"FALLOPIAN TUBES - IS PREGNANCY POSSIBLE WITH ONLY ONE?"

Female reproductive system consists of 4 parts – Vagina, Uterus, Fallopian tubes & the Ovaries.

Fallopian tubes are tubular, hollowseromuscular structures that extend from the uterine horns to the ovaries in the female pelvis. They are 2 in number, one on the right and one on the left. The tube has 4 parts uterine, Uterine, Isthmus, Ampulla, and Infundibulum.The total length of these tubes are 11-12 cm with a lumen diameter of less than 1mm.

At the time of ovulation, the or the fimbrial end infundibulum of the tube covers the ovary and a negative pressure of - 1 mm Hg develops due to the movements of the cilia (hair-like structures on the wall) which sucks the ovum from the follicle into the lumen of the tube and waits for the sperm to reach the tube for fertilization.

Once fertilization occurs in the fallopian tube after 4-5 days, the embryo is moved to settle in the uterus by the coordinated peristalsis like movement of the tube. Tubes thus play a very important part in the fertility of women. A patent tube alone is not sufficient, but overall tubo-ovarian relation should be healthy.

As ovulation can occur in either of the ovaries, both side tubes have work to do. While majority of women have a healthy pair of Fallopian tubes, there are some women who have only one functioning tube.