The Importance of Tests Before Tubal Reversal

For countless women in the United States who are no longer considering pregnancy, tubal ligation has long been a relatively quick, mildly uncomfortable, and simple method of permanent birth control.

Sometimes, however, changes in your life cause you to reevaluate that decision. Guidance and evaluation regarding tubal ligation reversal is one of the many services our specialty team at Rocky Mountain Fertility Center offers individuals struggling with infertility.

Led by Reproductive Endocrinologist Dr. Deborah Smith, our group is extremely committed to providing the information you need to make informed decisions about your fertility treatments and procedures such as tubal reversal.

Tubal reversal explained

Tubal reversal is a procedure designed to restore fertility in women with a history of tubal ligation. 

During reversal surgery, tubes that were blocked or cut via ligation are reconnected so that mature eggs can once again move through and interact with sperm traveling up the fallopian tubes.

Many couples consider tubal reversal as an alternative to fertility treatments such as in-vitro fertilization (IVF). It takes time to discover whether the surgery was successful but provided certain criteria are met, conception generally takes place within one to two years of the procedure.

Who is a good candidate for tubal reversal?

Dr. Smith considers several factors as she evaluates the potential success of a tubal reversal procedure, including:

• Your overall health
• The type of tubal ligation procedure you had, since not all are compatible with reversal
• The extent of damage done to your fallopian tubes and remaining tubal length
• The condition of the fallopian tubes near the ovaries (fimbria)
• Your age, weight, and body mass index (BMI)
• Your egg quality
• Results of your partner’s sperm analysis

To spare you needless delay and the expense of a surgery that might not help you conceive, Dr. Smith carefully evaluates all these factors before considering whether to recommend tubal reversal.

What tests can I expect before tubal reversal?

Many of the presurgical tests and diagnostic studies Dr. Smith recommends are also included in a general fertility workup, such as:

• Semen analysis to assess the male partner’s fertility status
• Antral follicle count, performed via ultrasound, to evaluate ovarian “fertility”
• FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone), estradiol, and anti-müllerian hormone (AMH) levels to determine egg quality

Whenever possible, Dr. Smith also requests you send our office surgical records of your tubal ligation, including a pathology report, if available. The report from pathology contains information regarding the length of tube removed during certain types of tubal ligation, which can help her estimate how much healthy tissue remains.

After she’s gathered and examined all this information and evaluated your test results, Dr. Smith discusses the possible outcomes with you. 

For more information about tubal reversal or any of the services we offer, schedule a visit with Dr. Smith at Rocky Mountain Fertility Center in Parker or Englewood, Colorado.