Female Infertility: How important are the Fallopian tubes for fertility?

What is the importance of the fallopian tubes in fertility?

Your Fallopian tubes have four functions:

They must be able to pick up the ova (eggs) from the ovaries.
It is in the Fallopian tubes that ova are fertilised by spermatozoa.
The tubes actively transport the ova to the uterine cavity by the coordinated action of tiny fine hair-like structures called cilia.
During their passage along the tubes, ova are nourished.

Approximately 14% of infertility is attributable to the ?tubal factor?. Infection ascending to the Fallopian tubes following pregnancy or through sexual transmission accounts for the majority of patients with Fallopian tube problems (pelvic inflammatory disease - Q 20.2).
Related Medical Abstracts - Click on the paper title:-
- Bacterial vaginosis and past chlamydial infection are strongly and independently associated with tubal infertility but do not affect in vitro fertilization success rates. (1999)
- A meta-analysis of the therapeutic role of oil soluble contrast media at hysterosalpingography: A surprising result? (1994)
Please click on the required question.
- 1 What is infertility?
- 2 How prevalent are infertility problems?
- 3 What are the main causes of infertility?
- 4 What are the objectives of our infertility investigations?
- 5 Have there been any noticeable changes in fertility requirements in recent years?
- 6 What is the effect of our age on fertility?
- 7 I smoke cigarettes. Can this have an effect on my fertility?
- 8 Does my weight influence fertility?
- 8A Obesity! How can I lose weight?
- 9 I have fibroids. Could these reduce my fertility?
- 10 I have been told that my womb has an abnormal shape and that was the way that I was born. Could this reduce my fertility?
- 11 I have endometriosis. Could this reduce my fertility?
- 12 I have been told that I have cervicitis or a cervical ectopy (erosion). Could this impair my fertility?
- 13 My doctor tells me that my womb is retroverted (tilts backwards). Could this reduce my fertility?
- 14 I have had an ectopic pregnancy. Does this affect my future fertility?
- 15 We are worried that we may have a fertility problem. What should we do?
- 16 How will our doctor be able to identify the cause of our infertility?
- 17 How can we tell if I am releasing my eggs (ovulating)?
- 18 Investigations have shown that I have a problem releasing my eggs (anovulation). What could be the cause of this?
- 19 How important are my Fallopian tubes in fertility?
- 20 How can we tell if my Fallopian tubes are functioning?
- 21 How can we assess male fertility?
- 22 What is the purpose of a post-coital test (PCT)?
- 23 We have had our infertility investigations and our problem remains unexplained. How can this be?
- 24 What are our chances of achieving a pregnancy?
- 25 Where can I obtain more information?
- 26 Could we have some recommended infertility support groups?
  
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  This is the personal website of David A Viniker MD FRCOG, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Whipps Cross University Hospital, London - Specialist Interests - Reproductive Medicine including Infertility, PCOS, PMS, Menopause and HRT.
  
  I do hope that you find the answers to your women's health questions in the patient information and medical advice provided.