Significance

• There are many significant reasons for wanting a tubal ligation reversal. The most common reason is a remarriage. When a woman remarries, she and her new spouse may have the desire to have a child or children together, particularly if he has no children of his own. Sometimes a couple who has been married for a while will have the desire for more children after she has had a tubal ligation. There are also women who desire another child after the death of a child. Other reasons can be religious or spiritual.
  
  

Procedure

• There are different methods for tubal ligation reversal. Often the method used will depend on the type of tubal ligation that was originally performed. The most common method for reversal is the mini-laparotomy. A mini-laparotomy is usually done under general anesthesia. A small incision is made and the tubes are reconnected. This is a delicate surgery that usually takes from one to two hours. A laparoscopy may be performed first to ensure that the tube is long enough to get the reversal.
  
  

Recovery

• Recovery from a tubal ligation reversal tends to be more difficult than recovery from the tubal ligation. More pain medication is often required post surgery; vicoden is commonly used. Normal activities cannot be fully resumed for a couple of weeks, including lifting and exercising.
  
  

Considerations

• When choosing a tubal ligation reversal, it is important to remember that it is not always successful. There is no guarantee of a pregnancy or live birth. A higher risk for ectopic pregnancy is also present after a tubal reversal. If a pregnancy occurs, doctors will need to closely monitor the very early stages of the pregnancy so the necessary measures can be taken if the pregnancy is ectopic.
  
  

Benefits

• The main benefits of this surgical procedure are the high success rates and lower costs. According to the Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center in North Carolina, tubal ligation reversal has been shown to have higher success rates that in-vitro fertilization (IVF) in both pregnancy and live birth rates. It can also be more cost effective than IVF. Since insurance often does not cover these procedures, cost is an important factor.