Risk of Tubal Ligation Reversal
Tubal reversal surgery is more involved than vasectomy reversal because tubal ligation reversal is an intra-abdominal surgical procedure. In comparison, vasectomy reversal is performed outside the body and in the scrotum. In our experience, tubal ligation reversal surgery can be as safe as vasectomy reversal and can be safely performed as an outpatient surgery.
We have performed over 10,000 female sterilization reversals over the course of a decade and have a good track record of providing a safe surgical experience with low complication rates.
Risks of reversing tubes
There are two main risk related to reversal surgery:
***Click on each ‘+’ section below for more information.***
Immediate risks of tubal reversal
The immediate risk of surgery are risk directly related to the surgery. These risk involve anesthesia complications, bleeding during or after surgery, injury to other organs, and infection.
These risks could occur at any time during reversal surgery but could occur up to thirty (30) days after surgery.
- Blood transfusion 0%
- Major incision infection <0.5%
- Minor incision infection <2%
- Early operative/anesthesia complications <0.5%
- Unplanned doctors visit after surgery <2%
Delayed risks of tubal reversal surgery
Ectopic pregnancy
The main risk of tubal ligation reversal is the increased chance of an ectopic (tubal) pregnancy.
The chance of ectopic pregnancy after tubal reversal ranges from 10-15%.
Although ectopic pregnancy is a serious condition, we encourage our patients to follow up with their physicians with every early pregnancy and to monitor every early pregnancy by following our Early Pregnancy Monitoring Protocol. This testing protocol allows ectopic pregnancies to be diagnosed very early and treated with methotrexate medication.
Medical treatment with methotrexate can effectively treat most early ectopic pregnancies and can minimize the risks of ectopic pregnancy after reversal surgery.
Once the early pregnancy has been confirmed as being in the uterus then the remainder of the pregnancy should be normal and not require any special care.
Tubal blockage
The fallopian tubes can become blocked with scar tissue during the healing phase of tubal reversal. The risk of developing tubal blockage after tubal reversal surgery is approximately 6%.
Is tubal reversal surgery safe?
Any surgery has risk but in our experience the immediate risks of reversal surgery at our center are small. The risk of ectopic pregnancy is increased after tubal reversal but can be easily managed by following the early pregnancy monitoring and close follow up with your local physician.
For more detailed information: Mini-incision tubal reversal surgery
