Am I a candidate?

You made the decision to have a tubal ligation with every intention of it being permanent.

But life changes, and so do decisions about contraception and sterilization.

Many tubal ligation patients are candidates for a reversal. The type of procedure you had will play a major role in determining if a tubal reversal is right for you. 

Types of sterilization procedures

Postpartum Tubal Ligations. Many new moms choose a tubal ligation during a cesarean section or following a vaginal delivery. These procedures are typically reversible, especially if 2.5 cm or less of the tube was removed. Your pathology report will show the length of tube that was removed. You can contact the facility or physician who did the sterilization to get a copy of the operative report and pathology report.

Clips or Rings. Falope rings and Filshie Clips damage the least amount of tube and are readily reversible.

Fulguration. Many women who have had fulguration or "burning" of the tube are also candidates if not too much tube was damaged.

Fimbriectomy. Women who have had a fimbriectomy, where the end of the tubes have been removed, can have a procedure called a neosalpingostomy performed. This involves creating a new opening at the end of the tube. 

Salpingectomy. Patients who have had a salpingectomy have had their tubes totally removed and their only option is IVF.

Essure or Adiana. Essure or Adiana sterilizations are typically not reversible. In our experience, these patients need to undergo IVF. Click here to learn about our more affordable and natural option, effortless IVF®. 

Other considerations for potential candidates

Age and weight. Ideal candidates for a tubal reversal are less than 44 years of age with a BMI under 38.

Sperm quality. For patients with male partners, we do recommend sperm testing prior to a tubal reversal, but don’t require it.