Tubal Reversal and Birth-Control Options

Changed Your Mind About Future Pregnancy?

If you had a tubal ligation, sometimes called “having your tubes tied,” and have since decided you would like to try for a pregnancy, you have more than one path to consider. Tubal reversal surgery is one option. In vitro fertilization (IVF) is another, and for many patients it is now the more commonly recommended route. Understanding both, along with how your original procedure affects your options, can help you make a decision that fits your situation.

What Is Tubal Reversal Surgery?

Tubal ligation reversal, also called tubal reanastomosis, is surgery to reconnect the fallopian tubes after a previous tubal ligation. The goal is to restore the possibility of natural conception.

Who May Be a Candidate

Whether tubal reversal is possible depends on several factors your surgeon will review:

• How the original tubal ligation was performed. Some methods leave more healthy tube available to reconnect than others.
• How much healthy fallopian tube remains. If too little tube is left, or the ends were removed entirely, reversal is not possible.
• The type of device or method originally used. Certain permanent blocking methods can cause damage that makes reversal impossible.
• Age and overall fertility health. Your surgeon will also consider your age and whether other fertility factors might affect your chances of pregnancy even after a successful reversal.

Not every patient who wants a reversal is a good candidate. Your care team will give you an honest assessment based on your specific history and testing before recommending a path forward.

How the Procedure Works

Tubal reversal is typically performed using minimally invasive or robotic techniques and generally takes about two to three hours. Most patients go home the same day. Recovery time varies by patient and surgical approach.

Many care teams recommend an HSG some weeks after surgery to confirm that the reconnected tubes are open. Learn more about HSG testing.

Considering IVF Instead

IVF does not require open fallopian tubes at all, since the process bypasses the tubes entirely by fertilizing eggs outside the body before transferring an embryo to the uterus. For many patients today, especially those with less favorable candidacy for reversal, IVF success rates make it a reasonable first conversation to have alongside, or instead of, reversal surgery. Learn more about IVF at Kofinas.

Your specialist can help you weigh factors like age, the condition of your remaining tube, cost considerations, and how quickly you hope to conceive, so you can decide which path fits your situation.

If You Are Not Ready to Decide on Future Birth Control Yet

Some patients come to this conversation from the other direction: considering tubal ligation as a birth control method and weighing how permanent that decision truly is. It is worth knowing upfront that tubal ligation is intended as a permanent form of contraception, and that reversal is not guaranteed to be possible or successful even when attempted. If there is any chance you may want a future pregnancy, it is worth discussing that openly with your provider before choosing a permanent method, so you can weigh it against non-permanent options as part of your family planning conversation.

About This Page

Meet George D. Kofinas, MD, FACOG

As the compassionate leader of Kofinas Fertility Group and a distinguished authority on fertility medicine, Dr. Kofinas has used his depth of knowledge and sharp intuition to help thousands of couples start families of their own. Dr. Kofinas has written and spoken about the full...

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By: George D. Kofinas, MD, FACOG
Reviewed By: George D. Kofinas, MD, FACOG

Published: Nov 10th, 2026

Last Reviewed: Nov 10th, 2026