Pregnancy After Tubal Ligation: What You Need to Know

Question
is there any way i could be pregnant or even get pregnant with having a tubal cautery done three years ago?  

Answer
Dear Shannon,

A tubal ligation with cautery has a pretty high success rate as a method of birth control (99.5%). And it is considered permanent. The statistics I've seen regarding an incomplete closure of the tubes resulting in pregnancy after a tubal ligation indicate that the risk is approximately 0.005% or 1 out of 200 performed.

So - the chances are slim. It does happen (very rarely) but if you have had three years of successful sterilization, more than likely your symptoms are due to another cause. If you go more than 2 months without a period, you should contact your doctor to determine what that cause might be.

I hope this has answered your question. Please write again with any further questions! Happy Holidays!

Brenda