Delayed Period After Tubal Ligation: Causes & What to Do

Question
HI BRENDA I AM 32 YRS OLD I HAD A TUBAL LIGATION CUT AND BURNED 3 YEARS AGO. MY LAST PERIOD WAS AUGUST 5 AND I AM NOW TWO MONTHS LATE I TOOK A PREGNANCY TEST THREE DAYS AGO AND IT WAS NEGATIVE. WHAT COULD BE WRONG WITH ME?

Answer
Dear Dana,

Occasionally a woman can still get pregnant, despite having had her tubes tied properly. The tubes can evolve in such a way as to try to heal themselves, and sometimes a tract develops that allows egg and sperm to meet. However, tubal ligation, regardless of whether the tubes are cut, burned, clipped, banded, or tied, is about 99% effective, meaning that about 1% of women will conceive an unplanned pregnancy after tubal ligation. This failure occurs slightly more frequently in younger women.

However, there are many various causes for amenorrhea (absence of periods) - pregnancy being just one. Others can be:
-Hormonal imbalances, which cause fluctuating levels of the hormones needed to support menstruation
-Emotional or physical stress / Depression
-Rapid weight loss or gain
-Change in diet
-Low body weight
-Obesity
-Frequent or strenuous exercise
-Cysts or tumors in the ovaries
-Thyroid or Pituitary dysfunction
-Certain medications or drug use
-Menopause OR Premature ovarian failure (menopause before age 40)
-Occasionally stopping birth control pills

The general recommendation is that if you miss three consecutive periods and pregnancy is not the reason, you should see your doctor so that a cause can be determined. More than likely your doctor will do a quantitative blood pregnancy test (serum beta hCG), which is more conclusive than a urine test, to make sure that pregnancy is ruled out as an option.

I hope this has helped you and answered your question. I wish you well.

Brenda