Tubal Ligation Reversal
Tubal ligation is intended to be permanent but for women who come to our center for tubal ligation reversal … permanent is not forever.
We can repair all types of tubal ligations and many of our patients will become pregnant within the first 12 months of having tubal reversal surgery. All tubal ligations cause the fallopian tube to heal with closure and become blocked. This blockage prevents sperm from finding and fertilizing an egg.
Tubal ligation reversal surgery involves removing the blockage, rejoining the fallopian tubes, and restoring natural conception.
Success of tubal ligation reversal
Tubal ligation reversal can be very successful for many women. Approximately 2 out of every 3 women who become pregnant after reversing their tubes.
There are two factors which predict the success of tubal ligation reversal surgery: patient age and the type of tubal ligation.
***Click on each ‘+’ section below for more information.***
Patient age : Most important predictor of tubal reversal success
The age of the woman at the time of tubal ligation reversal is the single most important predictor of tubal reversal success. Why?
Although pregnancy is always possible if a woman is having regular periods, the ability for a women to become pregnant declines with increasing age. The power of tubal ligation reversal is that it allows women the chance to become pregnant every month. The more chances one has (i.e. the more months) then the higher the chance of pregnancy. A woman who has tubal reversal at the age of 36 has a much higher chance of pregnancy than does a woman who has tubal reversal at the age of 45. The more months you allow it to work then the higher the chance of pregnancy.
The chance of pregnancy after tubal ligation reversal when the woman is less than 30 years of age can be as high as 80% and the chance of pregnancy after reversal when the woman is over 40 years of age is approximately 35%.
Most of our patients will become pregnant within 12 months of having tubal reversal surgery.
Type of tubal ligation: Second most important predictor of tubal reversal success
The type of tubal ligation being reversed is the second most important predictor of the chance of pregnancy success after tubal reversal surgery.
All tubal ligation procedures cause blockage in the tube. Some tubal ligations cause blockage with minimal damage to the fallopian tube (tubal clips and tubal rings). Other types of tubal ligation cause varying amounts of damage to the fallopian tube and are more dependent on the surgical techniques of individual physicians: ligation and resection (tying and cutting) and coagulation (burning). Newer forms of tubal ligation (Essure) cause tubal blockage inside the fallopian tube.
Tubal ligation reversal pregnancy success can be as high as 80% with reversal of tubal clips and rings and as low as 35% with reversal of Essure. Tubal reversal pregnancy success is approximately 65% with reversal of tubal coagulation.
Tubal ligation: Can it be reversed?
Although it is well know by many that vasectomy is reversible, many people (medical and non-medical) mistakenly believe tubal ligation is not a reversible procedure. Tubal ligation is a reversible procedure.
Tubal ligation is very common and 1 out of every 3 women will regret their tubal ligation. Although many will regret having their tubes tied, very few women will actually have tubal ligation reversal surgery.
Many women will be told by medical professionals tubal reversal is not possible and their only option is in-vitro fertilization. Many of these women will give up hope of having natural conception.
Many health care providers, including many IVF specialists, are not aware the American Society for Reproductive Medicine is actually very supportive of tubal reversal surgery.
“Tubal anastomosis (tubal reversal) has a significantly higher cumulative pregnancy rate than IVF, and it is more cost efficient, even in women 40 years of age or older.”
– American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Committee opinion: role of tubal surgery in the era of assisted reproductive technology 2012
Tubal ligation reversal or IVF?
The leading group of IVF experts in the United States has consistently concluded a single cycle of IVF is more successful than when compared to a single month of trying to become pregnant naturally after tubal ligation reversal but with the passage of time tubal reversal can be more successful and affordable than IVF.
Chances of pregnancy with tubal ligation reversal
If tubal ligation reversal is successful then your natural ability to conceive is restored. This means you can become pregnant naturally and each month you have a chance. Over time these chances add up and this is why tubal reversal surgery is often more successful than IVF.
Not only do your chances of getting pregnant increase but you can also have more than one child.
In general about 2 out of every 3 patients will become pregnant after tubal ligation reversal surgery.
Tubal ligation reversal provides you a better chance of getting pregnant and allows you the opportunity to have more than one pregnancy. This can all be done without needing regular monthly treatments from a doctor.
Chances of pregnancy with IVF
Many people mistakenly believe in-vitro fertilization (IVF) will provide a better chance of getting pregnant than tubal reversal surgery. Unfortunately this is not correct.
IVF is a process. IVF requires:
- Multiple visits with a fertility specialist
- Treatment with high dose hormonal medications over several days to weeks
- Egg retrieval under conscious sedation
- Fertilization in an incubator
- Reinsertion of any successfully fertilized eggs
In general the chance of getting pregnant with IVF after a single cycle is 30% to 40%…..or about 1 out of every 3 attempts. Each attempt you will have to pay and the average per cycle cost is $12,000 to $14,000.
When you plan on doing IVF you will need to plan on completing at least three treatment cycles to become pregnant. IVF success does decrease with increasing age of the female. After age 43, many IVF doctors will recommend you use donor eggs to become pregnant.
Benefits of tubal ligation reversal surgery
Tubal ligation reversal surgery has several benefits…and not all of the benefits are about pregnancy. For some patients tubal ligation reversal surgery allows them the chance to treat abnormal symptoms experience after tubal ligation or to relieve the guilt experienced after making a previous bad decision.
For more information: Benefits of tubal ligation reversal surgery
Risks of tubal ligation reversal
Tubal ligation reversal surgery at His Choice is a safe outpatient surgery. The risks of surgery are low and the center has a long track records of providing safe tubal ligation reversal surgery in an outpatient setting.
Potential patients are encouraged to send us a copy of their tubal ligation operative report for a free review to determine if they are good candidate for reversal surgery. Before scheduling, patients are carefully screened for high risk surgical conditions.
Reversal surgery is performed under general anesthesia.The surgery is outpatient and patients can return to normal activity within one (1) to four (4) weeks.
For more information: Risk of tubal ligation reversal surgery
Need more information?
If you would like to learn more about Dr. Monteith and his services the visit this link: Mini-Incision Tubal Reversal Surgery
