2. Is pregnancy possible after tubal ligation? The answer
is, yes. While tubal ligation is extremely effective,
permanent method of birth control (contraception),
its reversal is possible.
Tubal ligation, or tying your tubes, is a surgical
procedure in which a woman's fallopian tubes are
clamped off with a clip or ring (band) or burned shut
(cauterized) to prevent unwanted pregnancy.
3. Every woman has two fallopian tubes, about 10 cm
long and 0.5 cm in diameter. These thin tubes
connect the ovaries to the uterus. The ovum (egg)
released from the ovaries travels through these
tubes to the uterus. The male sperm joins the egg
for fertilization in this tube.
Women who are done with childbirth often opt for this
procedure. However, many women later change
their mind and wish to have another child. This is
where ligation reversal comes and helps women
restore their fertility and get pregnant.
4. Ligation reversal surgery is done to reopen or rejoin
the previously clamped, blocked or sealed tubes,
ensuring fertility restoration.
If you have had your fallopian tubes tied and now
considering a reversal surgery because you have
decided to become pregnant again, there are
several factors to consider.
5. Possibility of Tubal Ligation Reversal
Experts have shown that 98% of tied tubes can be
reversed to their original form, so that an
impressive percentage of women have the
possibility to become pregnant following the ligation
removal surgery.
Success Rate
With a ligation reversal, an average pregnancy
rate is 75%. This percentage continues to
increase every month, increasing the chance of
you getting naturally conceive.
6. The Type of Ligation
The overall success of the tubal ligation reversal
largely depends on the method used to close the
tubes e.g. whether the tubes are tied, clamped with
clips or rings, a segment of the fallopian tube is
excised or the tube is electro-coagulation. The
success of the reversal microsurgery also depends
on the status of the remaining segment of the tube.
For instance, your remaining fallopian tubes should
be healthy and having sufficient length for
successful tubal reversal.
7. Condition of Tubes
If the remaining part of the fallopian tube is too short,
diseased or completely removed, reversal is not
possible. Also, women who have had rings or clips
placed around their tubes can successfully get their
tubal ligation reversed. The chance for success
increases when the diameters of the remaining
ends of tubal sections are identical.
8. Age
The age of the woman seeking tubal ligation reversal
plays a key role in the success rate of the surgery. A
woman wanting to get pregnant after a tubal ligation
should be below 40 at the time she seeks tubal
ligation reversal. Women over 40 years of age
should discuss their personal chances of achieving
successful pregnancy with their gynecologist before
opting for tubal ligation reversal.
9. Ectopic Pregnancy
Although many women are able to conceive within six
months after the tubal ligation reversal and
successfully deliver a child after full term, there is a
higher risk for an ectopic pregnancy (EP) after the
procedure. Also called tubal pregnancy, an ectopic
pregnancy is a dangerous condition in which a
fertilized egg settles and grows in any location other
than the inner lining of the uterus. While the vast
majority (or 98%) of ectopic pregnancies occur in
the fallopian tube, eggs may also grow in the cervix,
ovary, and abdominal cavity. The ectopic pregnancy
can cause internal bleeding and can be lifethreatening, sometimes causing death in the first
trimester of pregnancy.
