Sunday, August 18, 2013

Tubal Reversal Procedure Makes Conception Possible Following Tubal Ligation

Tubal Reversal Procedure Makes Conception Possible Following Tubal Ligation

By Pierrette Martine


Tubal ligation is a common procedure many women undergo each year, when they decide they don't wish to have more children. However, a number of these women will later find themselves wanting to have another baby. The good news is that tubal reversal surgery can restore the ability to conceive, making pregnancy once again possible.

Tubal ligation surgery involves clamping, cutting, or cauterizing the fallopian tubes which flank each side of the uterus, and permit the passage of a ripened ovum the ovaries. When this procedure if reversed, the remaining segments must be rejoined in order that the egg can again be put in a position to be fertilized when released. The success of this surgery depends on several factors.

The method the surgeon used to ligate the tubes plays a key role in determining if reversal is possible. It is important that the fimbriae are intact, these are funnel-like structures which guide the mature egg into the tube. The length of the remaining segments of the tubes also matters, as the greater the length the better the chance of a successful outcome.

If a woman is interested in undergoing this procedure, she must arrange an consultation with a skilled surgeon who can perform it. The doctor will give the patient a detailed explanation of the surgery and will answer any questions she may have. Usually some diagnostic tests to evaluate the condition of the woman's tubes will first be required such as an ultrasound or a special dye test called a hysterosalpinogram.

Generally this procedure is most successful in women who have only had a minimal amount of tubal tissue removed, or have had them clamped. If the ligation was performed immediately after childbirth and the woman is younger, this also increases the likelihood of a successful operation. If there are shorter tube lengths or scarring, the chances of success are somewhat lower.

The patient is given a general anesthetic and will be unconscious during the surgery. Two incisions are made, one in the navel through which a lighted tube called a laparoscope is inserted, and the other right above the pubic bone, through which the surgeon can repair the tubes by either microsurgical rejoining or removal of the clips.

The surgery takes about two to three hours. It is often performed on an out-patient basis, with the woman being able to return home after several hours. There may be some slight discomfort afterwards, but this can be managed with a prescription provided by the doctor for analgesics. The woman may need a second dye test in a few months to confirm that the tubes are open and working as they should be.

The overall success rate for tubal reversal surgery depends on a number of variables including the woman's age, skill of the surgeon, amount of scarring present in the tubes, and the level of fertility of both partners. Generally the procedure is anywhere from 40 to 85 % effective. Most women who do become pregnant will do so within a year of undergoing the surgery.




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