Tubal ligation

Tubal ligation, commonly known as "tying the tubes", is surgery to close a woman's fallopian tubes, the tubes that connect the ovaries to the uterus, to make a woman permanently sterile (unable to get pregnant).

Normally, a woman's fallopian tubes moves eggs from the ovary to the uterus about once a month. If a man's sperm meets up with an egg, pregnancy can result. If the tubes are closed, or "tied," sperm cannot fertilize an egg, and pregnancy will not occur.

Details of the procedure

Tubal ligation is done in the hospital or outpatient clinic while you are under anesthesia. The surgeon will make one or two small cuts in your belly area, usually around the belly button. A laparoscope, a narrow tube with a camera on the end, is inserted into the pelvic area. Instruments to tie the tubes are sent thru the laparoscope. The tubes are either burned shut (cauterized) or shut off with a small clip.

The wounds are closed, and you are usually able to return home after a few hours.

Tubal ligation can also be done immediately after vaginal childbirth through a small cut near the belly button, or during a cesarean section.

Tubal Reversal

Generally tubal ligation procedures are done with the intention to be permanent, and most patients are satisfied with their sterilizations. Tubal reversal is microsurgery to repair the fallopian tube after a tubal ligation procedure.

Usually there are two remaining fallopian tube segments - the proximal tubal segment that emerges from the uterus and the distal tubal segment that ends with the fimbria next to the ovary. The procedure that connects these separated parts of the fallopian tube is called tubal reversal or microsurgical tubotubal anastomosis.

In a small percentage of cases, a tubal ligation procedure leaves only the distal portion of the fallopian tube and no proximal tubal opening into the uterus. This may occur when monopolar tubal coagulation has been applied to the isthmic segment of the fallopian tube as it emerges from the uterus. In this situation, a new opening can be created through the uterine muscle and the remaining tubal segment inserted into the uterine cavity. This microsurgical procedure is called tubal implantation, tubouterine implantation, or uterotubal implantation.

Tubal reversal, if done by a specialist microsurgeon, has a high success rate and few complications. Successful repair of the fallopian tubes is now possible in 98% of women who have had a tubal ligation, regardless of the type of sterilization procedure.

IVF or in vitro fertilization may overcome fertility problems in patients not suited to a tubal reversal.

Cost of the procedure

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For affordable tubal ligation or tubal ligation reversal surgeries, contact Healthbase . Healthbase is an award-winning medical tourism facilitator connecting patients to low cost  high quality medical care overseas . Login or register to Healthbase for more information about tubal ligation or reversal surgeries in Mexico , Turkey and other medical tourism destinations .

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