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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staff
A tubal ligation reversal is a procedure to restore fertility after a woman has had a tubal ligation — when the fallopian tubes are cut or blocked to permanently prevent pregnancy.
During a tubal ligation reversal, the blocked segments of the fallopian tubes are reconnected to the remainder of the fallopian tubes, allowing eggs to again move through the tubes and sperm to travel up the fallopian tubes to join an egg.
Sterilization procedures that cause the least amount of damage to the fallopian tubes are the most likely to allow successful tubal ligation reversal. Examples include sterilization with tubal clips or rings. Because of the way the Essure and Adiana systems seal off the fallopian tubes, it's generally not possible to reopen the fallopian tubes after these procedures. In such cases, in vitro fertilization (IVF) may be an option. IVF involves retrieving eggs from the ovary, fertilizing them in a laboratory and implanting them in the uterus.
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- Gallenberg MM (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dec. 19, 2011.
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