Tubal ligation, also known as having your “tubes tied,” is when your fallopian tubes have been either tied or cut. The procedure prevents your eggs from traveling to your uterus where they can be fertilized, making it an effective form of permanent birth control. But what happens if you change your mind later on and want to get pregnant? Luckily, if you have the right surgeon, they can successfully reverse tubal ligation. 

You’ll find the best doctors at Tubal Ligation Reversal Center in their three offices in 

Atlanta, Loganville, and Monroe, Georgia. Maribelle Verdiales, MD and Marc Jean-Gilles, DO, FACOG understand how precise and delicate the procedure of tubal ligation reversal is, and their expertise will help give you the best chance of restoring your fertility. 

Factors that affect tubal ligation reversal

While there are no guarantees that you’ll be able to get pregnant, even following a successful surgery, there are factors that will determine if your doctor will even advise you to go forward with the reversal process. Sadly, some specific procedures are not reversible. Dr. Verdiales and Dr. Jean-Gilles will carefully consider:

• Your age
• Your weight and BMI (body mass index)
• Type of tubal ligation you had
• When you had the tubal ligation
• Scope of damage to your fallopian tubes
• The remaining healthy tubal length
• Health of your ovaries and uterus

While we know that women under 40 with at least three inches of healthy fallopian tubes left have the best chance of success, we’ll look at each individual and unique scenario. We’ll give you an extensive examination, including going through your full medical history to get a clear picture of your health. We’ll also need to know about previous pregnancies and how healthy they were. And if you had surgery for endometriosis or fibroids, the scarring can directly affect the reversal’s success.

Reversing tubal ligation

The procedure can be done either as an outpatient or in a hospital, and you’ll be under general anesthesia. The 2-3 hour surgery involves making a small incision near the pubic hair line and then performing the reversal laparoscopically, using microscopic instruments. These carefully remove the rings or clips that were used to tie your tubes.

The ends of the tubes are then reconnected to the uterus with small dissolvable stitches. Most people go home within a few hours, though some women may require an overnight stay or two, depending on the extent of the surgery. And after about two weeks, you should be back to normal. The risks are small but can include: Bleeding, infection, and scarring to the fallopian tubes; and ectopic pregnancy, where the egg implants outside the uterine wall, which can be very dangerous.

The success rates run from 40-85%, but getting pregnant also depends on the health and fertility of your partner. If you’re unsuccessful with your pregnancy attempts, you can discuss the options of IVF (in vitro fertilization) with us. Let’s start with an initial consultation, so call us or use the handy Request Appointment button here.