Effects
Tubal ligation is intended to be a procedure that permanently prevents pregnancy. It is often referred to as having your tubes tied. While possible, the Mayo Clinic says reversing a tubal litigation or sterilization is not easy. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), an increasing number of women who have had tubal ligation would like a reversal.
Conventional Surgery
A tubal reversal operation is performed under general anesthetic and typically takes two to three hours. During the operation, the surgeon will detach any devices that are obstructing your fallopian tubes (rings or clips are placed around the fallopian tubes during a tubal ligation). The separated sections of the fallopian tube are retied during surgery. Tubal ligation reversal is considered to be surgery and can require a hospital stay of up to five days, although a shorter stay is possible. It takes six weeks to fully recover from the procedure.
Laparoscopic Reversal
During a laparoscopic (minimally invasive) procedure, tiny instruments are used to restore and rejoin the fallopian tubes. While the patient is under general anesthesia, a tube is inserted under the navel and a distinctive gas is pumped into the abdomen to allow enough room to carry out the procedure. Three specifically designed instruments remove the obstruction in preparation to reconnect the fallopian tubes.
Microsurgery
A technologically advanced procedure called microsurgery can allow tubal reversals to be performed on an outpatient basis and generally takes less than one hour. Microsurgery uses fine needles to carefully reconnect the fallopian tubes. This type of surgery is not nearly as invasive as a standard reversal surgery. This newer procedure is not commonly performed.
Outlook
Tubal litigation reversal surgery poses a number of risks, including infections, bleeding and possible damage to nearby organs. But complications are rare.
According to Epigee.org, the success rate for tubal litigation reversal ranges between 20 percent and 70 percent. The effectiveness of the procedure can depend on the exact type of tubal litigation that was originally performed and any damage that may have previously occurred. The overall health of the fallopian tubes and the age of the woman are also considerations when gauging the probability of success.
