Pomeroy Tubal Ligation
Pomeroy Technique of Tubal Ligation and Resection
The most common type of tubal ligation is the Pomeroy procedure, named after Dr. Ralph Pomeroy who described it in 1930. The Pomeroy method involves picking up a segment of the fallopian tube to create a knuckle, placing a tie or ligature with absorbable suture around its base, and then cutting off the knuckle of tube above the tie. As the suture dissolves, the 2 remaining tubal segments separate from each other.
“Modified” Pomeroy Techniques
Interestingly, Dr. Pomeroy did not publish his technique in the medical literature but simply demonstrated it to other doctors. Some of them subsequently published the technique, but with modifications.
Currently, many doctors use the term modified Pomeroy procedure when they describe the tubal ligation they have performed in a patient’s operative report. Each doctor seems to have his or her own way of operating and there are many variations from the original method. Some doctors use absorbable suture, while others use permanent sutures that do not dissolve. Some doctors place more than one tie around the tube and many doctors also burn or cauterize the tubal ends.
A tubal ligation operative report is useful as a guide but does not predict exactly what the remaining tubal segments will be at the time of a reversal procedure. Fortunately, Pomeroy tubal ligation and its modifications are usually excellent in terms of reversibility.
Pomeroy Tubal Ligation Reversal Success
At Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center, we keep a record of all patients’ tubal reversal operations, including the tubal ligation method, the remaining tubal segment lengths, and other important findings at the time of surgery. Since we maintain long term follow-up with our patients, we are able to provide accurate statistics about pregnancies and their outcomes after tubal reversal surgery. Here are some of the pregnancy statistics for women who have had a Pomeroy type of tubal ligation.
Pregnancy Rates of Our Tubal Reversal Patients
The overall pregnancy rate after Pomeroy tubal ligation reversal is 70% for patients at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center. The table below shows pregnancy rates according to women’s ages at the time of tubal reversal. The first column shows ages by 5 year groupings. The second column shows the number of women in each age group who had a tubal reversal. The third and fourth columns show the number and the percentage of women who became pregnant after their reversal procedure. The data shown in this table come from our Tubal Reversal Pregnancy Study Report 2007.
Here is how the pregnancy rate is calculated: The number of pregnant women (column 3) divided by all women in that age category who had reversal surgery (column 2) times 100 equals the percentage of women who became pregnant (column 4). A doctor has to know all of this information in order to be able to state what the success rate is for his patients.
Pregnancy Rate By Age After Pomeroy Tubal Reversal
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<30 | 201 | 159 | 79% |
30-34 | 614 | 456 | 74% |
35-39 | 599 | 399 | 67% |
40+ | 190 | 84 | 44% |
Good News About Pomeroy Reversal
The good news is that for women under age 40, two-thirds to four-fifths will become pregnant following a tubal reversal procedure. Even for women age 40 and over, approximately 4 out of 10 will conceive another pregnancy. From the follow-up data that we have for our tubal reversal patients, there is good reason for optimism when reversing a Pomeroy tubal ligation.
September 14th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
LATANYA – You are an excellent candidate to have your tubes untied. At age 30 and with a Pomeroy tubal ligation, your chances of getting pregnant after tubal reversal are approximately 75% according to our latest pregnancy statistics.
September 14th, 2009 at 6:40 pm
I had my tubes tied when I was 24 yrs old. My daughter is now going on six. I’ve remarried and my husband has no children. I’m 30 yrs old now and I would really love to have a child. I was very fertile before. I have three children. The method was postpartum tubal ligation, Pomeroy method. The right tube 0.8 cm. length, 0.05cm external diameter, unremarkable;the left 0.07cm. length. Would I be a good candidate?
July 30th, 2009 at 8:52 pm
Niketa
The Pomeroy tubal ligation is reversable. You should look at our Tubal Reversal Pregnancy Study 2007 Report. This will give you success rates based on type of tubal ligation and age.
July 30th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
I had the modified Pomeroy tubal ligation done in 2006 after my third child but I didn’t want to have my tubes tied. Now I would love to have another child before I turn 40. Now I am 31 years of age … can I have a tubal reversal and successful pregnancy?
July 27th, 2009 at 6:25 pm
Sabrina
The Pomeroy tubal ligation is very reversible and the average pregnancy success rate is 70%.
Please send us your operative report or call (919)968-4656 for a free tubal reversal consultation.
July 27th, 2009 at 4:05 pm
I had a modified Pomeroy tubal ligation July 2002 when I was 25 years old. Three margins were cauterized. Right tube segment was 1.5 x 0.4 cm and left tube segment was 1.4 x 0.5 cm. I am 32 years old. Is reversal an option and if so what is the pregnancy success rate?
July 21st, 2009 at 9:06 am
Joanne
You would be an excellent candidate. The average success rate at your age with your type of tubal ligation would be 70%.
Please send us your operative note and pathology report for evaluation. You can also call (919) 968-4656 for a free nurse consultation.
July 21st, 2009 at 8:56 am
I was 25 yrs old when, I believe, I had a pomeroy tubal ligation. I am now 32, remarried, and want to have another child ( I have 2 already). I did not have any complications with either pregnancy and no complications after my tubal. Would I be a candidate for a tubal reversal?
May 5th, 2009 at 6:38 am
Rhonda
You would not be just a good candidate but rather an EXCELLENT candidate for tubal reversal surgery because of your age and small segments of tube removed. Pregnancy success for you would be 60-80% range and you would have the ability to become pregnant more than once.
May 4th, 2009 at 9:52 pm
I am 29 yrs old and when I was 22 I had the Classic Pomeroy type tubal done with two ties of plain suture. Third tie of silk was placed through the avascular knuckle of tube and excised. Hemostasis assured. Done same for both sides. Clinical Data: Desired sterility. Pathology Report: Description: Left tube consists of 9 x 5 mm same on right. (Bilateral Segments of Fallopian Tubes) Would I be a good candidate??? I would love to have more kids.
April 10th, 2009 at 6:48 am
The concept that the tubes can become untied after 7 years is not correct. Once they have been tied, they will stay tied unless surgical repair is performed.
There can be a failure of any method of tubal ligation, including the Pomeroy method, but the causes of failure do not have to do with the tubes becoming untied by themselves.
April 9th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
Can the tubes come untied when having a Pomeroy type tubal ligation? I read in this article – it said they can, and I was told they can after 7 years. I’m hoping they can because I never wanted them done. I wish there was a way that I could get them untied with out surgery, but i know there isn’t.
March 2nd, 2009 at 5:59 pm
Dear Melissa:
Yes, you would be a good candidate for tubal reversal surgery. If you want to expedite this, you can contact one of the Tubal Reversal Nurses at (919) 968-4656 for a free telephone consultation.
March 2nd, 2009 at 5:48 pm
I am a 39 yr old women, who had a Modified Pomeroy Tubal Ligation immediately after I had my daughter almost 16 years ago. I have a very regular cycle. I only have 1 ovary and fallopion tube (due a later surgery). I have done an IVF cycle last year that did not work. I was told that my FSH levels were good. Would I be a good candidate for tubal reversal?
March 1st, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Dear Tina:
You would be an excellent candidate for tubal ligation reversal after having a Pomeroy tubal ligation. The tubal lengths in the pathology report are typical for this type of ligation/resection procedure. Follow this link to see the pregnancy rates by age and tubal ligation method among our tubal reversal patients at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center.
March 1st, 2009 at 5:24 pm
I had the Pomeroy type of tubal. 2.0 x 0.7 cm in dimensions were removed from the left and 1.7cm x 0.7cm in dimension was removed from my right side. Do you think i would be a candidate for reversal? I am 35 and in generally good health. My cycle is regular.
February 10th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
It is uncommon but possible. The majority of these pregnancies are ectopic pregnancies.
February 10th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
I had pomery done when my son was born 6 yrs ago. Now I am 4 months pregnant, without a reversal. How is this possible?
January 23rd, 2009 at 11:39 pm
If you look at the tables on our website page, Pregnancy Statistics after Tubal Reversal, you will see that burned (coagulated) tubes can be reversed successfully at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center.
January 23rd, 2009 at 11:17 pm
If the tubes are burn not cut or tied. can the procedure still be reversed.
September 9th, 2008 at 8:44 am
Your chances of becoming pregnant after a Pomeroy tubal ligation and WITHOUT a reversal are about 1 out of 250. Most of these pregnancies will be ectopic (tubular) pregnancies.
September 9th, 2008 at 8:16 am
What are your chances of becoming pregnant once you have had the pomeroy tubal litigation procedure done without the reversal?
November 27th, 2007 at 8:34 pm
Many patients often ask “What if I can not obtain a copy of my operative report to find out what type of tubal ligation that I had?” The good news is that Dr. Berger is able to repair the tubes in 98% of cases. Because of this, it is not necessary to have a copy of the operative report to schedule your surgery. Many women come to our facility to have the surgery who have not been able to obtain a copy of their operative reports. Some choose the screening laparoscopy package, while others choose to go straight to the tubal reversal procedure. Please feel free to contact me if you have questions about your operative report or scheduling your surgery.
Rhonda Brown, RN
RhondaB@tubal-reversal.net