Approximately 700,000 bilateral tubal ligations are performed every year in the United States.

The primary reason for this procedure is to provide permanent contraception for couples who no longer want to have children. But what do you do if circumstances change and you want to have kids again someday?

Fortunately, there is an option. Certain types of tubal ligation surgeries are reversible. Gynecologists can perform another surgery to allow for future fertility.

In this article, we will walk you through everything you need to know about tubal ligation reversal surgery.

Is It Possible to Get My Tubes Untied?

For one reason or another, they now want to have the ability to have children and don’t know if this is possible.

One of the most important determining factors is understanding the type of procedure that you had.

While some people think that tubal reversal is a single procedure, there are actually multiple forms of the operation.

Postpartum tubal ligations are very common following childbirth.If less than 2.5 cm of the fallopian tube was removed, your doctor should be able to reverse your ligation.

Falope rings as well as Filshie clips are also easily reversible forms of ligation.

There is another type of procedure called fulguration. This is a “burning” of the fallopian tube that can still be repaired if less than 2.5 cm was damaged.

Women who have received a fimbriectomy can also have a reversal.

Forms of Sterilization That Cannot Be Reversed

Women who have had appendectomies have had their fallopian tubes completely removed. They will not be eligible for ligation reversal. Instead, they will need to pursue in vitro fertilization if they want to have children.

Similarly, Essure or Adiana sterilizations are not reversible.

What is Tubal Ligation Reversal?

Tubal ligation reversal surgeries are performed on an outpatient basis.

Tubal ligation reversal surgeries involve physicians making small 2 to 3 inch incisions along the bikini line. They perform surgery to replace or repair the changes made to your fallopian tubes.

There is a short recovery.And most patients can resume full activity in a week to 10 days approximately. Of course, other medical factors may affect this timeline and you should discuss the procedure with your provider.

How Long Before I Can Start Trying to Get Pregnant?

After a tubal ligation reversal procedure, women can start to become pregnant as soon as their next menstrual cycle. This is because the egg will be able to flow through the fallopian tube, and fertilization can occur as normal.

Will I Definitely Get Pregnant after My Tubal Reversal Procedure?

As with anything in medicine, there is no black and white, hard and fast answer. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that your surgery will allow you to become pregnant.

The effect of having a tubal ligation procedure on your fertility depends on the circumstances.

Certain types of sterilization techniques that have been reversed may make it harder to get pregnant than others. Typically, this depends on how much of the fallopian tube is remaining.

If you think that having a tubal ligation reversal may help your chances, speak with your doctor. Your doctor will be able to look at your chart and pathology reports to see how much of your tube remains.

They can get information about your original procedure, and help to provide you with an estimate of whether having a reversal surgery will improve your chances of getting pregnant.

If you have a male partner, it is usually advisable to have sperm testing completed before a ligation reversal procedure. It isn’t required by most providers, but it is a good idea that could potentially save you surgery. If you find out that your partner is infertile, you may be able to explore other options instead of ligation surgery that is invasive.

What Are the Complications and Risks of the Surgery?

Every surgery carries some degree of risk. Of course, this was also true when you had your original tubal ligation.

A team of people works to ensure your safety during the procedure, but it is possible to have complications like bleeding, infection, or damage to nearby organs.

Gynecologists are trained to protect you in every circumstance, but each of these is a nonzero risk.

However, good communication with your doctor will allow for prompt treatment if this condition arises.

Is Tubal Ligation Reversal Surgery for Me?

Ultimately, tubal ligation reversal surgery provides hope for many women who wish to become pregnant after a ligation. In many circumstances, this is the best option for starting a family so you should talk with your personal gynecologist or tubal ligation reversal clinic.

There are always risks and limitations to reversal procedures that involve surgery. However, many women have been able to become pregnant as a result of reversal surgery.

If you found this article on tubal ligation reversal helpful, check out our other healthcare infertility articles on Nobofeed.com!