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A woman may need to have a hysterosalpingogram or a laparoscopy performed to determine the feasibility of success before a reversal can even be attempted. Reversal success rates are dependent upon several factors, including:
The best candidates for tubal reversal are women under age 31 who have had falope ring or clip tubal ligations involving the portion of the tubes closest to the uterus and who have no known infertility factors. Less than five percent of women with tubal ligations have damage that cannot be repaired.
Here’s a quick checklist that determines whether you are a good candidate for tubal reversal:
| A good candidate if: | Not a good candidate if: |
|---|---|
| ✓ You are a woman under age 31
✓ Your tubal ligation involved clips or rings ✓ You have adequate remaining fallopian tube length ✓ Your ovarian reserve and reproductive health are favorable ✓ Your partner’s sperm analysis is normal ✓ No other infertility factors have been identified |
╳ You are over 40 or have low ovarian reserve
╳ Your tubes were removed or severely damaged ╳ Too little healthy tube remains ╳ Your partner has abnormal sperm results ╳ You have other fertility conditions ╳ IVF offers a better chance of pregnancy |
With steady improvements in the pregnancy rates resulting from assisted reproduction, patients now have a non-surgical option for achieving pregnancy after a tubal ligation through in vitro fertilization, which transfers embryos directly into the uterus for implantation.
In nearly all tubal ligation cases, IVF offers the best chances for pregnancy success. The risk factors, benefits, and success rates of each procedure are outlined below:
| COMPARE: | Tubal Reversal | IVF |
|---|---|---|
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Our Customers have rated The Fertility Center 5/5 based on 17 customer reviews
“After working for over 10 years with OB/GYN doctors to try to conceive I finally reached out to a specialty clinic. I am so glad I did! They do things differently and give you a lot more options. Just 3 months after working with these great doctors I became pregnant. Now, we are parents to the sweetest little boy. Thank you Dr. Donesky and Dr. Bird for listening and caring for me. Your staff is wonderful also and genuinely cared about my husband, myself and our dreams of becoming parents. God Bless you all!!!”
Amber | IVF“LOVE the fertility center of Chattanooga. Professional & very friendly. Immediately made us feel comfortable. Excellent, competent & affordable care, worth the drive from Alabama. Our son was conceived on the first round of IUI. Forever grateful to Dr. Donesky & Dr.Bird and all the wonderful staff.”
Laura | IUI“I went for my first consult with Dr. Donesky. He was very knowledgeable and understanding. His explanation of things such as medicines and answering questions was excellent. The atmosphere in this clinic is so warming. The ladies that work here absolutely love what they do and it sure does show!!! The email and phone call return for the staff is excellent!!!! If you have a question it is always answered in a wonderful time frame, my questions have always been answered the same day that they were asked. Infertility is a very emotional thing and couples need support, the staff in this clinic are so supportive and loving. I'm from the central Arkansas area and I traveled 8 hours there and 8 hours back to go to this clinic and I would do it all over again! It was worth every single second of travel time. If you are "shopping for a fertility clinic family" this clinic is a great invest!!! Dr. Donesky ROCKS and the ladies are awesome!!!!! Good luck and baby dust!!!!!”
Chelsa | IVF“LOVED Dr. Bird and his staff. He was the only doctor able to answer my questions about my infertility issues. I felt like they really cared about my problems and tried to understand my condition. Dr. Bird and his assistant Debrah, made me feel like their most special patient, unlike all the other doctors I had visited. He was able to treat my Asherman's Syndrome, reconstructed my uterus, and helped me stay pregnant through constant monitoring. I am happy to report I am currently pregnant with my first child and in my second trimester!!”
Amy | IVF“I treated at the Fertility Center office in Knoxville, and I cannot say enough good things about this practice. Having been to most of the fertility practices in Knoxville, I can honestly say that this is a unique medical practice. Everyone there is so compassionate, and they truly take into account the situation you are in with every interaction. Dr. Donesky has a real gift with infertility, and we wouldn't be expecting our twins without him. I strongly recommend him and this practice to anyone facing fertility problems.”
Sarah | IUIThe main benefit of performing this surgery is that the patient is back to normal. After the procedure, the patient can become pregnant the old-fashioned way, through natural intercourse. Tubal ligation reversal eliminates the need to continue with fertility medications or weekly check-ups with a fertility specialist.
Patients also don’t have to worry about having multiple children after tubal reversal. Now it’s still possible to have twins and triplets, but the chances are extremely limited after tubal reversal. After she goes through the surgery, the patient will only need to be conscious of using contraception unless they would like to continue having more children.
It’s worth noting that modern IVF carries a similarly low risk of multiples. Because the vast majority of IVF cycles today transfer just one embryo, the chance of twins or triplets with IVF is minimal as well.
Here are several factors that can affect pregnancy rates after tubal reversal:
Tubal conditionHealthy fimbriae increase the likelihood of natural conception
| Factor | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Age | Pregnancy rates generally decline with age |
| Previous tubal ligation type | Clips and rings are associated with higher success rates |
| Remaining tube length | Longer tube length supports better fertility outcomes |
| Time since sterilization | Prior surgery details may affect repair options |
| Egg quality | Healthy eggs improve conception chances |
| Male partner fertility | Sperm quality contributes to successful pregnancy |
| Tubal condition | Healthy fimbriae increase the likelihood of natural conception |
Learn more: Tubal Ligation Reversal: What You Should Know Before Surgery
While every recovery varies, most patients follow this similar timeline from surgery through conception:
While many insurance plans do not cover reverse sterilization or infertility treatments, the majority will cover the diagnostic tests that help determine which treatment method is right for each patient.
Keep in mind that, although the cost of a tubal reversal is fixed, the fees for facilities and anesthesia vary significantly, many times exceeding the cost of IVF. Due to these and other varying factors, tubal reversal cost averages around $25,000 or more.
For women without infertility treatment coverage, the Fertility Center offers IVF packages starting at $10,900. This includes all treatment procedures, ultrasounds and labs, micromanipulation, cryopreservation, anesthesia and facility fees. Medication costs are additional. For qualified patients, we also have an IVF Refund program.
Regardless of the procedure, financing is available. The Fertility Center guides each patient in choosing the option that best fits her budget.
When a woman goes through tubal ligation, her fallopian tubes are cut, cauterized and tied together. The length of these cauterized ends of the tubes matters when considering tubal reversal surgery.
The longer the cauterized ends of the tubes are, the higher the change for a successful reversal and pregnancy, but the shorter the tubes are, the lower the chances for pregnancy. We can’t know how long the tubes are without surgery. We can use a hysterosalpingogram to know the length of the proximal tube, but it won’t tell us the length of the distal tube.
Another potential problem can be if the fimbriated end of the cauterized tubes are damaged or have been removed. The fimbria are the fluffy and delicate ends of the tubes that “pick up” the egg during ovulation when the potential egg is released from the ovary. If the fimbria is damaged, the chances of a successful pregnancy are low.
If all fertility signs are good, long tubal ends, working fimbria, good sperm from a male partner, the success rates for tubal reversal surgery are greater than 75% within the first year! This means that within the first year of trying with their partners, more than 75% of women with long tube ends, good fimbria, and good sperm will find a successful pregnancy!
The Fertility Center offers tubal reversal services for our clients from Nashville, Atlanta, Knoxville, Chattanooga, and beyond! Our two offices are located in Chattanooga and Knoxville.
The success rate varies based on age, tubal length, tubal condition, ovarian reserve, and male fertility. Women who are younger and have healthy remaining tubes typically experience the highest pregnancy rates. A fertility evaluation can provide a more personalized estimate of success.
Many women conceive within the first year after surgery, with the highest likelihood occurring during the first 6 to 12 months. Some of them may get pregnant sooner, while others may take longer depending on individual fertility factors.
Women who want the possibility of conceiving naturally and having multiple pregnancies without repeated treatment cycles should go for tubal reversal. IVF, on the other hand, can offer higher pregnancy rates in certain cases, especially when age, tubal damage, or other fertility issues are present.
Yes, successful tubal reversal restores the possibility of natural conception, allowing many women to have more than one pregnancy without additional fertility procedures. Individual results depend on age and overall reproductive health.
Preoperative testing may include hormone blood work, ovarian reserve testing, semen analysis, and imaging studies such as a hysterosalpingogram (HSG). These tests help identify other fertility factors and determine whether tubal reversal is a suitable option.
Tubal reversal carries the same general risks associated with surgery and anesthesia, including infection and bleeding. There is also a high risk of ectopic pregnancy after the procedure. This is why early ultrasound monitoring is recommended as soon as pregnancy is confirmed.