Tubal ligation reversal

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Risks

By Mayo Clinic staff

Even if tubal ligation reversal is successful, it doesn't guarantee that you can become pregnant. Pregnancy rates following reversal of tubal ligation vary greatly, from 30 to 85 percent, depending on a woman's age and other factors.

Tubal ligation reversal is abdominal surgery, which carries a risk of infection, bleeding and injury to nearby organs, as well as risks related to anesthesia.

If you do conceive after having a tubal ligation reversal, there's a 2 to 7 percent chance that the pregnancy will be ectopic — when the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, usually in a fallopian tube.

How you prepare Why it's done

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References
  1. Deffieux X, et al. Tubal anastomosis after tubal sterilization: A review. Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics. 2011;283:1149.
  2. Stovall TG. Surgical sterilization of women. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 16, 2011.
  3. Roncari D, et al. Female and male sterilization. In: Hatcher RA, et al. Contraceptive Technology. 20th ed. New York, N.Y.: Ardent Media, Inc.; 2011:435.
  4. Tulandi T. Laparoscopic surgery for treatment of infertility in women. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 16, 2011.
  5. Stubblefield PG, et al. Family planning. In: Berek JS. Berek & Novak's Gynecology. Philadelphia, Pa.: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2007:287.
  6. Treating infertility. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/~/media/For_Patients/faq137.ashx. Accessed Dec. 16, 2011.
  7. Gordts S, et al. Clinical factors determining pregnancy outcome after microsurgical tubal reanastomosis. Fertility and Sterility. 2009;92:1198.
  8. Feinberg EC, et al. Infertility surgery is dead: Only the obituary remains? Fertility and Sterility. 2008;89:232.
  9. Schepens JJ, et al. Pregnancy outcomes and prognostic factors from tubal sterilization reversal by sutureless laparoscopical re-anastomosis: A retrospective cohort study. Human Reproduction. 2011;26:354.
  10. Gallenberg MM (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dec. 19, 2011.
MY01048 Feb. 2, 2012

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