Tubal ligation is a definitive method of birth control that involves tying, cutting, or blocking the fallopian tubes to permanently prevent pregnancy. In recent years, the recommendation in patients who wish to undergo this intervention is to remove both tubes completely, since in this way, in addition to the contraceptive effect, we could be reducing the risk of ovarian cancer in the future.
If you have undergone this procedure and wish to become pregnant, the best option to achieve this is to resort to in vitro fertilization.
Another possible option would be to try to repair the tube by an operation called tubal reanastomosis. This operation involves reattaching the cut ends of the tube using microsutures. The aim is for them to regain permeability and for eggs and sperm to be able to travel through them. However, it must be taken into account that this is a complex operation with very variable success rates. It could only be considered in young patients with a remaining Fallopian tube length greater than 4cm (something increasingly rare given that, as we have already mentioned, in recent times it is recommended to remove the entire tube).
In vitro fertilization, on the other hand, will be suitable for all patients, regardless of how the tubal ligation was performed, the time that has passed and the age of the patient (without forgetting that this last factor affects the success rate of IVF because of its relationship with the quality of the eggs). In in vitro fertilization, when the union of the egg and sperm takes place in the laboratory, the fallopian tube is not at all necessary, and the fact that it is present or not does not affect the success rate of the technique.
