by Ashlye K

Created on: May 25, 2009

Tubal ligation is considered to be a permanent form of birth control. When women decide to do this, they do it with the intention of ending their fertility. However, sometimes life circumstances can change, causing these women to change their minds and reconsider the idea of having another child. Fortunately for these women, there are a couple of procedures that can provide hope for them to conceive again. Tubal ligation reversal is a procedure that involves the repair or restoration of fallopian tubes that have been damaged during a tubal ligation. In-vitro fertilization is a procedure that has provided millions of couples with children, who might otherwise not be able to conceive. Both of these procedures can be used to restore a woman's hope of conception after a tubal ligation. How does a woman know which option is best to use?

Tubal ligation reversal is a surgical procedure which involves restoration of the fallopian tubes, the long tubes that are attached to the uterus in a females reproductive system. When an egg is released during ovulation, it travels along the fallopian tube to the uterus, and if not fertilized, will generally disintegrate, triggering the monthly menstrual cycle, or shedding of the lining of the uterus. If the egg is fertilized, it will travel down the remainder of the tube and attach itself to the lining of the uterus. This process is known as implantation.

The reversal restores the tubes to their normal state, in an attempt to allow the egg to travel along the tubes and become fertilized, and implant in the uterus. The success of this procedure depends upon the amount of damage the tubes received during the performance of the tubal ligation. There are several different methods of tubal ligation, and success can depend largely on what type of procedure was performed.

IVF is a process that involves the patient taking certain hormones to stimulate the ovaries to release multiple eggs. The eggs are retrieved and united with the male sperm. Fertilization occurs outside of the woman's body in the laboratory. The fertilized eggs are then injected into the uterus, with the hope that one or more embryos attach themselves to the lining of the uterus and result in a pregnancy. This process is used when blocked or damaged tubes have made it impossible for the sperm and the egg to unite.

Here are a few things that should be considered when trying to make the choice

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