Before having your surgery you will need to complete the pre-operation process including laboratory testing, a semen analysis for your partner, and consent forms. See the section on getting started for more details.

There are several important things to know before the day of your surgery. Be certain to follow the instructions given to you by the clinic. If you do not follow the instructions completely, there is a risk of having your surgery canceled. You will need to make sure the surgeon and anesthesiologist are aware of any medications you are taking. You should also disclose any allergies or bad drug reactions you have had in the past. Many women take herbal supplements in an attempt to become healthy and more fertile. You should refrain from using any herbal or dietary supplements before surgery as the interaction with medications used during your surgery can be unpredictable and even harmful.

You will usually be advised to pick up your pain medication prescriptions before your surgery. This allows you to have your medications available without having to go to a pharmacy during your post-operative time. The prescriptions for the medications will be provided during your pre-operation appointment.

You may shower or wash any time before your surgery. You will want to get a good night’s rest before surgery. You should not eat or drink anything after 11 PM on the night before your surgery. Eating or drinking anything can increase your risk of complications and may lead to your surgery being canceled. This is for your own safety.

You should not bring valuables or jewelry to the clinic during the time of your surgery.

You will need someone to provide transportation after the procedure as you will not be allowed to drive yourself home. If you are staying in a hotel, you should have some one with you to assist with your immediate needs.

On the day of surgery, you will meet with the anesthesiologist and review the plan for your care. Dr. Zeringue will be happy to answer any last minute questions. The entire team is dedicated to making your experience as safe and pleasant as possible. We want to help you grow your family!

After your tubal ligation reversal, you will be given instructions on what to do post-operation. You will also need pain medication for the first few days to a week. The anesthesiologist and doctor will use medications at the time of surgery that will greatly reduce your pain after surgery. These medications will wear off in a few days and you may notice an increase in soreness. Use your pain medications to keep yourself comfortable. You do not need to remain at bed rest during this time. It is better for your health if you remain active without over exerting yourself. The more activity you do, the more soreness you may experience initially. This will resolve fairly quickly.

The surgery involves two layers of sutures to close your belly. There are skin sutures which are placed just below the surface. These sutures dissolve and do not need to be removed. The next layer of sutures is at the layer just next to the abdominal muscles. These sutures hold the tissues tightly and are very unlikely to break loose even as you increase your activity. Most of the discomfort after surgery comes from this area. You should avoid excessive use of your stomach muscles with activities such as sit ups and heavy lifting for several weeks. Excessive strain can increase your pain and cause you to limit your activities. Normal activities will not interfere with healing.

You will need to watch your skin around the wound for signs of infection. Redness that increases in size can be a sign of skin infection. Drainage of large amounts of fluid can indicate fluid trapped beneath the skin. You should consult your doctor immediately if any of these signs occur. Fevers, increasing pain, and bleeding are also things to prompt a call to your doctor. Refer to discharge instructions for your precautions and post-operative instructions.

Most women are able to return to work in two weeks if they do not have jobs that require lifting or exertion. With more physically demanding jobs, you may need 3-4 weeks for recovery. It is often a good idea to plan for longer time than you need. You can always return to work earlier than anticipated. You should refrain from intercourse for about 4 weeks in most cases.

This page is for informational purposes only. You should consult your doctor for advice before and after surgery. 

After your tubal reversal surgery and recovery, you can start attempting pregnancy with the next normal menstrual cycle. You should time intercourse during the mid-cycle window of time that you are most fertile. This can be predicted by taking the number of days between the start of one menses and the start of the next menses and subtracting 14 days. For example, if your menses occur 30 days apart then 30 -14= 16. Counting the first day of your menses as day one, you would plan intercourse on day 14, 16, and 18. This would give you the best chances of conceiving. Usually fertility monitors and ovulation predictor kits are not necessary. Intercourse should remain spontaneous and not happen as a scheduled event. Exact ovulation timing is not necessary for natural conception.

If you have been trying to conceive for more than 6-8 months without success, you should have your fallopian tubes assessed to see if they are still open. Scar tissue may have formed at the surgery site and blocked the fallopian tubes. The HSG, or hysterosalpingogram, is a procedure performed by a radiologist. This procedure can give valuable information about the status of your fallopian tubes. If tubes have become blocked after surgery, it is usually of no benefit to have another operation. Experienced surgeons will have a very low rate of tubal closure following surgery.

When pregnancy does occur following a tubal ligation reversal procedure, it is important to see an OB/GYN early. Tubal reversal surgery can be associated with an increased risk of ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy is a situation in which the pregnancy is established outside of the uterus. An ectopic pregnancy in the fallopian tube can be a surgical emergency if not treated early. Your OB/GYN will perform an ultrasound around 5-6 weeks to look for a pregnancy inside the uterus. Most pregnancies will be in the correct location but it is always wise to check early.

If you have a successful pregnancy you should remember to use contraception. Your fallopian tubes are likely to remain open and you are capable of becoming pregnant again.