If you're a woman who's had a tubal ligation (lie-GAY-shun) but now want to have a baby, you might be a good candidate for tubal reversal. Likewise, if you're a man who's had a vasectomy and later decide you want a child, you may request to have the procedure reversed. Although the procedures are meant to be permanent, it may be possible to reverse them. During a tubal ligation, the fallopian tubes are cut. If there's enough tube remaining, a skilled microsurgeon can remove the blocked ends of the tubes and sew the two pieces together using very fine suture material. This procedure is called tubal anastomosis (an-as-TOE-mow-sis). Seventy to 80 percent of patients are able to conceive after this procedure. The procedure to reverse a vasectomy also involves the reconnection of tubes to allow for the flow of sperm. Depending on the method used to close the tubes, there is a 14 to 55 percent success rate in reestablishing fertility after a vasectomy.
