Should You Get Your Tubes Tied
Its a big step that will affect the rest of your life, so we understand if youre not sure about it.
A tubal ligationalso referred to as getting your tubes tiedis a popular method of permanent birth control. However, before undergoing this procedure, you should carefully evaluate your situation.
We encourage women to speak with us so we can guide them through some of these important questions they should answer before considering a surgery to get their tubes tied.
Natural Ways To Get Pregnant With Tubes Tied
In this way, we can point out some natural remedies, from roots or plants that will help us to unlock the fallopian tubes, although I repeat that it is always necessary to consult our gynecologist.
These are some natural remedies to unlock our fallopian tubes:
- Peony root: It allows us to balance female hormones and reduce the inflammations and pain that can cause moderate obstructions of the fallopian tubes.
- Ginger root: We can take ginger infusions to unblock the fallopian tubes.
- Dong Quai Root: Stimulates stimulation of the circulation of the reproductive system, so it will help treat clogged fallopian tubes.
- Castor oil: We can apply castor oil on the lower abdomen or even use castor oil pads and scarves, readily available online and in health food stores. We have to apply it daily for a month
- Poultices of charcoal. An application of activated charcoal applied above your lower abdomen, directly above your uterus and fallopian tubes, helps treat infections and reduce inflammation and obstruction. You must do this:
Along with the natural remedies mentioned, we can add other recommendations such as quitting smoking, drinking, eating very hormonal foods, such as poultry, or giving massages in the area.
What Causes The Blockage Of The Fallopian Tubes
The most common cause of blocked fallopian tubes is a pelvic inflammatory disease .
PID is the result of a sexually transmitted disease , but not all pelvic infections are related to STDs.
However, although the pelvic inflammatory disease is no longer present, a history of PID, or pelvic inflammation, increases the risk of a blockage in the fallopian tubes.
Other potential causes of blocked fallopian tubes include:
- Suffer or have a history of a sexually transmitted disease, specifically chlamydia or gonorrhea.
- History of uterine infections caused by miscarriage or miscarriage
- Appendix Rupture History
- A history involving previous operations in the fallopian tubes
- Endometriosis
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What Happens During Tubal Ligation
Youâll get your tubal ligation in a hospital or at an outpatient surgical clinic. The doctor will give you medicine to make you âsleepâ so you wonât feel anything during the surgery.
The surgeon will make one or two small cuts in your belly, then inflate it with gas. Theyâll put a long, thin device similar to a telescope into one cut to look into your belly. Theyâll put tools into the other to cut, seal, band, clamp, or tie your fallopian tubes shut.
Your surgeon will then stitch up the cuts on your belly. You can go home a few hours later to rest.
You May Get Pumped Full Of Gas
After the cut has been made during a reversal, your doctor may pump your stomach full of gas in order to expand it. This expansion will help him or her see your uterus and your fallopian tubes more easily.
This technique is not used every time a ligation is performed, but it is something to consider.
After the surgery, you may feel a bit swollen and bloated, especially if a laparoscopy was performed, but you shouldn’t have to deal with this annoying side effect for very long. Rest assured that the swelling will go down within a day or two, so you will not always feel like you are about to pop!
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Reasons For Getting A Tubal Ligation
Tubal ligation is mainly performed on a woman who is absolutely certain she does not want to have children in the future.
It also is performed for women who do not want more children and desire to lower the risk of tubal and ovarian cancer in the future, whether or not their family has a history of ovarian cancer. In those cases, the patient will have their whole tubes removed to lower their risk of developing ovarian and tubal cancer later on in life.
Pros And Cons Of Getting Your Tubes Tied
If you are done having children or have made the decision not to have children, then you may want to consider a permanent form of birth control. Every woman has a different reason for choosing a permanent procedure like female sterilization as a form of birth control. Some women may have health risks associated with becoming pregnant, and others may not want to pass down a genetic disorder that they or their partner carry. Tubal ligation, commonly known as getting your tubes tied, can be a great option if you are done having children.
As with any procedure, they are pros and cons you will have to weigh before deciding that getting your tubes tied is the best solution for your body. There are advantages to getting tubal ligation that are not possible with other forms of birth control. Tubal ligation is recommended for adult women who have had time to weigh the benefits and risks carefully. After reading this, give Dr. Lodge a call at Cool Springs OBGYN located near Nashville.
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Can You Get Pregnant With Your Tubes Tied
Tubal ligation is one of the most effective ways to prevent pregnancy, with rates of pregnancy around 1/1,000 after the first year, and between 2-10/1,000 after five years. Although the possibility of becoming pregnant is low, the chance is still there. Unfortunately, after the procedure, the risk of experiencing an ectopic pregnancy increases if a pregnancy were to occur.If you have had tubal ligation surgery in the past and believe that you are currently experiencing pregnancy symptoms, talk to your health care provider. Although the probability of getting pregnant is very low, it is still possible.
There’s Not Just Tying Going On
According to Webster’s Dictionary, the term “ligation” means the surgical process of tying up an anatomical channel. This term should no longer be used when referring to the procedure that many women have done that promises to “tie up” her tubes and permanently prevent future pregnancies.
There are many different methods that your doctor may use to complete this procedure that do not involve tying of any kind. For example, your doctor may use clamps to shut off the fallopian tubes or he/she may use a method called bipolar coagulation. If this particular method is chosen, your doctor will use an electrical current to burn and damage several areas of your tubes! Your doctor may also remove a section of your tubes and tuck what is leftover back into the surface of the uterus. The most common method used in a tubal ligation is the Pomeroy Method. This particular method does involve a small amount of “tying”. Your doctor will take a section/loop of your fallopian tube, tie it off with a suture, and then cut off the remaining tube above the tie. Some women even opt to have the remaining tube burned for good measure.
It is safe to say that you better be 100% positive that you are done having children because these methods of sterilization sound pretty intense!
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Will Tubal Ligation Add Risk To The C
Tubal ligation does not add risk to a C-section operation or cause complications during C-section recovery. This is because tubal ligation is done once the baby is delivered and not before. Furthermore, the surgeon uses the incision in the abdominal cavity to close up the uterine tubes. No extra incisions are made.
After a C-section, it is normal to experience some pain and discomfort, which subside after a couple of days. Any discomfort after having tubal ligation during a C-section is likely due to the delivery and not the procedure.
The Possibility Of Pregnancy After Tubal Ligation
If a woman decides she wants to get pregnant after tubal ligation, she may undergo a reversal surgery. This is when a surgeon reconnects the fallopian tubes to allow eggs to make their way into the uterus once again for fertilization and the possibility of pregnancy. While this is a viable option, it is important to note that only about 50-to-80 percent of women become pregnant following a tubal ligation reversal.
Several factors come into play when considering how likely a woman is to have a successful pregnancy after tubal ligation reversal, including age, the method used to tie the tubes, how much time has passed since the surgery, and how much scar tissue is present as a result of the prior surgery.
The younger a woman is, the greater chance she has of becoming pregnant and the more time that has passed between tubal ligation and the reversal surgery, the less likely it is. Additionally, the more scar tissue present, the more difficult it will be to reverse the surgery. The amount of scar tissue results from the method used during the initial surgery as there are several ways to complete tubal ligation.
Note: Ectopic Pregnancy
At OC Fertility, we prioritize our patients and assist them in making the most informed decision for themselves and their families. To learn more, or for answers to any questions you may have about reversing tubal ligation or pregnancy after tubal ligation, call us at 706-2229 to schedule a consultation.
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Comparing Your Options: Things To Consider When Deciding Between Ivf And Tubal Ligation Reversal
The decision to have a tubal ligation reversal or proceed with IVF can be complex, factors in many individualized medical and personal considerations, and should always be made with a doctor. While it will often remain a completely personal decision, there are many factors that point a patient in one direction or the other, including:
Understanding How A Tubal Reversal Works
A tubal reversal procedure is designed to open or reconnect your fallopian tubes. Before performing a tubal reversal at our Kansas fertility center, Dr. Gehlbach will want to review the details from your tubal procedure, complete a physical exam, discuss alternatives to surgery and order a semen analysis for your partner. Usually, you can start trying to have a baby one to two cycles after Dr. Gehlbach performs the tubal reversal. Because this procedure can increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy, Dr. Gehlbach closely monitors all patients who become pregnant after tubal reversal.
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Whats The Risk Of Pregnancy After Tubal Ligation
When a surgeon performs a tubal ligation, the fallopian tubes are banded, cut, sealed, or tied. Tubal ligation can result in pregnancy if the fallopian tubes grow back together after this process.
A woman is at greater risk of this occurring the younger she is when she has a tubal ligation. According to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, the rates of pregnancy after tubal ligation are:
- 5 percent in women younger than 28
- 2 percent in women between ages 28 and 33
- 1 percent in women older than 34
After a tubal ligation procedure, a woman may also discover she was already pregnant. This is because a fertilized egg may have already implanted in her uterus before her procedure. For this reason, many women opt for tubal ligation just after giving birth or just after a menstrual period, when the risk of pregnancy is lower.
Will You Notice Signs Of The Fallopian Tubes Growing Back Together
Its unlikely that youll sense your own fallopian tubes growing back together, but this actually happens in very rare cases. The process is called recanalization, which means a new passage in the tubes is created, allowing your egg to meet up with sperm for fertilization.
If you feel anything at all related to a tubal ligation, itll be a few uncomfortable post-op symptoms, including nausea, stomach pain, cramps, dizziness and gassiness or bloating. And while its uncommon to experience major complications after a tubal ligation, a few are possible, such as urinary tract infections and damage to blood vessels.
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Is Tubal Litigation A Good Choice For Me
If you already have children and are completely confident you wont want more, even if you have a change of partner, tubal ligation may be a good choice for you.
It may also be a good choice if youre completely sure youll never want any children at all, under any circumstances.
Tubal ligation is designed to be permanent. If you have the slightest doubt about someday wanting children, it is not the right choice for you.
What If I Change My Mind
It is possible to reverse a tubal ligation but it is a major surgery that doesnt always work, is rarely covered by insurance, and is not recommended.
Some women choose to have their tubes tied and later regret the decision. Since this procedure is a permanent form of birth control, it is not recommended if you are looking for something short-term. It is important to make sure this is something you really want and you know you do not want any future children. You should not get your tubes tied if you are unsure about the decision or think you might want to have more children in the future.
Sometimes, with major surgery it is possible to restore a womans ability to get pregnant, but it is still not guaranteed. If a woman does end up regretting her tubal ligation and decides she wants to have more children, an alternative to a reversal of tubal ligation is in vitro fertilization .
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You’re Still Susceptible To Stds
Most women are probably already aware of this, but a tubal ligation surgery does not protect against any type of sexually transmitted diseases.
Women who are not in committed and monogamous relationships may feel more comfortable with their sexual choices since they no longer have the added worry of becoming pregnant however, they may not consider that they are still very vulnerable to STIs.
STI germs live in blood, semen, and vaginal fluids. STIs pass from person to person during any kind of sex, therefore a surgery on your fallopian tubes that prevents pregnancy, unfortunately, will not prevent STIs. It is very important for a woman’s partner to wear condoms in order to protect both parties from many dangerous sexually transmitted diseases or infections.
What Are The Symptoms Of Blocked Fallopian Tubes
Unlike anovulation, where irregular menstrual cycles are indicators of some reproductive problem, blockage in the fallopian tubes rarely causes specific symptoms.
However, in the case of a blockage caused by hydrosalpinx, this can cause low abdominal pain and unusual vaginal discharge, but not all women will have these symptoms.
Hydrosalpinx occurs when one or both fallopian tubes expand and fill with fluid preventing fertilization and pregnancy.
There are other symptoms that may be indicative of a blockage in the fallopian tubes but not necessarily.
For example, some symptoms may be signs of endometriosis or pelvic inflammatory disease.
Other symptoms, such as painful menstruation and painful sexual intercourse, do not necessarily point to blockage in the fallopian tubes.
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You Will Still Have A Period
It doesn’t seem fair to go through a surgery that leaves you permanently unable to have children, but still able to ovulate AND have a period every single month. After a tubal ligation, there is no use for ovulation or menstrual periods, but your body doesn’t seem to care what you think.
Yes, you will still have a period after the procedure, and some women have even claimed that their periods are not only much heavier, but they can feel a very obvious cramping during ovulation. Both of these things sound highly unpleasant but are very real possibilities. Just keep in mind that every woman is different and you may not experience any changes at all! Our bodies are unique and so are our experiences with varying surgeries and operations.
Challenges Of Ivf After Tubal Ligation
An IVF cycle takes about two months and requires you to take injectable hormones that stimulate egg development. These fertility medications may cause side effects, such as headaches, mood swings and bloating. Also, in vitro fertilization has a higher risk of multiple births.
For some, IVF is not a viable option. After age 43, the IVF success rate drastically decreases. Additionally, in vitro fertilization is not recommended for women with poor egg quality or reserve.
Your fertility specialist can discuss your individual factors with you and your partner.
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What You Need To Know About Tubal Ligation Reversal Surgery
The providers at the New York Fertility Institute use microsurgical techniques and high-tech magnification to perform your tubal ligation reversal. This minimizes your incision size, recovery time, and risk of infection. Youll need to stay in the hospital overnight for monitoring after your tubal ligation reversal surgery.
With more than 30 years of experience in performing this procedure, you can trust the New York Fertility Institute team to give you the best surgical results, and the highest chances of a future healthy pregnancy. We can evaluate you to see if you and your partner have a good chance of conceiving after surgically getting your tubes untied. Your candidacy for this procedure depends on:
- Your age and hormonal status
- The type of tubal ligation youve previously had
- The condition of your uterus
To learn more about whether you could be a good candidate for a tubal ligation reversal procedure to achieve a successful pregnancy, get in touch with the fertility experts at New York Fertility Institute today. Our team of experienced doctors treats new and existing patients, including same sex parents, from our Upper East Side office in New York City, New York. You can book your appointment online, or call now.
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