Reversal of Tubal Ligation By Clips and Rings
Tubal Ligation by Falope Ring and Hulka Clip
The Falope ring and Hulka clip are occlusive methods of tubal ligation. They block the fallopian tubes, but no tubal segments are clamped, removed, or burned. The Falope ring is also referred to as the tubal ring or tubal band. It constricts a segment of the fallopian tube very tightly, like an extra strong rubber band.
The Hulka clip is a miniature clamp placed across a very small (2-3 mm) segment of the fallopian tube. Another clip method besides the Hulka clip is the Filshie clip. The clips are similar except that the Hulka clip is made out of silastic and the Filshie clip is made out of metal. Occlusive methods of tubal ligation are predictably the best in terms of reversal since they damage such a tiny segment of the fallopian tube.
In contrast to the Pomeroy method, these occlusive devices are applied through a laparoscope. (Laparoscopy involves making a small incision below the belly button.) Many doctors prefer to apply tubal rings or clips when performing a tubal ligation on young women in recognition of the greater likelihood that a tubal reversal may be wanted in the future. Studies have shown that tubal ligation regret and the desire for tubal ligation reversal is more common when a tubal sterilization is performed among women in the twenties than among older women.
Tubal Clip and Ring Reversal Success
Each year Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center publishes current statistics about pregnancy rates and pregnancy outcomes among all of the women who have had tubal reversal procedures performed by Dr. Berger. The data for women who had tubal rings or clips shown in the table below is from our Tubal Reversal Pregnancy Study Report 2007.
Pregnancy Rates of Our Tubal Reversal Patients
The overall pregnancy rate after tubal reversal for women with clips or rings is 76% for patients at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center. In the table below, the first column shows ages groups. The second column shows the number of women in each age group who had a tubal reversal. The third column shows the number of women in that group who became pregnant and the last column shows the percentage of women who became pregnant (the pregnancy rate) after their reversal procedures.
Pregnancy Rates After Tubal Reversal of Clips/Rings
| | | |
<30 | 160 | 139 | 87% |
30-34 | 318 | 265 | 83% |
35-39 | 327 | 238 | 73% |
40+ | 116 | 55 | 47% |
Highest Pregnancy Rates After Tubal Reversal
The highest tubal reversal pregnancy rates are seen among women who have reversal of tubal clips or tubal rings. For women in their twenties, the pregnancy rate was 87%. The pregnancy rate ranged from 83% to 73% for women in their thirties. Among women age 40 or older, the pregnancy rate was significantly lower (47%), reflecting the decline in natural fertility with age. These pregnancy rates among our tubal reversal patients are similar to the pregnancy rates for women who have never had a tubal ligation to begin with.
September 21st, 2009 at 4:20 am
MICHELLE – This video shows the Hulka clip (or clamp). If the clamp is not all the way across the tube, it is possible to become pregnant. If it is all the way across the tube, then it has to be removed in order to get pregnant.
September 20th, 2009 at 11:02 pm
i just want to know if you can get pregnant if you have your tubes clamped and ligated.
August 24th, 2009 at 10:46 pm
Catisha
No medicines will help. The real question is did the endometrial ablation destroy all of your uterine lining.
If it did then pregnancy will be very unlikely. If it did not then your lining will regenerate and you will start having periods again. There will always be some risk in having a pregnancy after an uterine ablation procedure.
August 24th, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Thank you so much for answering my last question. Since there may be hope for a normal pregnancy after a tubal ligation and endometrial ablation if my period returns after a few years, I now would like to know is there any hormones I can take to restart my period sooner?
August 22nd, 2009 at 6:16 am
Catisha
We do perform tubal ligation reversal on patients who have had their tubes tied and who have had an endometrial ablation. Unfortunately, if you are not having periods then the ablation likely destroyed all of your uterine lining. If you do not have any uterine lining then pregnancy is either not possible or very unlikely to succeed. If your periods return over the next several years then it may be possible to have a tubal reversal and a normal pregnancy.
August 21st, 2009 at 12:07 pm
I had a tubal ring tubal ligation as well as a endometrial ablation done in April 2008. I have not had a period since the procedure. Is there a chance for me to reverse this and be able to carry another child especially since I haven’t had a period?
August 6th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
Nikki
When reversing the tubal ring the tubes do have to be cut and reconnected. It would be rare to have significant scar tissue develop after a tubal ring tubal ligation.
Tubal ring reversal yields one of the highest pregnancy success rates. You can see our pregnancy success rates based on age and type of tubal ligation by looking at our Tubal Reversal 2007 Pregnancy Study Report.
August 6th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
When removing the tubal ring, do the tubes have to be cut and reconnected? If the scar tissue build up is significant is it possible to not have enough usable tube causing reconnection to be impossible?
I had a tubal ligation via tubal ring a little over 6yrs ago. I’m now 26 and am wanting a third child.
Thank you in advance for taking the time to respond.
June 15th, 2009 at 6:53 am
TIONA – Take a look at our pregnancy statistics after tubal reversal. This will give you an idea about your chances of becoming pregnant after removal of tubal rings. You will have to check with your own insurance company since they vary about coverage for tubal reversal depending upon your specific insurance policy. If you would like further assistance, you can call a tubal reversal nurse at (919) 968-4656.
June 11th, 2009 at 10:50 am
I was just wondering was the chance of my getting pregnant after the ring removal? Will my insurance cover it, or how much will I have to pay? I had the ring tubal ligation about 3or 4 years ago after having an abortion then a miscarriage about 6 months later. Now I finally settled down and I’ve been wanting another baby for a long time. Will it ever happen????