Tubal reversal and pregnancy are both possible after endometrial ablation.
Readers who would like more information about the possibility of pregnancy after ablation should read our previous blog articles about pregnancy after ablation.
This article shares the personal story of Shaunda and her husband Darren. Shaunda had her tubes tied and later had an endometrial ablation. Life subsequently changed for Shaunda and she begin to desire another child with her new husband.
Tubal Reversal in Raleigh
We asked Shaunda and Darren if they would share their story with readers and they readily agreed. Shaunda and Darren traveled to A Personal Choice for tubal ligation reversal in the fall of 2009. They are both from St. Louis Missouri. Shaunda is employed as a 911 dispatcher and Darren as a high-school coach. For reasons of privacy, they preferred not to take a picture for use with this article.
Tubal Ligation Side Effects: Heavy Menstrual Periods?
Shaunda’s tubal ligation was in 2004. She was the mother of three children (ages 18,8,6) and after her last delivery she decided she did not want to become pregnant again. She underwent a Filshie clip tubal ligation procedure. After her tubal clips she did well; however, one year after her tubal ligation she began to develop heavy uterine bleeding and anemia.
Tubal Ligation And Endometrial Ablation
Her doctor recommend an endometrial ablation to treat her heavy menstrual periods and to correct her anemia. At her doctor’s advice, Shaunda underwent an outpatient endometrial ablation procedure. Her bleeding stopped but then gradually resumed. Her bleeding after her endometrial ablation was not as heavy as before her ablation procedure.
Shaunda eventually met Darren and after several years of dating they became married. Darren had three older children of his own but he wanted to have a child with Shaunda.
Shaunda began to think more and more about tube reversal and she began to make plans to have this done.
While considering a tubal reversal, Shaunda made an appointment with her ob/gyn who then discovered Shaunda’s uterus had enlarged.
Fibroids: Ablation or Hysterectomy
Her ob/gyn ordered a pelvic ultrasound and discovered a uterine fibroid just before her tubal reversal surgery. Her doctor offered her a uterine artery embolization or a hysterectomy.
Shaunda was reluctant to tell her doctor she wanted a tubal reversal. She did not want to pursue the treatments he had recommended because she wanted to be able to become pregnant. Shaunda was afraid to tell her doctor about her true desires but she also did not want her fibroid to interfere with her tubal ligation reversal.
Tubal Reversal After Ablation
Shaunda contacted us about the possibility of tubal reversal with fibroids and after an endometrial ablation procedure. We advised her that neither the endometrial ablation nor the fibroids would interfere with the tubal reversal procedure; however, these two issues could pose a problem with a future pregnancy.
Endometrial Ablation And Pregnancy
During our consultation, I informed Shaunda the medical literature about pregnancy after ablation does suggest pregnancy is possible after endometrial ablation. If a woman is having monthly menstrual cycles after the ablation procedure then her uterine lining is still present and natural conception and pregnancy are possible.
Pregnancies after endometrial ablation are considered higher risk for miscarriage, preterm labor, prematurity, placental abnormalities, and stillbirth; however, 1 out of 3 pregnancies after ablation can be normal.
Tubal Reversal: Fibroids And Pregnancy
After her tubal reversal consultation, we performed an endovaginal ultrasound that showed a 10cm posterior wall fibroid. This is a large fibroid and Shaunda had been unaware of the size of her fibroid. I advised her the fibroid would not likely interfere with the tubal reversal surgery but could impact upon future pregnancy. I advised her that should the fibroid cause future problems then it could be removed at that time.
Successful Tube Reversing Surgery
Shaunda’s tube reversing surgery went very well. The estimated blood loss was 10 cc (2 tsps) and her entire surgery lasted 67 minutes. A single posterior wall uterine fibroid was confirmed and tubal clips were removed from each fallopian tube. Shaunda’s tubal lengths after reversal were 7 cm each. She did well after her surgery and in the recovery room.
Shaunda and Darren returned to the hotel. The following morning she reported her pain at a level 2 out of a 10 point scale. She and Darren then drove home without any problems.
Shaunda’s successful reversal of tubal ligation was in October of 2009.
