Fallopian tubes

Two tubes connecting the ovaries to the uterus. This is where fertilisation usually happens.

Two thin tubes inside a girl's or woman's body that connect where the eggs are stored to the womb. When an egg is released, it travels along one of these tubes. This is where an egg and sperm usually meet.

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The fallopian tubes are two thin tubes that connect the to the (womb). When an is released from an ovary during , it travels down one of these tubes towards the uterus. If are present, fertilisation usually happens here — in the fallopian tube, not in the uterus.

There are two fallopian tubes, one on each side, connecting each ovary to the uterus.
They're where fertilisation (sperm meeting egg) usually takes place.
Each tube is roughly 10-12cm long and about the width of a pencil.
If a fallopian tube is blocked or damaged, it can affect .
An ectopic happens when a fertilised egg in the fallopian tube instead of the uterus — this is a medical emergency.

How they work

After ovulation, the egg doesn't just fall into the tube. The end of each fallopian tube has finger-like projections called fimbriae that sweep the egg from the surface of the ovary into the tube. Once inside, tiny hair-like structures called cilia wave back and forth to move the egg along towards the uterus. This journey takes a few days.

If sperm are in the fallopian tube (from sex in the days before or on the day of ovulation), fertilisation can happen during this journey. The fertilised egg then continues travelling down to the uterus, where it implants in the lining and pregnancy begins.

Why they matter

The fallopian tubes are a key part of how pregnancy happens — they're the meeting point between egg and sperm. They're also relevant to a few health and topics:

Ectopic pregnancy — occasionally, a fertilised egg implants in the fallopian tube instead of making it to the uterus. This is called an ectopic pregnancy and it's serious — the tube can't support a growing pregnancy and could rupture. Symptoms include sharp pain on one side of the lower abdomen, bleeding, and feeling faint. It needs urgent medical treatment.

Sterilisation — one permanent method of contraception involves blocking or removing the fallopian tubes so eggs can't travel to the uterus and sperm can't reach the egg. This is a surgical procedure and is almost never offered to young people.

damage — some untreated STIs (especially and ) can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, which can scar and block the fallopian tubes. This is one of the main ways untreated STIs can lead to fertility problems — and one of the reasons regular testing matters.

Things people ask about fallopian tubes

Can you feel your fallopian tubes?

Not normally. Some people feel a twinge or mild ache on one side during ovulation (called mittelschmerz), which is related to the egg being released near the tube. But you can't feel the tubes themselves.

What happens if one tube is blocked?

You can still get with one working fallopian tube, since you have two ovaries and two tubes. The egg from the ovary on the working side can still be fertilised normally.

Can blocked tubes be fixed?

Sometimes. Surgery can help in some cases, and IVF bypasses the tubes entirely by fertilising the egg outside the body. But prevention — mainly treating STIs early — is the best approach.

The fallopian tubes are two thin tubes inside the body. There's one on each side, connecting the place where are stored to the womb.

When an egg is released each month, it goes into one of these tubes and slowly travels towards the womb. The journey takes a few days. If are in the tube from sex that happened recently, the sperm and egg can meet and join together. This is called fertilisation, and it's how starts.

The joined egg then keeps moving down the tube into the womb, where it settles into the soft lining and grows.

Sometimes the joined egg gets stuck in the tube instead of reaching the womb. This is called an ectopic pregnancy and it's serious — it needs medical help straight away. Signs include sharp pain on one side of the lower tummy, bleeding, and feeling faint.

The tubes can also get damaged by infections that are passed on through sex, if those infections aren't treated. This damage can make it harder to get later. That's one of the reasons getting tested for infections matters.

Ovaries

Two small organs that produce eggs and the hormones oestrogen and progesterone.

The ovaries are two small organs inside a girl's or woman's body. They store eggs and release one about once a month. They also make important hormones that control periods and puberty.

Egg

Female reproductive cell released from the ovary during ovulation. If fertilised by sperm, pregnancy begins.

An egg is a tiny cell inside a girl's or woman's body. One is released each month. If it joins with a sperm, a pregnancy can start. If it doesn't, it leaves the body during a period.

Uterus

The organ where a baby grows during pregnancy. The lining sheds each month as a period.

The uterus (also called the womb) is the organ inside a girl's or woman's body where a baby grows during pregnancy. Each month, it builds up a soft lining. If no pregnancy happens, that lining comes out as a period.