Saturday, April 19, 2014

What Couples Should Know About Tubal Reversal Surgery

By Irene Duncan


Female sterilization is a birth control procedure that is meant to prevent pregnancy permanently. However, some women who undergo this procedure regret their decision later and wish to bear another child. In this case, they can opt for tubal reversal or tubal reanastomosis surgery. This surgical procedure is done to untie, reopen or reconnect the fallopian tubes of women who have undergone female sterilization.

Most women who opt for tubal reanastomosis are those who are younger than thirty years of age, those who were pressurized into undergoing the procedure and the women who underwent the procedure when they were facing marital problems. Female sterilization reversal is most effective in women who have not attained the age of 35 and their fallopian tubes suffered minimal damage during a sterilization procedure. If the fallopian tubes were blocked using rings or clamps, untying and reconnecting them is easier.

The rates of getting pregnant after tubal ligation reversal surgery range from 40 to 85 percent. These rates are determined by age, how skilled a surgeon is, the type of ligation surgery a patient underwent and if the fallopian tubes are still functioning well. The risk of having an ectopic pregnancy will be high after you undergo this procedure.

Before they undergo this procedure, patients are asked to undergo a physical exam so that doctors can know if they can successfully conceive after undergoing the procedure. Physical examinations involve taking blood and imaging tests to determine if the ovaries are functional. Patients are also required to take a test known as a hysterosalpinogram, which checks the function and length of remaining fallopian tubes. Male partners are required to have their semen and sperm count analyzed in order to determine if they are fertile.

When undergoing the female sterilization reversal surgery, patients are put under anesthesia. The surgeon uses a laparoscope that has microscopic instruments attached to its end to look at fallopian tubes as he or she removes the rings or clips blocking the tubes. The surgeon then uses small stitches to reconnect the ends of the fallopian tubes to the womb.

Most surgeons take two to three hours to complete a tubal reanastomosis procedure. This procedure is more complex than the female sterilization procedure. You may be asked to stay overnight in the hospital or one to three days if it is necessary. You will be asked to undergo an X ray dye test about 3 months after the ligation reversal procedure to determine if the procedure was successful and if your fallopian tubes are functioning normally.

One of the factors that determine the length of time it will take for a patient to recover is the surgical technique used. If surgeons use microsurgical techniques, their patents can be discharged from the healthcare facility about 2 to 4 hours after the procedure. Doctors often prescribe pain relievers to help patients manage pain.

You can resume your normal daily activities after two weeks. You may become pregnant after a period of six months to one year after you undergo this procedure. Even though tubal ligation reversal can be costly and most insurance companies do not provide coverage for it, most couples are able to afford it.




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