Who Is a Good Candidate for Tubal Ligation Reversal?

Tubal ligation, commonly referred to as "getting your tubes tied," is considered to be a permanent means of birth control, since it leaves the woman unable to become pregnant. According to FertilityProRegistry.com, nearly one-quarter of the women who undergo tubal ligation look into having it surgically reversed.

Eligibility

• Candidacy depends largely on the manner in which the original surgery was performed. Factors include how much of the fallopian tube tissue remains intact, if the fallopian tissue is healthy, the overall health and age of the woman, and whether the fallopian tubes were blocked off or cut.

Significance

• Your surgeon must ensure that there is adequate healthy tissue remaining. Obesity and poor health put you at increased risk of complications and delayed healing. Women with a low number of eggs remaining may consider alternatives such as in vitro fertilization.

The procedure

• The reversal surgery is a major procedure in which your surgeon removes damaged fallopian tissue and reattach the healthy tissue, allowing free passage for eggs to travel from the ovaries to the uterus. It is performed under general anesthesia. To be eligible, the woman must be healthy and able to undergo the surgery.

Recovery

• Recovery from tubal ligation reversal varies for each individual. It normally ranges from two to four weeks, provided there are no complications.

Risks

• Potential risks include bleeding, infection, damage to the surrounding organs, increased risk of having an ectopic pregnancy and reactions to the anesthesia.

Success rates

• According to FertilityProRegistry.com, success rates for women younger than 40 range from 20 percent to 80 percent.