Tubal ligation, or having one’s tubes tied, is generally regarded as a permanent birth control solution, and anyone considering the procedure is advised to view it as such because reversal, although often possible, is not always successful in all cases.
Women considering the procedure should also be made aware that there is a small failure rate for tubal ligation, and that pregnancy after the procedure is possible. In general, the failure rate of tubal ligation – that is, the chances of becoming pregnant following the procedure – is between 2-10 incidents per 1,000 women. It is not, therefore, a fail-safe procedure for a small number of women.
For no determinable reason, the failure rate is slightly higher in younger women. And tubal ligation failure may not occur soon after the procedure. In fact, failure of the procedure can occur up to ten years after the ligation was performed. Post-ligation pregnancy usually occurs when the Fallopian tubes attempt to heal themselves from the trauma of the surgery. During the healing process, the two ends of the tubes are held together until the suture dissolves, usually two to six weeks post-op. When the suture dissolves, the two cut ends of the tube separate.
Sometimes, however, when the sutures take longer than normal to dissolve, the two ends mesh together resulting in a functional tube. Further, if the woman reserves sexual activity too soon after having the procedure the Fallopian tubes may not have had sufficient time to scar shut, resulting in a tubal ligation failure.
Should you become pregnant following a tubal ligation failure, there is an increased chance that you will experience an ectopic (or tubal) pregnancy. In this situation, the fertilized egg lodges itself in a location other than the fallopian tube and the fetus cannot develop normally. If you experience any of the following symptoms after your tubal ligation, you may be experiencing a tubal pregnancy.
• Pain on either or both sides of the lower abdomen, similar to the location of menstrual cramps • Pain or discomfort and spotting after missing your regular period
• An unusually light menstrual flow
• A faint or dizzy feeling accompanied by pressure on the bowels.
Should you have experience of these signs after having a tubal ligation, seek medical attention as soon as possible.