If a woman gets her tubes tied, can it be reversed at all?

Answer 1

Tubal ligation is a permanent voluntary form of birth control (contraception) in which a woman's Fallopian tubes are surgically cut or blocked off to prevent pregnancy.

Purpose

Tubal ligation is performed in women who definitely want to prevent future pregnancies. It is frequently chosen by women who do not want more children, but who are still sexually active and potentially fertile, and want to be free of the limitations of other types of birth control. Women who should not become pregnant for health concerns or other reasons may also choose this birth control method. Tubal ligation is one of the leading methods of contraception, having been chosen by over 10 million women in the United States--about 15% of women of reproductive age. The typical tubal ligation patient is over age 30, is married, and has had two or three children.

Precautions

Tubal ligation should be postponed if the woman is unsure about her decision. While it is sometimes reversible, the procedure should be considered permanent and irreversible. Up to 10% of sterilized women regret having had the surgery, and about 1% seek treatment in attempts to restore fertility.

Description

Tubal ligation, or getting one's "tubes tied," refers to female sterilization, the surgery that ends a woman's ability to conceive. The operation is performed on the patient's Fallopian tubes. These tubes, which are about 10 cm long and 0.5 cm in diameter, are found on the upper outer sides of the uterus, and open into the uterus through small channels. It is within the Fallopian tube that fertilization, the joining of the egg and the sperm, takes place. During tubal ligation, the tubes are cut or blocked in order to close off the sperm's access to the egg.

Normally, tubal ligation takes about 20-30 minutes, and is performed under general anesthesia, spinal anesthesia, or local anesthesia with sedation. The surgery can be performed on either hospitalized patients within 24 hours after childbirth or on outpatients. The woman can usually leave the hospital the same day.

The most common surgical approaches to tubal ligation include laparoscopy and mini-laparotomy. In a laparoscopic tubal ligation, a long, thin telescope-like surgical instrument called a laparoscope is inserted into the pelvis through a small cut about 1 cm long near the navel. Carbon dioxide gas is pumped in to help move the abdominal wall to give the surgeon easier access to the tubes. Often the surgical instruments are inserted through a second incision near the pubic-hair line. An instrument may be placed through the vagina to hold the uterus in place.

In a mini-laparotomy, a 3-4 cm incision is made just above the pubic bone or under the navel. A larger incision, or laparotomy, is rarely used today. Tubal ligation can also be performed at the time of a cesarean section.

Tubal ligation costs about $2,000 when performed by a private physician, but is less expensive when performed at a family planning clinic. Most insurance plans cover treatment costs.

Tubal ligation is performed in several ways:


Electrocoagulation. A heated needle connected to an electrical device is used to cauterize or burn the tubes. Electrocoagulation is the most common method of tubal ligation.


Falope ring. In this technique, an applicator is inserted through an incision above the bladder and a plastic ring is placed around a loop of the tube.


Hulka clip. The surgeon places a plastic clip across a tube held in place by a steel spring.


Silicone rubber bands. A band placed over a tube forms a mechanical block to sperm.

Preparation

Preparation for tubal ligation includes patient education and counseling. Before surgery, it is important that the woman understand the permanent nature of tubal ligation, and the risks of anesthesia and surgery. Her medical history is reviewed, and a physical examination and laboratory testing are performed. The patient is not allowed to eat or drink for several hours before surgery.

Aftercare

After surgery, the patient is monitored for several hours before she is allowed to go home. She is instructed on care of the surgical wound, and what signs to watch for, such as fever, nausea, vomiting, faintness, or pain. These signs could indicate that complications have occurred.

Risks

While major complications are uncommon after tubal ligation, there are risks with any surgical procedure. Possible side effects include infection and bleeding. Rarely, death may occur as a complication of general anesthesia if a major blood vessel is cut. The death rate following tubal ligation is about four per 100,000 sterilizations.

After laparoscopy, the patient may experience pain in the shoulder area from the carbon dioxide used during surgery, but the technique is associated with less pain than mini-laparotomy, as well as a faster recovery period. Mini-laparotomy results in a higher incidence of pain, bleeding, bladder injury, and infection compared with laparoscopy. Patients normally feel better after three or four days of rest, and are able to resume sexual activity at that time.

Following tubal ligation, there is a low risk (less than 1%) of ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy is a condition in which the fertilized egg implants in a place other than the uterus, usually in one of the Fallopian tubes. Ectopic pregnancies are more likely to happen in younger women, and in women whose tubes were ligated by electrocoagulation.

Normal results

After having her tubes ligated, a woman does not need to use any form of birth control to avoid pregnancy. Tubal ligation is almost 100% effective for the prevention of conception. The possibility for treatment failure is very low--fewer than one in 200 women (0.4%) will become pregnant during the first year after sterilization. Failure can happen if the cut ends of the tubes grow back together; if the tube was not completely cut or blocked off; if a plastic clip or rubber band is loose or comes off; or if the woman was already pregnant at the time of surgery.

Answer 2

It is possible but depending on the procedure used to get your tubes tied in the first place will determine whether you have better chances of conceiving after a reversal. If you are questioning whether or not to get a tubal I would really think about it before going with it since you think it can be reversed. Reversal does not guarantee a success.

Also it is extremely expensive and most insurance companies will not cover reversals.

Answer 3

In most cases it is possible to have a tubal ligation reversed. It is helpful to get copies of all documents from your initial procedure to give to your doctor. And everyone comments on how expensive it is. It's generally less expensive then 1 IVF treatment which is around 10k (us)
You can research a lot of surgeons on the Internet. I have no idea where your located. If you have had a tubal ligation or just weighing the pro's and con's. I had a tubal ligation in 1998 when my second child was born. I had been with my kids' father since I was 17, I was miserable and figured at 25 I never wanted to end up again pregnant. and go figure that almost 10 years later and remarried to a man I love dearly I would so give about anything to have a baby with. So, every now and then I research and look online about having the procedure reversed. I know that if I do it will run anywhere between about 5k-9k depending on the who, where, what and when of it all. I know that one of the surgeon's on the Internet even has a surcharge if you are over your ideal body weight.
And as for the % of success rate it is a lot based on age, over all health etc.
If you haven't had a tubal ligation done I would seriously look into some of the newer generation birth control options. If some of these had been available for me in 1998 I would possible have opted for one of them. I used the Norplant (have the scar to prove it) and got pregnant with my daughter while using the Depo-Prava shots.

Answer 4

In some cases, yes, but don't count on it. Reversals are expensive and insurance companies rarely cover them. They're also much more complicated than closing or cutting the tubes in the first place, and your chances of being able to conceive after a reversal are uncertain. Only 20 to 40 percent of women who reverse a tubal ligation go on to give birth successfully (and your chances for an ectopic pregnancy increase). Tubes that are closed off by cauterization can't be put back together properly, because the heat destroys their delicate lining.

Answer 5

I had my tubes tied and my doctor told me that it can be reversed but not always so i would have to say chances are very slim very unlikely If I were you I would call your doctor and ask them about it!! but for me I have mine tied and it cannot be reversed due to the cut they make and sew so call your doctor and good luck hope this answers your question!!

Answer 6

Sometimes, but it can be risky. On the other hand, our reproductive systems are made to fix themselves. I had a friend who was diagnosed as sterile after a tubal pregnacy led to removal of one tube and a cyst destroyed the other - she still had a womb and one ovary though, and went on to give birth to two children of her own without artificial aid - the body is a wonderful thing and we are made to remain "functional" sexually even when we survive major damage - that is how mankind survived in the beginning when life was very rough and severe injury was common.

Answer 7

Here's what wikipedia says about it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tubal_reversal

From what I understand, it's a bit more tricky and less successful (% of pregnancies after) than vasectomy reversal.

I have also heard of pregnancies after tubal w/o reversal procedure, but these are pretty rare.

If you haven't had it done yet, you probably shouldn't consider it unless you intend it to be permanent. If you have had it done, see a reversal specialist about the odds of successful reversal in your particular case.

Answer 8

It is possible..... People do it all the time. There is more of a chance of having a tubal pregnancy tho if your t ubes are scarred.

My sister had her tubes cut and tied... however she got pregnant anywayz.. and i now have a 15 yr old nephew :)

I found this website.. im not sure where you are.. but people go to him.. he's supposed to be the best.

http://www.babies-by-levin.com/

Answer 9

Yes, it is possible, but a reversal success rate is only about 90%.

Answer 10

Yes. But it is extremely expensive. I would stick to a 5 year contraceptive, if you want or plan on having children in the future! =)