TUBAL LIGATION SURGERY

What is it?

• Tubal ligation is a surgical procedure to block the Fallopian tubes, thereby restricting passage of egg cells and hence preventing pregnancy.
• Tubal ligation reversal is the surgery performed to reverse this procedure and remove the blockage.

Advantages

After performing a tubal ligation reversal, a woman regains the ability to become pregnant

Necessity

• Tubal ligation reversal is performed when the woman wishes to become pregnant again, for which it is essential for the egg cells to pass through the Fallopian tubes to the uterus

Factors

The success of a tubal ligation reversal depends on the following factors

• Age of the woman; if she is older than 35 years, there is less likelihood of her getting pregnant
• Type of tubal ligation performed in the past
• General health of the woman
• Length of the Fallopian tubes after tubal ligation in the past

Preparation

• A complete physical examination is carried out to estimate the chances of pregnancy after the tubal ligation reversal surgery
• A Hysterosalpinogram is conducted to check the level of blocking in the Fallopian tubes and their state i.e. healthiness of the Fallopian tubes

Procedure

• The surgery is performed at the hospital or at the outpatient center, with the patient under general anesthesia
• The surgeon uses a laparoscope to first determine if the surgery is possible
• If possible, the surgeon then makes a 'bikini cut' and uses microinstruments to remove any implants or other bodies that may be causing the blockage

Post Surgery

• Recovery period depends on the method used for the reversal procedure
• Some women need to stay in the hospital for 2-3 days, however in case of a laparoscopic surgery, a couple of hours under medical surveillance may be more than enough
• The chances of pregnancy after the surgery depend upon the age and overall health of the patient, as well as the tubal ligation performed in the past

"Authored By Dr.Niraj Mahajan"