Library of Frequently Asked Questions
Tubal / Vasectomy Reversal
If a woman or man who has had a tubal ligation (lie-gay-shun) or a vasectomy later decides they want a child, they may request to have the procedure reversed. Although the procedures are meant to be permanent, it may be possible to reverse them.
During a tubal ligation, the Fallopian tubes are cut. If there is enough tube remaining, a skilled microsurgeon can remove the blocked ends of the tubes and sew the two pieces together using very fine suture material. This procedure is called tubal anastomosis (an-as-toe -mow-sis). Seventy to eighty percent of patients are able to conceive after this procedure.
The procedure to reverse a vasectomy also involves the reconnection of tubes to allow for the flow of sperm. Depending on the method used to close the tubes, there is a fourteen to fifty-five percent success rate in reestablishing fertility after a vasectomy.
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