Reversal of Female Circumcision

 

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Female sterilisation is normally performed via keyhole surgery using a camera. The aim is to interrupt the fallopian tubes thus preventing the sperms meeting the eggs during ovulation. To reverse the sterilisation, this usually involves laparotomy (opening abdomen) operation to reach the fallopian tubes. The whole idea of the reversal ( tuboplasty or tubal anastomosis) is to re-establish the continuity of the Fallopian tube canals. This type of delicate surgery are becoming less available as there are less surgeons performing this surgery and most patients are encouraged to go for IVF treatment. This is performed under general anesthetics.

We normally leave a special medicine inside the pelvis during the operation to prevent postoperative adhesions. The success of the operation is normally checked during the operation by injecting a special blue colour (dye).

The abdomen is closed using stitches under the skin which are dissolvable. The patient can go home on the same day or the following.

Patient can resume activity after 1-2 weeks but full activity after about six weeks.

We normally can start patients on fertility drugs to speed up pregnancy after 2-3 menstrual cycles.

In Case of vasectomy, the vas (male tubes) are normally interrupted via a scrotum incision which is similar for the reversal. Vasectomy can be performed under general or local anesthetics but we strongly recommend the reversal to be under general. Sutures are normally buried underneath the skin and are dissolvable. Patients need to check success by performing semen analysis after 3 & 6 months after the operation.

Success on one side in men or women is a success and conception can happen spontaneous without the need for IVF. We normally try to connect both side of the tubes.

Men recover quicker than women as the operation is performed via the scrotum and not the abdomen.

The success of this type of surgery will give the patient the chances to try for a pregnancy every months unlike IVF, every trial will cost and can not be performed every month.

We normally quote success rate of 50% for medico-legal reasons even when the success rate is higher.

During your medical consultation and counselling, the procedure will be explained to you and any possible complications depending on your medical history.

If you have any questions to ask your surgeon, you are advised to write them down before attending your medical consultation, so all your queries can be answered and you have complete freedom to make up your mind. You can take time to think about it or discuss it with your partner, after all the choice is yours.