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What are my Chances of Getting Pregnant with One Fallopian Tube?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

It is possible to conceive with one fallopian tube, although the success rates for conception can vary, depending on the reason behind the missing tube. For some women, the chances of pregnancy with one fallopian tube are basically identical to those in the general population, while others may have a lower chance of successful conception. If women cannot conceive independently, assisted reproductive technology may be able to resolve the issue and help women get pregnant and this option can be discussed with a gynecologist and fertility specialist to get more information.

Common reasons to be missing a fallopian tube include complications from a tubal pregnancy along with inflammation and scarring from conditions like pelvic inflammatory disease. Women who have experienced problems with their fallopian tubes before can be at risk of having problems again in the future and this can affect the chances of getting pregnant with a single fallopian tube. In a woman with a history of tubal pregnancy, for example, there is a chance it will happen again and monitoring during early pregnancy is advised.

As long as one or both ovaries are intact to produce eggs, women should be able to get pregnant.
As long as one or both ovaries are intact to produce eggs, women should be able to get pregnant.

As long as one or both ovaries are intact to produce eggs, women should be able to ovulate and get pregnant. The ovaries can deliver eggs to either fallopian tube and with time, ovulation into the healthy tube may be more common, increasing the chances of getting pregnant with a single fallopian tube over time. In women who have trouble ovulating, fertility drugs can sometimes provide the kickstart needed to ovulate successfully, and they can go on to become pregnant.

A diagram of the female reproductive system, including the fallopian tubes.
A diagram of the female reproductive system, including the fallopian tubes.

Some women get pregnant without even being aware that one fallopian tube is blocked or not functional. It is important to be aware that fertility is a complex issue and women may have other issues beyond a missing fallopian tube that could impact their ability to get pregnant and to carry a pregnancy to term. People who experience repeated pregnancy loss or difficulty conceiving may want to consider discussing the situation with a specialist and taking some diagnostic tests to learn more about the situation.

For some women, the chances of pregnancy with one fallopian tube are identical to that of women who have two.
For some women, the chances of pregnancy with one fallopian tube are identical to that of women who have two.

Problems with fertility relating to the fallopian tubes are known as tubal infertility. In patients with tubal infertility, an evaluation by a fertility specialist can be helpful for finding out more specifically about why pregnancy is difficult. The fertility specialist can make some recommendations, starting with a more conservative approach and exploring more aggressive fertility treatments if the more conservative methods do not work.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a TheHealthBoard researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a TheHealthBoard researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

amypollick

@deepika: I am not a doctor, so I don't know whether you can get pregnant without some kind of fertility assistance. You need to talk to your doctor about it.

Considering your past history, you may not be physically able to carry a pregnancy to term. Again, I am not a doctor so I cannot say this for certain, but some women just don't need to get pregnant. It's just too risky for their health. If that's the case with you, it's not your fault. You didn't do *anything* to cause this. There's nothing anyone did to cause this.

You need to talk to your doctor and ask him or her exactly what your options are for having a baby. Good luck.

anon353245

I am deepika. I am 27 years old. I gave birth to a girl baby, but the baby was stillborn. I lost one tube. We have been trying to get pregnant for two years, but I want to become naturally pregnant without treatment. How can I became pregnant? Please help me to became pregnant. My ovulation is correct. Is there a way?

hopeful29

I had a HSG test yesterday that showed my right fallopian being open but left blocked. I'm 29 years old and had PID years back, which I believe to be the cause for the blockage of my left tube. What should I do next should I try the laparoscopic or some type of surgery to try and unblock the tube?

anon289930

I had ectopic pregnancy, both times in the right fallopian tube. All tests were done, however doctors could not find any medical reason for the same. Since then it's been nine months that I have been trying to conceive, however I have not been able to. The ovulation is perfect. It has been checked after the removal of fallopian tube. Please suggest what should I do.

anon271745

My fiance is 19. She has already had one child in a previous relationship and had some complications and ended up with a blood clot and and had to go on blood thinners. What is the chance of her having a another child and having a successful birth without the possibilities of the child killing her during pregnancy or any other life threatening complications?

ElizaBennett

@EdRick - You make a good point about age. My aunt had blocked fallopian tubes from PID. For fallopian tube problems, the last thing to try is IVF. But she didn't start trying to get pregnant until she was 38. She spent the first two years trying things like laproscopy to clear the blockage and didn't have her first IVF cycle until she was forty.

By then, her ovarian reserve was low and she didn't respond well to the fertility drugs they give you to stimulate ovulation before IVF. After four cycles, they reluctantly concluded that it just wasn't going to happen for them.

Fortunately, money wasn't an issue for them and they still had enough left to adopt. Now that they have their two little boys (brothers they adopted from the foster care system), they say they can't imagine life any other way!

EdRick

A friend of mine had only one fallopian tube because of a tubal pregnancy she'd had as a teenager. So she knew about her condition and she started trying to get pregnant sooner rather than later, knowing that if she needed treatment of any kind, there was a better chance it would work if she was younger. That way, she also had more time to pursue treatment (or adoption) if she didn't get pregnant right away.

It took her a little while to get pregnant, about eight months, whereas most healthy women her age get pregnant in the first six months of trying. But with only one tube, the months that she ovulated from the no-tube side, she had no chance to get pregnant.

She has two very healthy, beautiful kids now and is actually thinking of having the other tube tied now that her family is complete! Kind of ironic, huh?

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    • As long as one or both ovaries are intact to produce eggs, women should be able to get pregnant.
      By: Wouter Tolenaars
      As long as one or both ovaries are intact to produce eggs, women should be able to get pregnant.
    • A diagram of the female reproductive system, including the fallopian tubes.
      By: Alila
      A diagram of the female reproductive system, including the fallopian tubes.
    • For some women, the chances of pregnancy with one fallopian tube are identical to that of women who have two.
      By: javiindy
      For some women, the chances of pregnancy with one fallopian tube are identical to that of women who have two.
    • Some women get pregnant without even being aware that one fallopian tube is not functional.
      By: Marin Conic
      Some women get pregnant without even being aware that one fallopian tube is not functional.
    • Problems with fertility relating to the fallopian tubes are known as tubal infertility.
      By: Monkey Business
      Problems with fertility relating to the fallopian tubes are known as tubal infertility.
    • A missing fallopian tube may be attributed to pelvic inflammatory disease.
      By: joshya
      A missing fallopian tube may be attributed to pelvic inflammatory disease.