Can you get pregnant after a tubal?

[biggirl]

Dear Dr. Steve...

I am crampy, my breasts hurt, I am extremely tired....a lot of signs of pregnancy...but I have had a tubal ligation. Is there any possible way a woman can get pregnant after having a tubal ligation?

Thanks
biggirl

[Dr Steve]

Dear Dr. Steve...

I am crampy, my breasts hurt, I am extremely tired....a lot of signs of pregnancy...but I have had a tubal ligation. Is there any possible way a woman can get pregnant after having a tubal ligation?

Thanks
biggirl

Absolutely...tubal ligation is very effective, but not 100% so. It's possible you're pregnant, but unlikely (statistically speaking). There is a one tenth of one percent (0.1%) chance of getting pregnant after a tubal. The other problem is that a significant fraction of those pregnancies will be tubal (ectopic) pregnancies, where the embryo lodges in one of the tubes instead of in the uterus where it's supposed to go.

Your symptoms are pretty non-specific, so I wouldn't panic...just try to remember when your last period was, and if you've skipped any periods. Either way, go get a pregnancy test. If you are positive, your OBGYN wil do an ultrasound to make sure the pregnancy isn't in the tube.

If you're negative, testing yourself again in a week or two should close the case either way. If you have ANY questions at all, or if you have vaginal bleeding or abdominal pain, just go see your doc right away and get it checked.

Let us know how you're doing!


your pal,



steve