Pregnancy After Tying The Tubes: Is It Possible?

Tubal ligation is a permanent method of contraception. Although a reversal procedure can be performed, it is complex and not always successful. Therefore, the probability of pregnancy is much lower. In this article, we will discuss pregnancy after tying the fallopian tubes.

Tubal ligation involves cutting, tying, or blocking the fallopian tubes. Therefore, it prevents both the egg and the sperm from moving to the fallopian tubes, making fertilization impossible.

Tubal ligation is considered a method of female sterilization. It is safe and effective in preventing conception, but one in 100 women can become pregnant naturally after the procedure.

Pregnancy after tubing: is it possible?

Inversion of the tubal ligation

In general, the tubing is done to prevent pregnancy permanently. However, there is a surgical procedure to reverse it, but it is quite complex and can also be very expensive. It also doesn’t always work.

The reversal procedure is possible depending on how the tubal ligation was performed, how it healed and when it was performed. The fewer lesions of the fallopian tubes, the greater the possibility of reconstructing them by surgery.

It is also necessary that the areas of the fallopian tubes near the ovary are kept intact and that they have a minimum length of 4 centimeters. If the technique used was cauterization or a procedure called Essure, reversal is impossible.

The easiest reversal procedure takes place when tubal ligation has been done with tubular clamps or rings. The benefits and possible damages of the reversal procedure should be assessed together with the doctor. The patient should also consider other possibilities, such as in vitro fertilization.

When reversal of tubal ligation is impossible or without benefits, a good alternative is to choose in vitro fertilization. This is a common treatment and there is a 50-70% chance of getting pregnant.

With IVF, the fallopian tubes are no longer needed. This procedure allows the collection of eggs from the ovary, fertilization, embryo culture and its implantation in the uterus.

Possibility of ectopic pregnancy

Ectopic pregnancy occurs when the egg is fertilized, but is implanted in a place other than the uterus. Most often, it is implanted in a fallopian tube. The fertilized egg cannot survive and there is also a risk of severe internal bleeding.

A small percentage of women with tubal ligation become pregnant (approximately 1.5%). In this group, an ectopic pregnancy occurs in about a third of women.

When there is a reversal of the tubal ligation, there is also the risk of an ectopic pregnancy. It covers 10-20% of women with this procedure.

On the other hand, the heterotopic pregnancy is one in which there is one fertilized egg in the uterus and another outside it, simultaneously. It is very rare, but the incidence has increased to 0.5-1% with the use of assisted reproduction technologies, such as in vitro fertilization.

When to seek medical help?

Any abnormal signs after a tubal ligation or reversal procedure should be reported to your doctor. Be especially vigilant for signs such as swelling, redness or discharge at the point where the incision was made.

Pregnancy suspicion can be elucidated by a home test. However, the doctor has the opportunity to perform additional tests to confirm the pregnancy. It is necessary to know very well the symptoms of ectopic pregnancy and to seek medical help if they occur.

Inversion of tubal ligation: yes or no?

It is important to carefully evaluate the best option for pregnancy after tubal ligation. Based on the available data, the maximum reversal success rate is in the range of 60-80% in women under the age of 35 who have had the connection made up to two years before.

In vitro fertilization has a success rate of up to 70% in healthy women under 35 years. This is done after one year of treatment. As you can see, you need to consider all the factors that come into play and decide which is the best option in each case.