What Happens if My Tubes Are Removed?

As fertility doctors, Dr. D and I are often in the position of recommending that a woman consider having her fallopian tubes removed. Although this seems a bit unusual it is important to understand what role the tubes play in reproduction and in having menstrual cycles. First of all, the only job performed by the tubes is that of incubator for the eggs and sperm. Pregnancy starts in the tube assuming that the tube captures the egg once it is released from the ovary and also assuming that the sperm swim up from the vagina, through the cervix, out into the tubes and find the egg. Since men and sperm often fail to ask directions this is not a really efficient way to get eggs and sperm together.

If there are no tubes, then the egg is released but never captured and just degenerates within a day or two. You don't end up with a bunch of eggs just rattling around in there! However, once the egg ovulates the timer is set and a period will come in 12-14 days. You don't need tubes to get a period....just working ovaries and working uterus.

So why remove the tubes if they are really damaged and we're doing IVF anyway? Well if the tubes are blocked at the far end then fluid can build up inside the tube creating a hydrosalpinx (water tube literally). This fluid can back up into the uterus preventing our nice IVF embryo from attaching to the lining. It is estimated that a hydrosalpinx will cut the IVF pregnancy rate in half. Thus, Dr. D and I are pretty adamant that hydrosalpinxes get removed prior to IVF. Obviously, if you are unwilling to do IVF then removing your tubes is not such a great idea and that is why it is important to have a good understanding of any treatment plan!