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Is Tubal Ligation Reversal Right for Me?

What Are My Options?

Having surgery of any kind is a major decision. There are two options for women who have had a previous tubal ligation and now desire to have more children: tubal reversal surgery (tubal reanastomosis) or in vitro fertilization (IVF). Although tubal reversal surgery is not right for everyone, in many cases it is a very successful option.

Many clinics offer only one option – either IVF or tubal reversal. Dr. Storment offers both options to help a couple achieve their dream of a pregnancy. He will examine your history, operative report(s), laboratory evaluation of egg quality and after thorough review, help you determine which is the best option for you. Few physicians offer such an individualized approach.

Pregnancy rates after tubal ligation reversal can be extremely high depending on the age of the wife and type of tubal ligation. One way to determine whether tubal reversal surgery is the best option for you is through an interpretation of the operative report from your tubal ligation. With this information, Dr. Storment is able to provide feedback on the type of sterilization that was performed and the amount of tube that may be remaining after the reversal. Dr. Storment provides a Medical Records Release Form to assist you with obtaining your report from the surgeon who performed your tubal ligation.

What If There is Not Enough Fallopian Tube to Repair?

Tubal ligation procedures vary in the severity of injury occurring to the fallopian tubes. Although most tubal ligations are reversible, there are some cases where tubal reversal is not possible. If the operative report from your tubal ligation indicates there may be a problem in repairing the remaining tubal segments, or if you cannot get a copy of your operative report, you may be interested in the screening laparoscopy option offered at Fertility & Women's Health Center.

The specific tubal ligation procedure your surgeon used is an important factor in whether you will have a successful tubal reversal surgery. Each of the ligation methods use different ways to prevent an egg from travelling down the fallopian tube to where it could potentially meet up with sperm. Unfortunately, these procedures do not simply "tie" your fallopian tubes and therefore cannot be simply "untied." Some methods cut off a segment of the tubes, others use a clip to pinch the tube closed, while others stitch the tube closed. Your chances of becoming pregnant again depend on the method used and how well the tube can be restored back to its original condition. Methods in which too much fallopian tube were cut away make pregnancy more difficult.

Decreased chance of tubal repair

In this illustration, too much of the tube was removed during the ligation procedure for the tube to be reattached.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Decreased chance of tubal repair

In this illustration, the tubal ligation procedure left unequal diameters at either end of the cut tube to be reattached.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ideal physiology for tubal repair 

This illustration shows an ideal situation for tubal repair. Both tube lengths are of similar lengths and diameters.