A gynaecologist with a private hospital in Abuja, Dr. Kola Kayode says that blockage of fallopian tubes is the major cause of infertility in women.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview on Saturday in Abuja that blockage of fallopian tubes occurred was when there was an obstruction that prevented egg from travelling down the tube.

He said that fallopian tubes could be blocked either on one or both sides of tubes, known as tubal infertility, insisting that it was one of the causes of infertility in 40 per cent of women.

According to him, blocked fallopian tubes increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy -- a pregnancy that occurs outside the uterine cavity and usually in the fallopian tube.

“Pelvic inflammatory disease is one of the major causes of blocked fallopian tubes.

“Sexually transmitted diseases, abdominal surgery and endometriosis cause fallopian tubes blockage.

“Uterine infection caused by abortion or miscarriage and ruptured appendix could be contributory factors to blocked fallopian tubes.

“Blocked tube (s) from birth, clipping to prevent pregnancy and accidental damage after surgery was causative factors of blocked fallopian tubes.

“Ectopic pregnancy and surgery involving the fallopian tubes could also cause blocked fallopian tubes.”

He said there were two major types of blocked fallopian tubes; the hydrosalpinx and pyosalpinx, explaining that the latter did not involve scarring of the tubes but rather accumulate fluids into them.

Kayode explained that hydrosalpinx was where the tubes were filled with water which doesn’t allow embryo to stay.

The gynaecologist added that it was possible for pregnancy to occur if one of the fallopian tubes is clear, depending on how well the ovaries were functioning, and also what caused the blockage.

He said that it was important to treat any form of sexually transmitted diseases to avoid blocked fallopian tubes.

Kayode said that introduction of fertility drugs to increase the chances of ovulating on the open side of the tube could help treat blocked fallopian tubes to aid pregnancy.

He said that laparoscopic surgery (minimally invasive surgery) could open blocked tubes or remove scar tissue that caused the condition could help in treating blocked fallopian tubes.

He also said that invitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment was the best bet in treating blocked fallopian tubes.

Kayode advised that a physician should monitor pregnancy that occurs with the condition, stressing that the risk of ectopic pregnancy was higher after tubal blockage surgery. (NAN)

•Photo shows Pregnant woman