The female reproductive system is fragile. For this reason, with even the most minor violations, various pathologies develop that can subsequently lead to infertility. The latter quite often happens as a result of some disturbances in the work of the designated paired organ. In order to understand how it works, you should understand what a fallopian tube is. What significance does this body have for the female reproductive system, and what happens when there are any malfunctions in its work?
What are fallopian tubes
The fallopian or fallopian tubes were named after G. Fallopius, a physician of Italian origin, who first described the anatomical structure of the designated organ.
Under the specified medical term should be understood as a paired organ located almost horizontally on each side of the uterine fundus. Visually, this organ resembles cylindrical channels or tubes, one end of which opens into the abdominal cavity, the other opens in the uterine cavity.
In a healthy state, the right side of the organ is much longer than the left. The diameter of these channels is about 4–6 mm. On the inside, each of the fallopian tubes on the inside has a mucous membrane with a ciliated skin coating. Muscle activity and fluctuating cilia in the epithelial lining of the tubes help the fertilized egg to push towards the uterus.
Paired organ structure
If we talk about the structure of the fallopian tube, then it includes 4 sections along its entire length. They extend to the sides, starting from the body of the uterus almost in a horizontal position and ending with the expanded part, which has a fringed structure and is called the funnel.
Recalling the structure of the fallopian tube, it should be said that these funnels are located very close to the ovary, where the nucleation of the egg occurs, which subsequently collides with the sperm.
The ampullar part of the tube follows the funnels, after which the fallopian tube begins to gradually narrow. The specified segment of the isthmus is called in medicine the isthmic part.
The anatomical features of the fallopian tubes are such that they end with the same part. And it is there that the tubes make the transition to the muscular organ.
Sizes of fallopian tubes
Speaking about the structure of the fallopian tube, one cannot but mention their size. Despite the enormous role assigned to the designated organ, the fallopian tubes are small in size.
The length of each of the fallopian tubes reaches only 10-12 cm, and its diameter is 0.5 cm. If a woman has any pathologies, their diameter increases due to swelling or the inflammatory process.
The role of the fallopian tubes in female reproductive function
The key function of the fallopian tube in women is to ensure the further movement of the egg from the ovaries to the uterus.
In addition, due to the functioning of the designated organ, spermatozoa move from the uterine cavity to the peritoneal cavity, and the fertilized egg moves from the peritoneum to the uterine cavity.
Thus, the fallopian tubes and ovaries are very interconnected in terms of ensuring the reproductive functions of the female body.
The concept of obstruction of the fallopian tubes
In gynecology, there is such a thing as obstruction of the fallopian tubes, which is fraught with female infertility.
Such factors can lead to a similar state:
- The development of the inflammatory process in the pelvic organs against the background of complicated birth or abortion, as well as with a complicated form of endometriosis.
- Surgical intervention in the abdominal cavity, which leads to the formation of adhesions in the pelvic area.
- The development of a tubal infection against the background of a complicated course of diseases transmitted through sexual contact. Here we can mention ureaplasmosis, chlamydia or mycoplasmosis.
- As a result of tubal ligation, what happens in the process of female sterilization.
- In some cases, anatomical underdevelopment is observed when it comes to too short or too long, as well as crimped pipes.
Taking into account the anatomy of the female genital organs, it can be argued that obstruction can be both organic (when the lumen is closed with a film consisting of connective tissue), and functional when it is said that the organ is malfunctioning.
When it comes to a complete blockage of the pipe lumen, it occurs against the background of the overlapping channel lumen along the entire length. With partial blockage, the lumen overlaps in a certain part of the organ. Such a condition, as a rule, does not affect the way a woman feels. A similar diagnosis is usually identified in case of pregnancy problems. It is then that the anatomy of the female genital organs is examined and existing problems are identified.
Basic methods for studying patency of the fallopian tubes
In practice, several diagnostic methods for assessing the obstruction of the fallopian tubes are distinguished, due to which the work of the organ throughout the entire structure of the fallopian tube is evaluated and permeability is determined.
An X-ray examination of the patency of the fallopian tubes is done by injecting a contrast medium into the uterine cavity. With patency, the substance, flowing through the pipes, is in the abdominal cavity. And this is clearly determined by x-ray examination. The accuracy of such a diagnosis is only 70-80%. For this reason, along with the specified method, other diagnostic methods are also used. Such a procedure, as a rule, is carried out in the period from 5 to 9 days of the menstrual cycle in the absence of an inflammatory process. Before carrying out it, specialists must make sure that the patient does not have HIV, hepatitis B, C and syphilis.
Such a study is unacceptable in the case of pregnancy, as well as with an allergic reaction to the used contrast composition. A few days before the procedure, it is necessary to exclude intimate contacts.
Along with x-ray examination, an ultrasound examination of the fallopian tubes is carried out . For better visualization of the organ, a sterile saline solution is injected into the uterine cavity. In this situation, the possibility of penetration of fluid into the peritoneum through the fallopian tubes is also assessed.
The specified method is characterized by lower accuracy compared to the previous one. Before the procedure, you should also make sure that there is no inflammatory process. A study is being done before ovulation.
Tubal obstruction
At the initial stage of obstruction, drug therapy is performed. In the case of the development of the inflammatory process, which was provoked, for example, by gonococci, chlamydia, streptococci, etc., antibiotic drugs in the form of tablets and injections are prescribed. In this case, as a rule, Metronidazole, Ceftriaxone, Ofloxacin, etc. are prescribed.
In order to accurately determine the required antibiotic, specialists take inoculation of biomaterial from the cervix to assess the sensitivity of existing microorganisms to various groups of antibiotics.
The course of such treatment lasts for 14 days. Even in case of improvement, it is recommended to go through it completely. If chlamydia or gonorrhea is detected, treatment will also be required for the sexual partner.
Using folk recipes
Traditional medicine is not officially recognized. One of these is the boron uterus, which was previously widely used, especially in the Siberian region. It is believed that this plant has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, as well as diuretic effects.
To this day, alcohol and water infusions with the use of the uterus of the pine forest in the treatment of tube infertility have reached. In the first case, 50 g of the medicinal plant and half a liter of vodka will be required to prepare the product. In the case of water infusion, it is necessary to brew 1 teaspoon of chopped medicinal herbs in 1 cup of boiled water, and then stand in a water bath for 15 minutes.
Alcohol infusion must be taken by dissolving 30-40 drops in a small volume of water, 3 times a day before meals. The course of treatment should continue for 6 months. In this case, one week of taking the funds should be replaced by a 3 week break. During menstrual bleeding, the intake of the boron uterus is unacceptable.
We must not forget that against the background of taking the uterus, an allergic reaction may develop. Therefore, before proceeding with treatment, it is necessary to consult a doctor.
In vitro fertilization
If drug therapy did not give the desired effect, that is, pregnancy still did not occur, then the in vitro fertilization procedure is recommended. For this manipulation, an egg is taken in women, and sperm in men, and then in vitro fertilization is performed.
After 3-5 days, the embryo is placed in the uterus of the patient for subsequent gestation. The specified method of reproductive technologies is recognized as the most effective. They resort to it in case of complete obstruction of the pipes or in the presence of serious violations at the cellular or chemical level in the sperm of a man.
In conclusion, it should be added that the obstruction of the fallopian tubes cannot be considered a serious pathology for women, but nevertheless this is fraught with the development of infertility. If the necessary actions are not taken in time to correct the indicated condition, then an ectopic pregnancy is possible, as a result of which the patient may lose one of the tubes, which significantly reduces the chances of becoming pregnant. There is no way to rely solely on traditional medicine or self-medicate, since such actions can only aggravate the situation. In order to get adequate help, you need to contact specialists.