Dr. Dimple Doshi (MBBS, MD, DGO)
Lady Gynecologist & Laparoscopic Surgeon
27+ years’ experience
20,000+ surgeries completed
The fallopian tubes carry the egg from the ovary toward the uterus and are where the egg and sperm usually meet. When a tube is blocked — tubal blockage, a leading cause of tubal factor infertility (in Hinglish, naliyon mein rukavat / blocked tubes) — that pathway is interrupted, which can make conceiving harder. The encouraging news is that many blocks, especially milder ones near the uterus, can be evaluated and treated. This page is part of Dr. Dimple Doshi’s infertility care.
🩺 Dr. Dimple Doshi’s Note: “In many patients, tubal blockage is caused by minor mucus plugs or debris, and tubal cannulation can sometimes clear these obstructions without requiring major surgery. Because it is minimally invasive, most patients are able to resume routine activities soon after. Every fertility journey is unique — proper evaluation helps determine whether tubal cannulation is the most appropriate option for restoring fertility.”
Blocked fallopian tubes are treated by opening the tube with tubal cannulation or laparoscopic surgery, or with IVF when tubes are badly damaged.
Care usually follows a step-by-step path, least invasive first:
The right option depends on where the block is, how damaged the tube is, your age and your fertility goals. Outcomes vary by individual.
Blocked fallopian tubes often cause no symptoms; difficulty conceiving is usually the first sign, though some women have pelvic pain or discharge.
What women may notice:
Because tubes can be blocked silently, testing is important when conception is taking longer than expected.
Fallopian tubes most often block after pelvic infection (PID), endometriosis, past pelvic surgery, adhesions, or genital tuberculosis.
Common causes include:
In India, PID and genital tuberculosis are important, treatable contributors — which is why identifying the cause guides treatment.
Blocked fallopian tubes are diagnosed mainly by HSG (an X-ray dye test) and by laparoscopy with blue-dye testing to confirm tube patency.
Typical tests:
Pinpointing whether the block is proximal (near the uterus) or distal (far end) matters, because it decides which treatment can help.
Tubal cannulation is a minimally invasive procedure that opens a proximal (cornual) tube block by passing a fine wire under hysteroscopic guidance.
Key points:
According to the practice’s own figures, fallopian tube problems account for about 25–30% of infertility, and roughly 10–15% of these involve a proximal (cornual) block — the group most likely to benefit from cannulation.
Fallopian tube recanalization aims to rejoin tubes after sterilisation; suitability depends on the ligation method, tube length and age.
Some women who had a tubal ligation — female sterilisation, a long-term method of contraception — later wish to conceive again. Fallopian tube recanalization (reversal) seeks to reconnect the tube segments so natural conception may again be possible.
Whether reversal is suitable depends on:
Tubal cannulation is usually a day-care procedure under anaesthesia; most women go home the same day and resume normal activity within 1–2 days.
What to expect around the procedure:
Preparing well helps — see surgery preparation
Pregnancy is possible after tubal treatment when the tube heals and works normally, but success varies with age, tube damage and other factors.
Chances of conceiving depend on:
Many women can begin trying to conceive in the cycle after a successful cannulation, once advised. Because damaged tubes raise the risk of ectopic pregnancy, early pregnancy confirmation and a scan are important. Outcomes vary by individual, and treatment is always personalised.
Tubal surgery suits selected mild blocks and women wanting natural conception; IVF is often advised when tubes are severely damaged or badly blocked.
A simple way to think about it:
| Situation | Often more suitable |
|---|---|
| Proximal (cornual) block, mild damage | Tubal cannulation |
| Selected repairable tubal disease | Laparoscopic tubal surgery |
| After sterilisation, good tube length | Recanalization (reversal) |
| Both tubes severely damaged / hydrosalpinx | IVF |
| Advanced age or other major factors | IVF, after counselling |
IVF success is not fixed — it depends on age and diagnosis, and is discussed as a range during counselling, not as a certainty. Your doctor will help you weigh natural-conception surgery against assisted reproduction.
Tubal cannulation in Mumbai typically ranges from ₹35,000–60,000; the final cost depends on your case and is confirmed after consultation.
Cost is influenced by:
At Vardaan Hospital, eligible patients may access cashless and reimbursement assistance, subject to insurance approval and policy terms. Recanalization/reversal cost is quoted separately. Cost is a range only and is finalised after consultation; outcomes vary by individual.
Dr. Dimple Doshi is a lady gynecologist and laparoscopic surgeon offering minimally invasive fertility surgery with careful, individualised evaluation at Vardaan Hospital, Goregaon West, Mumbai.
Full credentials are viewable on the About page.
Ans. Tubal cannulation is usually done under general anaesthesia, so you do not feel pain during the procedure. Mild cramping or light spotting can follow and generally settles within a day or two.
Ans. It is considered a minimally invasive procedure, often performed without a large incision. Most women are discharged the same day and resume normal activities within one to two days.
Ans. Yes. If both tubes have a proximal (cornual) block, cannulation may be attempted on each tube during the same procedure, depending on the findings.
Ans. Many women are advised they can begin planning pregnancy from the next cycle after a successful cannulation. Your doctor will confirm the timing based on your individual result.
Ans. (My tubes are blocked — can I conceive again?) Often yes, if the block can be opened and the tube works normally afterward. Success depends on the site of blockage, tube damage, age and other factors, so an individual evaluation is important.
Ans. No. IVF is one option, mainly when tubes are severely damaged. For a proximal block with mild damage, tubal cannulation or laparoscopic surgery may allow natural conception. The choice is personalised.
Ans. Patency is usually checked with HSG (an X-ray dye test) or laparoscopic blue-dye testing, where dye is passed through the cervix and free spill from the tube confirms it is open.
Dr. Dimple Doshi at Vardaan Hospital; believes prevention is better than cure, and thus apart from the precise treatment guidelines; preventive measures are an essential part of our consultations with the patients who have either had it or want to know more about it.
