Your two fallopian tubes are a part of your uterus; they are like long, thin ears on the uterus. Your tube catches an egg released from your ovary and carries the sperm to that egg. After the egg and sperm join, this fertilized egg is carried it into the uterus where it implants and grows into a fetus. [3] X Research source [4] X Research source There are many ways to have your tubes “tied,” but none of these procedures actually “tie” them like a knot. [5] X Research source Your doctor may have used tubal rings or clips to clamp them shut. Another method is to scar and block your tubes using either a burning tool or special insert. [6] X Research source [7] X Research source
Your gynecologist will be operating in your pelvis which is the lower portion of your abdomen. There is a risk of bleeding, infection, and injury to organs located near your tubes. Anesthesia is used to control your pain and to keep you asleep; you could develop a bad reaction these medications. [9] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source Getting pregnant is the outcome you want. However, there is a 10% chance your pregnancy could be ectopic, in which the fertilized egg implants and grows outside your uterus. A majority of the time this happens in one of your tubes which is not large enough for a baby to grow. Your pregnancy would end early, your tube could be damaged, or you could have significant, even life-threatening, bleeding.
The success of your tubal reversal is affected by how much scar tissue you have in and around your tubes. It is important to know if you had surgery in the past for endometriosis. This disease occurs when little pieces of the lining inside your uterus end up outside of your uterus stuck on organs like your ovaries or bladder. Your doctor will ask if you have a history of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID occurs when a serious infection spreads from your vagina up into your uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. Scar tissue from previous surgery, endometriosis, and/or PID could make the reversal harder to do. [10] X Research source [11] X Research source The doctor is looking for anything which may affect your ability to get pregnant. Being pregnant in the past is a good sign it can happen again. Let her know if you were ever pregnant and if it was a healthy pregnancy. [12] X Research source [13] X Research source You are likely to be a good candidate for reversal if your tubes were closed with rings or clips or if you only had a small part of your tube removed. Procedures like Essure and Adiana that use inserts and sometimes burning are harder to reverse because of the amount of scarring. If you are younger than 40 and had your tubes tied immediately after delivery, some surgeons consider you to be the best candidate for reversal. [14] X Research source
An older woman, 40 years and up, usually has poorer egg quality and fewer healthy eggs remaining. You may find it harder to get pregnant. Your doctor may order a study where your follicles are counted to see how many eggs you have left. She also can order blood tests to check your follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol (E2) levels. If these hormone levels are abnormal, it may be a sign that your ovaries are not working well enough to get you pregnant. [16] X Research source [17] X Research source [18] X Research source Your doctor may find it harder to perform your tubal reversal if you are overweight. Your procedure will take longer. You will be under anesthesia longer, increasing your risk of having a bad reaction. Your doctor will determine your body mass index (BMI), an indicator of body fatness, by using your height and weight. Your extra weight should not affect your ability to get pregnant. [19] X Research source Your doctor may order a hysterosalpingogram (HSG) to check the length of your fallopian tubes. This procedure can be performed in two ways. The first way is to inject a dye into your uterus then use fluoroscopy, a special X-ray, to see your tubes. The second way is to put sterile fluid filled with small bubble into your uterus and see your tubes with ultrasound which uses sound waves. Ultrasound also can be used to see if your ovaries appear normal and healthy. [20] X Research source Knowing about your general state of health, such as the presence of heart disease, lung disease, bleeding disorders, or any previous bad reactions to anesthesia, helps your doctor take better care you during the surgery.
The gynecologist will send your partner to an urologist. This type of doctor can treat your partner if any problems are found.
There are good and bad things about IVF. Trying to decide between IVF and tubal reversal is hard. Your doctor will talk to you and your partner about things like age, cost, how much time it may take to get pregnant, and how you still may not get pregnant. [24] X Research source
Ask your doctor how often her patients get pregnant after their tubes are untied. The number should be between 40 and 85% of the time. [26] X Research source Make sure the hospital or outpatient center where your doctor operates is accredited. This means the hospital or center is checked regularly to make sure it will provide you with the best possible care. Check the hospital’s website. A hospital proudly advertises every accreditation it has. A center will brag about the low number of surgical complications it has. Be wary if this is lacking.
Medications like aspirin, which may cause bleeding, must be stopped several days before the tubal reversal. [29] X Research source
It does not matter what type of soap you use. Getting your skin clean is the most important part. It decreases the amount of bacteria on the skin and lowers the chances of you getting an infection after the tubal reversal. Pay special attention to your belly button. Nicks made in your skin while shaving could increase the risk of infection after your procedure. Let the trained professionals helping your doctor in the operating room take care of hair removal. [32] X Trustworthy Source Michigan Medicine The University of Michigan’s medical center, which provides patient care, supports research, and educates the public on health topics Go to source
Your doctor uses electrocautery to control bleeding during your procedure. Your skin could be burned, where the jewelry is touching it, when she uses this instrument because it produces a mild electrical current. A pulse oximeter is used to make sure the amount of oxygen in your blood stays in the normal range. This machine sends light waves through your nail to take these measurements; your nail polish interferes with this process. [34] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
You may go home the same day or the next day after the laparoscopic procedure because the incisions are small and there is less pain. You will have to stay in the hospital for several days after the open procedure. Your doctor will give you pain medicine when you go home. [36] X Research source You should not lift anything heavier than 10 to 15 pounds for 4 to 6 weeks. It takes this long for the tissues in the abdominal wall to heal. Expect to do everything sooner than later if you have undergone the laparoscopic procedure.
Heavy vaginal bleeding, requiring more than one pad per hour, combined with severe abdominal pain may be a sign of uncontrolled bleeding from the site of your tubal reversal. Excessive thirst and sweating can be a sign of bleeding, too. You want to drink liquids because your body needs to replace the fluids lost due to the bleeding. Sweating is your body’s response to the stress of losing a lot of blood. Remember that calling emergency services is always an option. Nausea and vomiting can be caused by anesthesia or your pain medication. Your body clears out the medications used during anesthesia in about 24 hours. Your doctor can give you a medication to help with the nausea and vomiting to get you through this period. If your doctor thinks the pain medication is the problem, she will prescribe a different one. An ileus occurs when your intestines stop pushing food and gas forward through the intestines. This happens after abdominal surgery, especially an open procedure. You will have nausea, vomiting, bloating, abdominal pain, and pass less gas. Anti-nausea medications should not be used. Time resolves the ileus. You can drink small amount of liquids until your intestines recover. Call your doctor if your symptoms get worse instead of getting better over time. Pain medications can cause severe constipation. Eat high fiber foods, vegetables or whole grain products, and take a stool softener. Call the doctor if you completely stop passing gas and stool.
Increasing abdominal pain and fever could be a sign of a serious infection inside the abdomen. Call your doctor so that she can examine you, order the appropriate tests, and decide how to treat the infection. Your doctor will have specific instructions. The general rule is to wait 2 to 3 days before taking the dressing off the wound(s). It takes that long for the skin portion of the wound to seal and protect deeper tissue from infection. If you have a special waterproof dressing on the wound(s), you can shower immediately. Otherwise, stand at the sink and wash around your dressing until the 2 to 3 days have passed. You can shower after this time. Letting soapy water gently run over your wound(s) helps keep it clean. Just dry it off after you are done. Do not take a bath for about a month.
The first visit is about making sure you are healing as expected. She will examine your wound and look for any signs of infection. She will press on your abdomen and make sure your pain is decreasing appropriately. Most couples get pregnant in the first 6 months after the tubal reversal. If you do not get pregnant, she will schedule a hysterosalpingogram to make sure your tubes are open and functioning properly. A majority of the time, your tubes will be opened. You will try other methods to get pregnant. You will keep track of when you ovulate and plan to have sex around that time. The doctor can use drugs to make it more likely you will ovulate or she could have your partner give a sample of his semen so that she can put in inside your uterus. IVF will be discussed at some point if you continue to have difficulty getting pregnant. [37] X Research source
