Preparing for a Tubal Reversal
Many women who have had a tubal ligation (tubes tied) decide later that they want to have more children. In fact, studies show that up to 25% of women who have had a tubal ligation, later feel regret for having the procedure. If you have had a tubal ligation and want it reversed, these are the steps that you need to follow.
Find a doctor who is experienced in reversal of tubal ligation
Tubal ligation reversal is an elegant and precise surgical procedure. Your doctor should be specially trained to repair fallopian tubes as well as be an expert in the diagnosis and treatment or reproductive disorders. The doctors at Los Angeles Reproductive Center are double board certified in both OB/GYN and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. They have extensive experience with the microsurgical techniques to safely and successfully reverse your tubal ligation. In fact, our doctors can repair at least one fallopian tube in 90% of procedures. The vast majority of the time, both tubes can be successfully repaired. In addition, Drs. Kalan and Winkler have the knowledge and background to advise you on your reproductive health separate from your fallopian tubes.
Get information about your tubal ligation.
Contact the hospital or doctor who performed your tubal ligation and ask for the operative report for the procedure. This document will describe the type of tubal ligation that was performed and help to determine if your tubal ligation can be reversed.
If your tubal ligation was performed more than 10 years ago, or in a different country, it may be hard to obtain this information. This is not uncommon and you can still have a tubal ligation reversal, but having the information will be helpful.
Schedule a consultation
Call our office at (818) 946-8051 or contact us to schedule a consultation. During the hour-long consultation, you will meet with Dr. Winkler or Kalan to review your medical and surgical history and decide if tubal ligation reversal can be successful for you. The doctor will discuss your prior surgery as well as consider your current situation. Factors such as age, pregnancy history, body weight, health status, history of infections and more may all play a role in your decision to proceed with the procedure. After reviewing this information, the doctors may offer you further testing to better predict your chances of becoming pregnant after the surgery. In addition, many times a semen analysis will be appropriate for your partner.
Schedule the surgery
Our staff will find a convenient time to schedule your procedure. Some patients wait many months between the consultation and surgery, while others will have the procedure performed within days of the consultation. There is no right or wrong way to do this, only what is right for you.
The surgery is usually scheduled during between cycle days 5 and 12 of your menstrual cycle. For patients who have irregular cycles or specific time considerations, birth control pills can be used to control the timing of the procedure.
Pre op appointment
One week before the surgery, you will meet Dr. Winkler or Kalan again for blood work, a physical exam and a pelvic ultrasound. In addition, you will sit with the doctor again the review the surgery and discuss and questions that you may have.
Day before the surgery
You will receive a call from one of our anthologists to discuss their part in the procedure. Also you will be asked to not eat or drink anything after midnight.
Day of the surgery
On the day of the surgery, you will arrive with your partner or companion at the surgery center approximately 1 hour before your surgery time. At the surgery center you will meet with the nurses and anesthesiologist. You will be asked to put on a special surgical gown and an IV will be started. Dr. Kalan and Winkler will arrive about 15 minutes before the procedure and greet you and answer and last minute questions.
Following the surgery, your doctor will come out and discuss the procedure with your partner (or companion if you like). The doctor will also speak to you although, many times patients don’t remember this conversation due to the anesthesia.
Post op check
During the week after surgery, you will make an appointment to see your doctor for a post op check. Dr. Kalan or Winkler will check your incision and review the surgical procedure. The doctor will review timed intercourse techniques and give you instructions about appropriate follow up when you become pregnant!
Start trying!
The rest is up to you! Most patient conceive in the first 6 months after surgery, although some conceive years later. In general, if conception has not occurred by 6 months, the doctors will order an HSG (hysterosalpingogram) to make sure that the tubes have stayed open. Depending on those results the doctors may offer other options such as IUI (if the tubes are open) or IVF, if they have closed.
If you have questions about reversing a tubal ligation, feel free to call us at (818) 946-8051. The physicians at Los Angeles Reproductive Center are experts at reversing tubal ligations and look forward to speaking with you!
