Pregnancy After Tubal Ligation: What You Need to Know

Question
I an a 41 year old woman with 2 kids. the first day of my last cycle was 11-13-05. I had my tubaligation done 15 years ago.Is it possible that I could br pregnant?

Answer
If you had a tubal ligation, it is highly unlikely that you could ever become pregnant, unless it was performed incorrectly. Sometimes, when they do a tubal ligation, they form a loop in each tube and tie the loop at its base. They then cut the top of the loop off. Sometimes, there can be "recanalization" at the base of the loop which will allow the sperm to travel up the tube and fertilize the egg. However, if you had the tubal ligation using cautery (laparoscopically) the tube was burned and can never open up again. If you have any doubts, take a pregnancy test. If it is negative, you are not pregnant. If you are 41 years of age, you will start to miss an occasional period as you get closer and closer to menopause (age 50), until you miss a full 12 months of periods, at which time you have reached menopause.