Methods of Blocked Tubes - Undone by Tubal Ligation Reversal

Blocked tubes can be created surgically through tubal ligation. Many women think that this is a permanent form of sterilization. But every year, thousands come to regret having gone through the surgery. In this case they seek out a method to unblock their tubes. This can be done by way of tubal ligation reversal surgery.

While a short explanation is that the surgeon doing the tubal ligation reversal simply removes the blockage and then sews the remaining tube together, the actual practice is different. It might help to understand there are various methods and techniques used to create the blocked tubes.

Among these methods and techniques, you have the Pomeroy, Parkland and Irving ligation and resection techniques. There are the mechanical devices such as the Hulka and Filshie clips, the tubal ring, and the Essure device. Then you have the bipolar and monopolar methods of coagulation which essentially burns the tube by an electric current passing through forceps. Of these last two, tubal ligation reversal done on the bipolar method gives a higher rate of success due to the fact that more damage is done during the monopolar. The last method is a fimbriectomy in which the fimbrial end of each fallopian tube is removed.

So you can see that the tubal ligation reversal surgeon will have different types of damage to remove during the operation. Some are relatively easy such as the ligation and resection or rings and clips methods. For these, he needs to remove the blocked tubes portion and then carefully suture the good section back together.

This is itself is quite a procedure as the fallopian tube is made up of three layers. The leading tubal ligation reversal surgeon only sutures the two outer layers of the fallopian tube in order to limit the amount of scar tissue resulting from the operation. Scarring can inhibit the passage of the egg or embryo down the fallopian tubes.

Some sterilization methods are much more involved such as in the fimbriectomy and the Essure device which also damages the uterus. During a microsurgical salpingostomy surgery, the surgeon must remove the closed off end of the fallopian tube. Then he gently turns a small portion of the tubes at the end so the inside is out in a sort of cuff. What this does is expose the cilia that make up the inner lining of the fallopian tubes so that these cilia can then perform the function of capturing the egg as it is released from the ovary and send it down the fallopian tube.

Doing an Essure tubal ligation reversal is a more complex surgery as well. As stated above, the Essure device involves the uterus as well. When the device is implanted into the fallopian tubes, part of it sticks out into the uterus. The way it creates the blocked tubes is by the scarring that forms around the device. So, not only must the end of the fallopian tube where it attaches to the uterus be removed with its scarring, so must the part of the uterus that becomes scarred. After this area is sewn up, a new opening is created into the uterus and the good length of tube is inserted and sutured into place.

All these various methods of sterilization can be overcome using tubal ligation reversal with varying degrees of success. The best advice is to choose the best and most experienced tubal ligation reversal surgeon you can in order to remove the blocked tubes sections. This surgeon can be found at the Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center's website as well as more resources to further your education about your success rates and a chance to meet other women like you.