Female Tubal Reversal
Getting Pregnant After You've Been Sterilized
Information on female sterilization reversal and the benefits of having a reversal.
Female sterilizations are done either by a tubal ligation (cutting the fallopian tubes), electrocoagulation (burning the tubes to seal them off) or by putting clips on them to prevent the egg from passing through into the womb. Unfortunately, some women regret having this procedure done and want another child.
Reversals are done by passing an ultra thin tube through the two cut ends of the fallopian tubes to reconnect them. Occasionally, if the electrocoagulation method was used, there may not be enough fallopian tube remaining. If this is the case, then an opening can be made in the uterine wall and the remaining fallopian stump can be stitched to the uterine cavity.
There are medical benefits to having a tubal reversal done, as well as the obvious benefit of having a baby. Some women experience infections and long-term abdominal pain following a sterilization and a reversal may help to alleviate this problem. It also reduces the risk of tubal pregnancy in the woman (where a developing embryo develops in the fallopian tubes instead of the womb). Between 1 and 2% of sterilized women still fall pregnant, and in these women there is up to a 50% risk of having a tubal pregnancy, which can be fatal if left undetected. Some sterilizations can also cause premature menopause and accompanying symptoms of hot flushes, dry skin, lack of sex drive or painful sex, which no woman wants to endure, but particularly not young women. Reversing the operation may have some positive effect on this.
Does Reversal Work?
The younger you are, the higher your chances of a successful pregnancy. At one private clinic in the USA, women up to the age of 30 had a 77% success rate after their reversal. For those between 35 and 39, this rate dropped to 62% and for those over 40, the success rate was only 34%.
In this particular study which involved 2,692 women, 1,783 got pregnant.
How Much Does It Cost?
Price varies but can be anything from £3,000 (about $6,000) to £5,000 (about $10,000).
