Causes of fallopian tube pain?

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The fallopian tubes are tubes that connect a woman’s ovaries to her uterus and serve as the tube through which an egg passes into the uterus during ovulation. Fallopian tube pain, which often registers as generalized pelvic pain, can be uncomfortable and even frightening. Understanding the potential causes of fallopian tube pain can be the first step in eliminating this unpleasant condition. Fallopian tube pain can be caused by a sexually transmitted infection, a health condition such as endometriosis, or an ectopic pregnancy. In rare cases, pain may occur because one of the fallopian tubes has become kinked or cancer has developed.

A common cause of fallopian tube pain is sexually transmitted infection. Specifically, the fallopian tubes can be affected by chlamydia, gonorrhea, and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). The bacteria that cause these conditions can infect the fallopian tubes, causing the tissue lining them to scar. This scar tissue can in turn cause the tubes to become blocked, leading to pain and, often, fertility problems. To avoid damage to the fallopian tubes, sexually transmitted infections must be treated early with antibiotics.

Endometriosis can also be responsible for fallopian tube pain. This condition occurs when various parts of the reproductive system, often including the fallopian tubes, develop an abnormal layer of tissue during the menstrual cycle. The tissue, which can’t be shed in the way that uterine tissue can, begins to build up, causing scarring, blockages, and pain in the affected areas. Endometriosis can sometimes be treated with medication or surgery.

Another potential cause of fallopian tube pain is ectopic pregnancy. In this condition, a fertilized egg is not implanted in the uterine wall, but instead implants itself in the fallopian tubes or another part of the reproductive system. Acute pelvic pain is one of the most common symptoms of this condition. Often, an ectopic pregnancy occurs because the fallopian tubes have been damaged, either by an infection such as PID or a condition such as endometriosis. Because an egg implanted outside the uterus cannot survive and its growth can cause severe internal bleeding, an ectopic pregnancy usually needs to be terminated via oral medication or surgery.

Very rarely, fallopian tube pain can be caused by a condition called tubal torsion. In this often very painful condition, one of the fallopian tubes becomes kinked, resulting in decreased blood flow to the structure. This can result from a physical abnormality of the reproductive structures, internal changes that occur during pregnancy, or physical trauma, such as a car accident. Tubal torsion usually requires surgical treatment.

Finally, although uncommon, fallopian tube pain can sometimes result from fallopian tube cancer. This condition occurs when abnormal cells begin to grow inside the fallopian tubes. Because of the structure and location of the fallopian tubes, this type of cancer can be difficult to diagnose. As with all cancers, however, early intervention improves the chances of treatment success. Therefore, women with persistent, undiagnosed pain in the fallopian tube area should see a doctor to rule out a serious condition such as cancer.

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