Tubal Reversal Pregnancy Report 2009
Pregnancy Outcomes After Tubal Reversal At Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center
Pregnancy Outcomes By Age
Table 8 shows the relationship between age and pregnancy outcome following tubal ligation reversal at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center. With increasing age, the percentage of pregnancies resulting in births declined due to an increasing percentage of miscarriages. Among women under age 35, over half of pregnancies resulted in birth or ongoing pregnancy while one third miscarried. The birth rate declined and the miscarriage rate increased significantly for women ages 40 and older. The overall ectopic pregnancy rate for all patients (14%) was higher than that found in the general population of women who have not had a tubal ligation, which is approximately 3%. The ectopic pregnancy rate after tubal reversal surgery may be overestimated, since some early pregnancy losses were reported as ectopic pregnancies when serum HCG levels did not rise normally but without confirmation of the diagnosis by ultrasound or laparoscopy. In the case of very early pregnancy loss, the actual site of the pregnancy (uterine or ectopic) is unknown. Whether there is an increased risk of miscarriage associated with tubal reversal is unclear. The miscarriage rate reported in the general population ranges from approximately 20% to 50% depending on a woman’s age and how early pregnancy testing is performed.
| Age | Pregnant | Birth/Ongoing | Miscarriage | Ectopic |
| <30 | 610 | 336 (55%) | 207 (34%) | 67 (11%) |
| 30-34 | 1367 | 668 (50%) | 495 (36%) | 204 (15%) |
| 35-39 | 1152 | 509 (44%) | 466 (41%) | 177 (15%) |
| 40+ | 188 | 61 (33%) | 110 (59%) | 17 (9%) |
Pregnancy Outcomes By Tubal Ligation Method
Table 9 shows the relationship between the tubal ligation method and pregnancy outcomes. Tubal ligation reversal after tubal clips (Hulka clip, Filshie clip) has the best outcome of all tubal ligation methods, with the highest birth rate (69%) and lowest miscarriage rate (25%) and ectopic pregnancy rate (6%). Reversal of tubal rings (Falope ring, Yoon ring) has the second best outcome, followed in order by ligation/resection and coagulation. These findings are almost certainly related to the minimal damage to the fallopian tube caused by tubal clips and rings.
| Method | Pregnant | Birth/Ongoing | Miscarriage | Ectopic |
| Clip | 306 | 210 (69%) | 77 (26%) | 19 (6%) |
| Ring | 614 | 317 (52%) | 232 (38%) | 67 (11%) |
| Ligation/resection | 1207 | 536 (44%) | 483 (40%) | 188 (16%) |
| Coagulation | 1053 | 460 (44%) | 429 41%) | 164 (16%) |
Pregnancy Outcomes By Fallopian Tube Length
Longer tubes are associated with better pregnancy outcomes than shorter tubes (Table 10). Among women with average fallopian tube lengths measuring 7.5 cm or longer, 61% gave birth or had an ongoing pregnancy. Birth rates declined while miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy rates increased with shorter tubal lengths.
| Length | Pregnant | Birth/Ongoing | Miscarriage | Ectopic |
| 7.5+ | 362 | 220 (61%) | 111 (31%) | 31 (9%) |
| 5.0-7.4 | 1966 | 976 (50%) | 724 (37%) | 266 (14%) |
| 2.5-4.9 | 920 | 353 (39%) | 417 (45%) | 150 (16%) |
| <2.5 | 44 | 13 (30%) | 24 (55%) | 7 (16%) |
Tubal Reversal Pregnancy Study 2009
Table Of Contents:
- Overview
- Study Method
- Patient Population – US States
- Patient Population – Age and Tubal Ligation Procedures
- Pregnancy Rates by Age and Method
- Pregnancy Rates by Tubal Length
- Pregnancy Outcomes (this page)
- Tubal Reversal vs. IVF
- About Pregnancy Statistics
Pregnancy and Birth Rates After Tubal Reversal vs. IVF
September 7th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
[...] The chances of getting pregnant after tubal reversal continue each month following the surgery. The pregnancy rate after tubal reversal, therefore, continues to increase over time and more than one pregnancy and birth can result from a sterilization reversal procedure. [...]
September 7th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
[...] Women with longer tubal lengths had higher pregnancy rates than women with shorter lengths following tubal reversal. Women with tubal lengths of 7.5 cm or longer had a pregnancy rate of 77%. The pregnancy rate declined as tubal length decreased, but even women with the shortest tubes (less than 2.5 cm) became pregnant (38%). [...]
September 17th, 2009 at 3:06 am
My fiancé is 41. She had a tuballigation, and she just found out she has high blood pressure. It runs 120’s/94 or slightly higher. We are going to try to have her tuballigation reversed, because this is what we want. We just want to talk to someone about it. Thank you.
September 17th, 2009 at 3:22 am
GEORGE – Your fiancé can talk with a Tubal Reversal Nurse at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center by calling (919) 968-4656.
September 17th, 2009 at 11:44 pm
I will be 44 this December I had my tubal reversal on March 13th, 2009. I’m not pregnant yet, but we are still hopeful.. Thanks for any input on this.
September 18th, 2009 at 7:23 am
MARY – Of course, age is the primary factor related to the chances of becoming pregnant after tubal reversal as for women who have not had tubal ligations and tubal reversals. The average time to to pregnancy after tubal reversal surgery is 8 months, so it is still early for you. However, you may want to consider using an Ovulation Predictor Kit (OPK) in your cycles to verify when you are at the most fertile time of the cycle and your chances of conceiving will be greatest.
September 20th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
I am 25 years old and I have 2 kids. I regret having me tubes tied after my last child a little over a year ago. And I’m already considering getting it reverse. Does the length of time after a tubal ligation matter when it comes to the damage of the fallopian tubes? I believe that the doctor that performed the procedure used a ring. My husband and I are thinking that in the next few years we should get the tubal procedure reversed, maybe even sooner.
September 20th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
INDIRA – The length of time your tubes have been tied is not an important factor. The most important factors predicting pregnancy after tubal reversal are age and tubal ligation method. Our pregnancy statistics at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center show that your chances of getting pregnant after tubal reversal are 84% or higher at your age after reversal of a tubal ring ligation (See Table 5).
September 30th, 2009 at 11:58 am
What is the percentage rate of becoming pregnant if you’ve had a uterine ablation due to abnormal bleeding 5 years ago?
October 1st, 2009 at 12:47 pm
My menstrual cycle hasn’t been completely normal since my reversal in July. It tends to come two days earlier each month, and it’s a lot lighter than it ever was before. I am not pregnant yet (although I am hoping), but I have to wonder if my body is used to the reversal yet. We did two months of the ovulation predictor with no luck … Is it possible my eggs aren’t making it out yet?
October 1st, 2009 at 6:02 pm
SHANEETA – The percentage rates of becoming pregnant after tubal ligation reversal shown in our Tubal Reversal Pregnancy Study include a few women who have had an endometrial ablation, but only if their menstrual periods are normal. If your periods have stopped since the endometrial ablation, then your uterus will not be able to carry a pregnancy.
October 1st, 2009 at 6:10 pm
KRYSTAL – Since your ovulation predictor kits have not shown evidence of ovulation, and your periods are lighter than usual, I recommend that you talk to your doctor about starting a prescription of Clomid to stimulate ovulation. Continue to use the ovulation predictor kits while taking Clomid.
October 12th, 2009 at 11:19 am
I am 43 and engaged. My husband to be wants a child and I had my tubes burnt not tied 20 years ago. Can I have this reversed?
October 12th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
FELICIA – You can have burned tubes reversed. If you would like to speak with a tubal reversal nurse about this, call (919) 968-4656.
October 24th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
I had my tubal ligation when I was 26 after having two children. I am now 41 and my fiance is 43, and he has one child. We are both healthy and active. We want to have the surgery reversed. I have researched done some research, but could not find the answers: I want to know what are some of the reasons women over 40 fail to become pregnant. All I find is Age and Weight can effect results? How? Would the fact that I was very fertile when I was younger help me now? We want to look at the big picture before we make this investment.
Thanks
October 24th, 2009 at 8:31 pm
ANGEL – Fertility declines with a woman’s age. The reasons for the decline in fertility have to do with the effect of aging on the eggs.
October 26th, 2009 at 2:01 am
I am 33 years old and it will be three years since my tubal ligation was done. We are thinking of getting it reversed but I am not even sure how the ligation was performed. They did it during my c-section so I was more worried about my son than how they did the ligation. How would I find out exactly how it was done and how much of the tube is remaining to determine how my chances are of having my tubal ligation reversed. I have fertility issues as it is but basically I only ovulate when my body feels like it. It could be anywhere from 3 months to 9 months between ovulations. So after reversal I would be using clomid for conception. I am just wondering what my chances are.
October 26th, 2009 at 5:05 am
ERIN – The Pomeroy procedure is almost always used when tubal ligation is done at the time of a c-section. You can obtain your operative report and pathology report from the hospital where you had your surgery to send to us. At age 33, your chances of getting pregnant after tubal reversal are approximately 70%.
October 28th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
I am 43 years old and I had my tubal ligation reversed on september 14, 2009. I had my period before the surgery on 08/28/2009, then after the surgery on 09/20/2009; today is 10/28/09 and I am not having my period yet. I did many pregnancy tests since 10/18/2009, but the result are – (negative). What can be happen with my body?
October 28th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
MARIA – You may have ovulated later than usual this month. If your period does not start within 5 more days, run a repeat pregnancy test.
October 28th, 2009 at 5:26 pm
MARIA – You may have ovulated late this month or perhaps did not ovulate at all. If your period does not start within 5 days, run another pregnancy test.
November 13th, 2009 at 10:04 pm
I will be 42 in December. I am recently married and my husband and I would like to have my tubes reversed. I have the tubal clips. My period comes every month around the same day and I have done ovulation tests and I ovulate around the same day of the month as well. What are my chances of getting pregnant? What is the percentage within my age group?
November 13th, 2009 at 11:00 pm
Sonya
As long as you are ovulating and having regular periods then there is a chance you can become pregnant.
Your chance of getting pregnant at the age of 42 is approximately 30-40% with tubal reversal and 15-20% with IVF.
You can see our pregnancy statistics in women over the age of 40 by visiting our Tubal Reversal Pregnancy Report 2009 and you can also compare IVF pregnancy success by visiting our Tubal Reversal blog article on Tubal Reversal vs IVF: Age And Pregnancy Success.
November 18th, 2009 at 1:27 am
I had my tubes clipped tied and burnt 9 years ago. Can you reverse that? I am 31 years old. What is my percentage rate of getting pregnant and having a healthy baby and how much does reverse tubal cost?
November 18th, 2009 at 2:47 am
FANNIE – At age 31, your chances of getting pregnant are close to 80% with a 55% birth rate after tubal ligation reversal. Here is information about tubal reversal cost. There is an additional discount if you schedule your reversal procedure before February 28th. Call (919) 968-4656 for more information from a Tubal Reversal Nurse.