Nature is conceived in such a way that the fallopian tubes are necessary for conception. But what about those women who, for one reason or another, have been removed or bandaged? Many patients ask a gynecologist a question about whether it is possible to get pregnant and give birth to such a desired baby with one tube or without them at all? Fortunately, you can! Of course, a favorable outcome depends on many factors, and there are some nuances that we will talk about in the article. And we will also find out what cross-fertilization is and how real it is.
A little about ovulation
All women know that the menstrual cycle is 26-35 days. Around the middle of each cycle, ovulation occurs - the release of the egg from the ovary in order to connect with the sperm. If the meeting does not occur, the female cell dies and menstruation begins again.
If you listen carefully to your body, you can catch the sensations and signs of ovulation. Most women report an increase in libido,high spirits, improved skin, hair and nails during this period.
But even if there is no sensation, and you need to determine if the ovaries are functioning, you can always purchase an ovulation test strip or use the basal temperature method. On the temperature curve, the day of ovulation is indicated by the lowest mark.
The role of the fallopian tubes in conception
The fallopian tubes are a kind of corridors in which the egg and sperm meet after ovulation. It is here that in most cases the fertilization of the female cell occurs. Tubes are located on both sides of the uterus and connect to the ovaries. On average, the length of the fallopian tubes does not exceed 12 cm, and the diameter is not more than 5 mm.
Fimbriated fallopian tubes cover the ovary and literally catch the egg. First, the female cell enters the tube from the ovary and, with the help of the villi that line the inner surface of the tubes, moves along it. The epithelium layer is activated by the action of the hormone estrogen, which is synthesized at this time by the ovaries. Thus, the female germ cell purposefully moves towards the exit. The most active spermatozoa are approaching towards her.
After the fusion is successful, these same villi push the zygote into the uterine cavity. In addition, the fallopian tubes protect and nourish the future embryo on its way to the uterus.
Indications for removal of fallopian tubes
Unfortunately, in some casesdoctors are forced to remove the fallopian tubes. Based on the clinical picture of the patient, the fallopian tubes can be removed partially or completely. Consider the cases in which the doctor may prescribe such an operation:
- Injury or surgery in which the tubes were damaged.
- Inflammatory processes, for example, adnexitis.
- The presence of adhesions in the tubes that cannot be removed by surgery.
- Missed pregnancy.
Naturally, women are negatively disposed to the removal of their appendages, especially when the plans include the birth of a child. But sometimes the removal of an organ is the only right decision to preserve the he alth and even life of a woman.
How to get pregnant with one tube?
Fortunately, one tube is enough for successful conception. True, at the same time, it must be well passable and capable of ensuring the movement of the zygote to the uterus. There is a misconception that with the loss of one oviduct, a woman's chances of getting pregnant are reduced by 50%. This is fundamentally not true, in fact, for most women, the probability of becoming a mother is reduced by only 10-20%.
In order to determine the possibility of conception, the patient must consult a doctor and undergo appropriate examinations. The gynecologist will definitely take an interest in the following factors:
- Women's general he alth.
- Permeability of the remaining tube.
- Presence of any diseases of the genitourinary system.
- How exactly the deadlines and recommendations were observed after the removal of the fallopian tube.
- Psychological readiness of a couple to become parents.
As you can see, getting pregnant naturally even in this case is quite possible. But before getting pregnant with one tube, it is important to have a complete examination and prepare carefully for the upcoming process.
Cross-fertilization: what is it?
We have already said that it is possible to conceive a child with one tube, but in this case it was assumed that both ovaries are functioning properly. But what if, for example, a woman has only a he althy left ovary and only a right fallopian tube? Among the fair sex, who have a history of removal of appendages, the term "cross-fertilization" is very popular.
On various forums you can find dozens of reviews of women who claim that they managed to get pregnant by some miracle, because the ovary is on one side, and the fallopian tube is only on the other side. The panellists in all their colors tell less fortunate readers about how cross-fertilization occurs, thereby instilling hope for successful conception even in such a seemingly hopeless situation.
Doctors' opinions
In fact, the term "cross-fertilization" is not very popular with gynecologists. After all, doctors believe that this is a fictitious concept and such a phenomenon is completely normal for a he althy woman. That is, the fallopian tube is quite capable of catching an egg from another ovary and even from the abdominal cavity, regardless of where it is located. The main thing is that the oviduct is he althy, and the rest can be solved.
Cross fertilization with one tube, according to doctors, is nothing more than the most common conception in a natural way with one tube. You should not focus on which side the organs are located on, the main thing is proper functioning.
Can you get pregnant if your tubes are blocked?
It happens that a woman cannot get pregnant for a long time, but according to analyzes and examinations, there are no visible reasons for this. Then the doctor sends the patient to the HSG of the fallopian tubes in order to exclude the tubal factor of infertility.
If the doctor finds adhesions or some formations in the oviduct, then appropriate therapy or a small operation to restore patency is prescribed. Sometimes they resort to plastic surgery, for example, when the tubes are very thin and cannot let the egg through.
In cases where the adhesive process has gone far and the treatment does not work, unfortunately, laboratory methods remain the only way to conceive and give birth to a child.
All is not lost
Unfortunately, it will not be possible to conceive a child naturally if the fallopian tubes do not function or are completely absent. But in this case, comes to the aid of those who want to have children.modern medicine. Doctors may suggest IVF or ICSI to a loving couple.
The IVF procedure is carried out in the laboratory and can help even those couples who are diagnosed with infertility, both from the woman's side and from the man's side. Let's briefly describe what the procedure is:
- Hormonal support is given first to stimulate the maturation of new eggs in the ovaries.
- Mature female germ cells are extracted from the ovary. The he althiest sperm are selected.
- Genocytes are placed in a special incubator, the conditions of which are as similar as possible to the fallopian tubes.
- On the 5-6th day, the embryo is implanted in the uterine cavity.
- With a favorable outcome, such a pregnancy proceeds without any differences from the natural one.
As for ICSI, the procedure is generally very similar to the previous one, the only difference is that in ICSI the seed material is even more carefully selected and a slightly different preparation for fusion with the egg.
Result
Chances to conceive with a single tube and even without them are always there. As practice shows, women successfully become pregnant and give birth to he althy babies, even if one of the oviducts is removed or bandaged. As for "cross fertilization", experts consider such a concept to be fictitious and recommend not to dwell on which side the appendages are located on.
