According to statistics, 40% of female infertility is caused by tubal factors. So why is tubal incompetence a major cause of infertility? To know the answer to this question, we need to start by understanding the structure and function of the fallopian tubes. What are the fallopian tubes like? The fallopian tubes are part of the female internal genitalia and look like a pair of long, thin, curved tubes, like the one in the picture above, connected to the uterus on the inside and close to the ovaries on the outside, with a total length of about 8-15 cm. Depending on their shape and function, the fallopian tubes are divided into four parts: the funnel part of the fallopian tubes, the abdomen of the fallopian tubes, the isthmus of the fallopian tubes, and the interstitial part (uterine part). After seeing its appearance, you may understand why the fallopian tubes are the “necessary route” for the birth of new life. After entering the uterine cavity, sperm need to enter the fallopian tube through an opening on the uterine side of the tube, while the egg enters the fallopian tube through an umbrella-like opening near the ovary, where it is “grabbed” by the fallopian tube. The sperm and egg meet in the fallopian tube to complete the fertilization process. The fertilized egg then passes through the isthmus (the narrowest part of the fallopian tube), the interstitial part and finally back to the uterine cavity to find a suitable place for implantation through the oscillation of the cilia in the fallopian tube and the peristaltic action of the muscles in the wall of the fallopian tube. Therefore, the fallopian tube is like a “bridge” between the sperm and the egg, and if it is interrupted, it will greatly reduce the probability of the union of the egg and the sperm. If the fallopian tubes are not open due to inflammation or fluid, it is equivalent to the bridge being too narrow and difficult to travel, making it difficult not only for the sperm and egg to meet, but also for the fertilized egg to return to the uterine cavity. This is why the fallopian tubes are so important to the successful conception of a baby.