| The fallopian tubes are two "small tubes" that begin at the flower-like end where the egg is picked up from each ovary, and leads through pin-point openings into the uterus. The fallopian tubes can be damaged by disease such as endometriosis and/or infection.
The tubes may also be "cut" during a sterilization procedure known as a tubal ligation. Tubal ligation can sometimes be reversed surgically depending upon many factors such as where and how the fallopian tubes were tied.
A common dilemma for patients who have had a tubal ligation and now desire to have more children, is whether they should have a tubal reversal or IVF. The great majority of patients choose to have IVF. Patients interested in a surgical option should consult their infertility specialist.
Some infertility specialists start the procedure with a laparoscopy to determine if the fallopian tubes are long enough for successful reconstruction and to evaluate other factors such as the presence of scar tissue. Chances for a pregnancy decline steeply when the tube is too short after the repair is completed.
A slightly larger incision is then made in the lower abdomen. With the help of a microscope, damaged portions of fallopian tube are removed, and the healthy ends of the fallopian tubes reattached. A typical hospital stay is one to three days and the patient can return to work within a few weeks.
Most pregnancies after a tubal reanastomosis happen within the first six months. It is important to emphasize that as soon as the patient realizes she is pregnant, she needs to be closely monitored to ensure that the pregnancy is in fact in the uterus and not in the fallopian tube as there is a slightly increased risk of ectopic pregnancy after tubal reversal surgery.
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