Also called microsurgical tubal anastamosis
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A surgical procedure during which the segment of the tube that has been tied is removed and the remaining 2 segments are attached together with the aid of an operating microscope.
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In many cases it is possible to reverse the ligation on both your right and left tubes.
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Occasionally, one side may be heavily scarred from the previous tubal surgery and therefore only the other side is amenable for tubal reversal.
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Very rarely both sides are heavily scarred and the operation cannot be performed.
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The alternative to tubal ligation reversal is in vitro fertilization to "bypass" the tied tubes.
- Pregnancy rate after tubal ligation reversal is anywhere from 60% to 80% in women age <35 years, but may decrease with age.
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Success depends on the method used to "tie" your tubes
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Success rates are higher if the remaining total length of the tube after it has been surgically put back together is more than 4 centimeters (a little less than 2 inches).
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Most patients who get pregnant after microsurgical tubal reversal do so in the first 6 months following the surgery, although some patients may take longer to conceive.
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If only one tube is successfully untied, the time to pregnancy after surgery may be longer.
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The most common method involves a small "bikini line incision", about 5 centimeters in length (or 2 inches).
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Sometimes patients can go home that same day, but some may need to stay overnight in the hospital.
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Laparoscopic methods involve 4 very small incisions (half a centimeter each), and most patients go home the same day.
- Once childbearing is completed, patients who desire prevention of pregnancy will need a separate form of birth control because their tubes are no longer tied.
