Tubal ligation, or “getting your tubes tied,” is a surgical procedure to block or close the fallopian tubes of a woman so the eggs released from the ovaries can’t enter the uterus, and thus sperm can’t reach the eggs. While intended to be a permanent method of birth control, some women later wish to become pregnant.
Tubal Reversal
As the name implies, tubal reversal, or a woman’s desire to “untie my tubes,” reconnects the fallopian tubes, enabling once again eggs to enter the uterus. And as you might expect, younger women are more likely candidates for tubal reversal to be successful in allowing them to become pregnant. In fact, women under the age of 35 have an 80% chance of pregnancy with tubal reversal.
“Am I a candidate?”
There are a number of important factors to examine when determining if a woman can have a successful tubal reversal. Beginning with your evaluation, which includes a complete physical exam and hysterosalpingogram (HSG) to examine the current condition of your fallopian tubes, a variety of factors are considered. Age, the type of tubal ligation surgery you had (and when), and the health of your uterus, ovaries, and remaining fallopian tubes (especially their length) are all taken into account. Other considerations may be if you became pregnant before having your tubal reversal, and whether the pregnancy was healthy, and if not, why. Even factors such as past surgery for gynecological disorders like fibroids or endometriosis can influence the decision.
If you’re considering tubal reversal, please feel free to open a dialog with one of our fertility specialists. Or if you like, send us an email. We’d be happy to explore the opportunity that tubal ligation reversal may represent to you.