Many women decide to have their tubes tied once they are done having children. Medically known as tubal ligation, this procedure is an effective form of birth control. Sometimes, however, as women age or their circumstances change, they wish to have another child.
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a fertility treatment available to women after tubal ligation. IVF is an assisted reproductive technology that completely bypasses the fallopian tubes, which makes pregnancy possible after tubal ligation.
Fertility specialists at Arizona Associates for Reproductive Health can help women across the country with our network of fertility clinics and surrounding areas determine if IVF after tubal ligation is right for them.
Becoming Pregnant after Tubal Ligation
Tubal ligation is a surgical procedure that blocks, cuts, or ties the fallopian tubes to permanently prevent pregnancy. This surgery prevents pregnancy by blocking an egg from traveling from the ovaries into the fallopian tubes, and blocking sperm from traveling up the fallopian tubes to an egg. Once a woman undergoes tubal ligation, her choices are very limited if she decides she wants to get pregnant. Essentially, a woman’s only options for getting pregnant after tubal ligation are IVF or a tubal ligation reversal.
Benefits of IVF vs. Tubal Ligation Reversal
Tubal ligations reversal surgery can be effective for some women who have previously had their tubes tied. However, surgical success is not guaranteed, and any surgical procedure carries a degree of risk. In most cases, we recommend IVF over tubal ligation reversal, because of the benefits it offers our Scottsdale patients.
- IVF offers higher rates of success than tubal ligation reversal
- Women can usually become pregnant faster with IVF than with tubal ligation reversal (IVF can typically be completed in two months, whereas tubal ligation reversal requires a three month recovery period)
- IVF treatment is less invasive than tubal ligation reversal
- Women who undergo IVF have a lower risk of ectopic pregnancy than those who undergo tubal ligation reversal
What to Expect during IVF Treatment
If women choose to undergo IVF after tubal ligation, they should be prepared for what to expect during treatment. IVF is broken down into four basic phases: ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, fertilization, and embryo transfer.
- Ovarian stimulation – To begin IVF treatment, patients are prescribed a series of fertility medications. These medications kickstart the ovaries and encourage them to produce multiple eggs.
- Egg retrieval – At the end of ovarian stimulation, patients receive a “trigger shot” of hormones that stimulates the release of mature eggs. These eggs are collected during a minimally invasive egg retrieval procedure.
- Fertilization – Collected eggs are mixed with sperm in a laboratory setting. The eggs are evaluated for several days so that our doctors can observe which have successfully fertilized and developed into healthy embryos.
- Embryo transfer – The most viable embryo, or embryos, is selected from transfer. The embryo is transferred directly to the uterus, where it ideally implants to the uterine lining to result in a successful pregnancy.
