- With Mayo Clinic gynecologist and obstetrician
Mary M. Gallenberg, M.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Mary M. Gallenberg, M.D.
Mary M. Gallenberg, M.D.
Dr. Mary Gallenberg is board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and by the American Board of Internal Medicine in internal medicine and medical oncology.
An Antigo, Wis., native, Dr. Gallenberg is a consultant in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn., and an assistant professor at College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic.
Dr. Gallenberg has been with Mayo Clinic since 1990. She was on the Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource editorial board and has been honored for excellence in teaching. She also won a Mayo Clinic Excellence Through Teamwork award.
Definition (2)
- Tilted uterus: Can it lead to infertility?
- Ovulation signs: When is conception most likely?
Causes (4)
- Fallopian tubes: Is pregnancy possible with only one?
- Semen allergy: A cause of infertility?
- Hypothyroidism and infertility: Any connection?
- see all in Causes
Treatments and drugs (1)
- Fertility herbs: Do they enhance fertility?
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Question
Fallopian tubes: Is pregnancy possible with only one?
I have only one fallopian tube. Is it possible for me to get pregnant?
Answer
from Mary M. Gallenberg, M.D.
Your fallopian tubes are a pair of tubes that eggs travel through to get from your ovaries to your uterus. Each month, during a process called ovulation, one of your ovaries releases an egg that travels down one of your fallopian tubes, where it may or may not be fertilized by a sperm.
You might have only one fallopian tube if you've had pelvic surgery for an infection or a tumor, or a past ectopic pregnancy. Occasionally, some women are born with only one tube. However, you may still be able to get pregnant with only one tube if:
- You have one or both ovaries
- You still ovulate
- Your remaining fallopian tube is healthy
If you're unable to get pregnant after a year of trying to conceive, see your gynecologist or a reproductive endocrinologist for evaluation.
Next questionSemen allergy: A cause of infertility?
- Lentz GM, et al. Comprehensive Gynecology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2012. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/linkTo?type=bookPage&isbn=978-0-323-06986-1&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-06986-1..C2009-0-48752-X--TOP. Accessed Jan. 7, 2013.
- Juneau C, et al. Reproductive outcomes after medical and surgical management of ectopic pregnancy. Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2012;55:455.
- Frequently asked questions. Gynecologic problems FAQ136. Evaluating infertility. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/~/media/For%20Patients/faq136.pdf?dmc=1&ts=20130107T1626359764. Accessed Jan. 7, 2013.
- Harms RW (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Jan. 14, 2013.
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