Blocked Fallopian Tubes
The fallopian tubes are fine muscular structures that are responsible
for getting the sperm to the egg and transporting the embryo to the
uterus for implantation. A blockage of these tubes is what causes
1/3 of all female infertility. The common procedure to test the openness
of a woman’s fallopian tubes is a hysterosalpingogram (HSG). Here
dye is injected into a woman’s uterus and pictures are then taken
to make sure that liquid is coming out of each of her fallopian tubes.
If there is blockage then there will be no spillage of dye from one
or both of her tubes.
One of the most common causes of fallopian tube damage is from pelvic
infection and sexually transmitted diseases. It is important that
you get tested for STD’s and get treated right away if any are present
to minimize damage to the reproductive organs these diseases can cause.
Blockage in the fallopian tubes can be caused by damage to the tubes
themselves or by being clogged with mucus. If there is physical structural
damage to the tubes then there is little Chinese medicine can offer
these women. An IVF procedure or microsurgery will be recommended
and the Chinese medicine and acupuncture will be used to increase
the success rate of the IVF and not to clear the blockage itself.
Chinese medicine works best if the structure of the fallopian tubes
has not been too damaged. Once the infection has been cleared the
blockage in the tube can be cleared effectively with Chinese medicine.
There is some research in China that shows encouraging results using
administration of Chinese herbs to clear up the blocked tubes and
restore fertility.
Research
In this study by J. Huang of the Shenzhen Municipal Hospital of Traditional
Chinese Medicine looked at the external application of Chinese herbs
on an acupuncture point on the abdomen combined with tubal surgery
and just the tubal surgery on its own in clearing blocked fallopian
tubes. The study group consisted of 75 women who were divided into
the two groups. In the just surgery group 46% were cured, 23% improved
and 30% failed for a combined effectiveness rate of 70%. The herb
and surgery group had 58% cured, 24% improved and 18% failed for a
combined effectiveness rate of 82%. So as you can see the use of Chinese
herbs can increase the effectiveness of surgery to correct fallopian
tube blockages.
Case Study
In one case study by Peter Deadman published in the Journal of Chinese Medicine he successfully treated a woman that had both of her tubes blocked. A HSP was performed at it showed both of her tubes were complete blocked. This woman was not offered surgery as an option to clear her tubes. After 6 months of acupuncture and Chinese herbs one of her tubes had become unblocked thus restoring the possibility of pregnancy to a woman who was told that because surgery was not an option she would not get pregnant on her own.