If you’re considering having tubal reversal surgery, you probably have many questions for you OB-GYN. However, if you are unfamiliar with the basics of the process, you might have a hard time articulating your thoughts in a manner that helps you obtain all the answers you seek. To prepare yourself for your next gynecology appointment, use the below FAQ to understand the fundamentals of tubal reversal..

4 Commonly Asked Questions About Tubal Reversal

1. What is tubal reversal?

Commonly referred to as “having your tubes tied,” tubal ligation is a surgical gynecological procedure that involves creating an obstruction in a woman’s fallopian tubes, ultimately disrupting the fertilization process. Conversely, a tubal reversal allows women who’ve had their tubes tied to regain fertility again by reestablishing sperm’s access to ova as they travel through the fallopian tubes. During surgery, an OB-GYN will reconnect segments of the fallopian tube that were previously blocked. 

2. Why is this procedure performed?

This procedure is performed on women who wish to have children in the future. The success rate of a tubal reversal is contingent upon the method that was originally used to impede the fallopian tubes during the tubal ligation process, and how much of the tubes still remain. For instance, if your tubal ligation surgery employed the use of rings or clips to block the fallopian tubes, it’s typically easier to initiate a reversal that enables fertility, as opposed to someone who underwent an electrocautery method of sterilization. 

3. How is this procedure done?

Depending on the case, tubal reversals can be performed as outpatient surgery in your gynecology clinic, or it can be an inpatient procedure. During surgery, the OB-GYN makes an incision into the abdomen, then reconnects or unblocks previously obstructed segments of the fallopian tubes using laparoscopic surgical equipment.

4. Who is a Candidate for tubal reversal?

Though not every type of tubal sterilization is reversible, generally speaking, if the aim of the reversal is to restore one’s fertility, this procedure is most successful for women under the age of 35 who have a healthy BMI. Those who were especially fertile prior to undergoing a tubal ligation procedure are also more likely to have an easier time trying to conceive following a tubal reversal.

To better understand if you’re a strong candidate for tubal reversal, schedule a consultation with a gynecologist. With two convenient locations, Advanced OB-GYN Services is known throughout Missouri for providing patients with comprehensive women’s health care. Led by Dr. Joseph Hazan and boasting over 30 years of experience, you can depend on this gynecologist throughout every life stage. For more information about this OB-GYN’s ongoing commitment to quality medical care, visit their website. To schedule an appointment at either location, call (636) 928-1800 for Saint Peters, MO, clinic, or (314) 291-2140 to reach the practice in Bridgeton, MO, practice.