RESTORING FERTILITY WITH A TUBAL LIGATION REVERSAL

Tubal Ligation Reversal – Restoring Fertility

A tubal ligation reversal is a procedure to restore the fertility of a woman who has undergone a tubal ligation.  A tubal ligation procedure is generally performed to permanently prevent pregnancy by cutting, clipping, burning or “tying” the tubes.

Tubal reversal surgery is typically performed as an inpatient or outpatient procedure and generally takes anywhere between one and three hours to complete.  During the procedure the doctor makes a small incision in the abdomen to expose the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries.

Using a small microscope or laparoscope as an aid, the fertility doctor removes the blocked portions of the fallopian tube and reattaches the two ends of the fallopian tubes with absorbable stitches.  If too much of the tube was removed during the initial procedure, your doctor may not be able to reattach one or both of the fallopian tubes.  It usually takes one week to completely recover from the surgery.

Why Have a Tubal Ligation Reversal

A tubal ligation reversal can allow a woman to get pregnant without In Vitro Fertilization.  Approximately 30% of women may regret having a tubal ligation for a variety of reasons, including:

• A change in marital status
• Young age at the time of the tubal ligation
• Having the procedure within a year of giving birth
• Spousal pressure
• Medical condition at the time

While a tubal ligation reversal may not be appropriate for everyone, your Denver fertility clinic can assist you in determining if you are a good candidate for the procedure and will have a high likelihood of success. There are a number of factors that contribute to the success of a tubal reversal procedure, including:

• Age and body mass index (weight)
• Damage and extent of damage to the fallopian tubes
• Remaining tubal length
• Type of tubal ligation performed
• Other fertility factors such as egg quality and sperm quality

Procedural Risks

Even if the tubal ligation reversal procedure is successful, it does not guarantee that a woman will become pregnant.  The pregnancy rates following reversal range greatly, from 30 to 85 percent, depending on a wide variety of factors including the woman’s age.

As with any surgery, tubal ligation reversal carries a risk of infection, bleeding and injury to nearby organs.  Risks are also associated with anesthesia.  However, a skilled team of specialists at a fertility treatment center can greatly reduce these risk factors.