Pregnancy After Tubal
The Possibility of Pregnancy After Tubal Ligation
Although rare, pregnancy after tubal ligation is possible. Even though the process of getting a tubal ligation is meant to permanently prevent pregnancy, there is always a slight chance that the procedure will fail. As with any surgery, there is a certain margin of error. With a tubal ligation, that margin is extremely slim, but there have been cases of women becoming pregnant after having a tubal.
Despite the very slight chance of pregnancy after tubal ligation, this procedure is still viewed as the best form of birth control. When a tubal is successful, there is virtually no chance that the woman can become pregnant, because her fallopian tubes are sealed so no egg can pass through. With other forms of birth control, such as the pill, there is a much wider margin for error.
While the pill is an effective form of birth control, the pill has to be taken every single day in order to work properly. If the user should forget once or twice, there is a fairly good chance that a pregnancy can result. For anyone who is absolutely positive that they will never want to become pregnant, a tubal ligation is the best and most accurate way to avoid an unwanted pregnancy.
It is estimated that pregnancy after tubal ligation occurs in approximately 1.4 percent of women who have undergone the procedure. This is a very small percentage, so you can see why the tubal is considered to be a very effective way to prevent pregnancy.
There are generally 2 reasons why a woman could become pregnant after having a tubal ligation. The first is plain and simple human error. As with any surgical procedure, there are risks involved, and there is always a chance that the doctor will make some type of mistake during the surgery. Surgical doctors are highly trained and usually quite competent, so the odds of them making a grievous error while performing a tubal ligation are quite low. Despite this fact, all of the risks involved with having a tubal should be thoroughly explained and understood before undergoing the procedure.
The other situation that can lead to pregnancy after tubal ligation is that the fallopian tubes grow back together. Again, this is a very rare occurrence; however, it does happen on occasion.
During a tubal ligation, the fallopian tubes are surgically cut and tied off, so that the egg can no longer pass through them. In the odd case where pregnancy occurs, it is thought that the fallopian tubes somehow find a way to connect back together. Once the fallopian tubes become untied, the egg can once again pass through.
Women who have had a tubal ligation and think they may be pregnant must see a doctor for an ultrasound right away, because a pregnancy of this type may wind up being a tubal pregnancy. Since the fallopian tubes may not be fully functional, there is a good chance that the fertilized egg will lodge in the fallopian tube itself instead of the uterus. This type of pregnancy is not viable and can be extremely painful, which is why it is vital to get an ultrasound at the first hint of pregnancy after tubal.