How to Know If Ligation Is Successful?

Tubal ligation, also known as "having your tubes tied," is a procedure in which the fallopian tubes are blocked to prevent pregnancy. During a ligation, a surgeon will cut the fallopian tubes and either tie them off, burn the ends with an electrical current, close the tubes with a clip or insert coils to create a blockage. Your doctor can work with you to confirm your procedure was effective.

Instructions

• 1

  Understand the risks. Ligation surgery is considered to be 99 percent effective in permanently preventing pregnancy. According to the Mayo Clinic, the risk of becoming pregnant does increase slightly over the years. However, even after 10 years, ligation is 98 percent effective. The chance of your ligation failing is very small, but it is present.

• 2

  Speak to your surgeon. He will be able to discuss the details of the surgery with you and let you know if any complications might have jeopardized the success of the ligation.

• 3

  Visit a fertility specialist. Seek out a doctor who specializes in tubal ligation reversal. Although these doctors are in the business of helping women who wish to become pregnant, they can help you weigh your options for testing the effectiveness of your ligation. These options include exploratory surgery and a hysterosalpingogram (HSG test), an outpatient procedure in which dye is injected into the uterus through the vagina. Using x-ray imaging, doctors check to see if the dye passes from the uterus through the fallopian tubes and into the abdominal cavity. If it does, your tubes are not completely blocked.