tubes/reproductive channels) and is known as Garbhashya nalika avrodh.
When a woman finds out that one of her fallopian tubes is blocked, several questions spin around in her head like:
Will I be able to get pregnant?
What are my chances of getting pregnant?
Is it normal to have one fallopian tube blocked?
These questions make it more stressful for them, but here is the good news: when one of your fallopian tubes is blocked, you still have a high chance of pregnancy. One egg is released by an ovary every month; the ovaries do this alternately or randomly, so there are chances. Letβs understand this:
How do you get pregnant with one tube?
To understand how you can get pregnant with only one fallopian tube open, let us first understand how your reproductive system works. Every month, one ovary matures and releases an egg; this process is called ovulation.
If you ovulate from the ovary that is connected to the open tube, then that tube takes up your egg safely. When healthy sperm meets the egg in the tube, fertilization takes place. But if the ovary connected to the blocked fallopian tube releases an egg, then the egg cannot travel down, and fertilization does not take place.
In some cases, the fallopian tube can pick up an egg released by the opposite ovary through the process called Contralateral ovum pickup or Transperitoneal migration. This accounts for roughly 15% to 30% of pregnancies in women with one blocked fallopian tube.
How to know if your fallopian tube is blocked?
Knowing about a blocked fallopian tube requires specialized imaging and diagnostic tests, because it rarely causes any noticeable symptoms. Most women get to know about this condition when they go for a fertility or medical evaluation. Although there could be some minor signs of a blocked fallopian tube, such as: -
When one tube is blocked, you can still get pregnant naturally, but it can take longer than usual.
You can feel a mild pain or discomfort in the lower abdomen or pelvis, which may worsen around your periods or during sexual intercourse. This can indicate some underlying issues like PID (Pelvic inflammatory disease) or scar tissue.
If a fallopian tube is partially blocked, a fertilized egg can get trapped inside the tube, leading to ectopic pregnancy, which is a medical emergency, causing sharp pelvic pain or vaginal bleeding.
These signs may indicate a tubal blockage or other underlying medical conditions like infections, endometriosis, or Pelvic inflammatory disease.
What causes one blocked tube?
When one of the fallopian tubes is blocked, this condition is known as Unilateral tubal blockage. Tubal blockage can be caused by various factors such as inflammation, infections, or scar tissue. This blocks the passageway of the egg to the uterus. Some of the common causes of tubal blockage include: -
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID): This includes bacterial infections like chlamydia or gonorrhoea, which cause internal swelling and scar tissue formation, blocking the tube.
- Tuberculosis: Genital tuberculosis is a leading cause of tubal damage and scarring in many parts of India.
- Endometriosis: - In this condition, tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus, forming cysts and adhesions that block or alter the shape of the tube.
- Surgeries: - Past surgeries in the lower abdomen can leave scar tissue, which can create blockage in the fallopian tubes.
- Fibroids/Polyps: - These are growths in the uterus, and if they grow near the corner of the uterus, they can cause blockage of the fallopian tube.
- Ectopic pregnancy: - A previous pregnancy that took place in the tube can cause damage or obstruct the tube.
The blockage primarily happens right at the joining of the tube to the uterus, or it may happen near the ovary, which is due to severe adhesion or a swollen, fluid-filled sac called hydrosalpinx.
Ayurvedaβs perspective
According to Ayurveda, Garbhashya nalika avrodh, or blocked fallopian tube, is a Tridoshaja vyadhi (a disorder involving all three doshas), in which Vata dosha is the primary cause and kapha dosha causes blockage. Tridoshaja vyadhi is the root cause of a blocked fallopian tube.
Ayurvedaβs approach to this disease is focused on balancing the three doshas, mainly the Vata and Kapha doshas, clearing blocked channels, and using Ayurvedic therapies to treat this disease.
The therapy includes Panchkarma therapies like Virechana and Basti, which help detoxify the reproductive system and balance overall bodily doshas. After detoxifying the body, herbal medications like Guggulu formulations or uterine tonics are used to reduce inflammation, clear any congestion in the pelvis, and improve metabolism.
The most important part in Ayurvedic treatment of tubal blockage is following a healthy diet and lifestyle. Eating warm, easily digestible foods and avoiding cold, processed, and heavy foods works best with the ongoing therapies and medications.
How to increase the chances of pregnancy?
Even with one tube blocked, the chances of natural pregnancy are still high, as one tube can pick up eggs from either ovary. But you can still take safety measures to ensure a healthy conception.
- Track your ovulation with Ovulation predictor kits, and keep track of your basal body temperature (BBT).
- Use ultrasound to monitor ovulation with the help of a fertility specialist and adjust the time of intercourse according to it.
- Use fertility medications that increase the chances of maturing and releasing an egg from the ovary on the side with the open tube.
- Take surgery into consideration; if the blockage is near the uterus or is caused by scar tissue, it will clear the blockage and help restore normal flow.
- Take the help of artificial procedures to conceive, such as Intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF).
While using these methods to increase the chances of pregnancy, you should always be watching out for ectopic pregnancy, because partially blocked fallopian tubes are at high risk for ectopic pregnancy.
Why choose Gynocci?
So, if you have one tube blocked, you have a high chance of conceiving naturally. Or you can treat it with Ayurveda or other methods. At Gynocci, we have one of the best panels of experts who provide personalized consultation, treatment, and care to every patient. The natural herbs and treatment methods ensure no side effects. So, if you see any signs of tubal blockage, you can get yourself diagnosed at Gynocci and get personalized treatment.
