Tubal Ligation by Falope Ring and Hulka Clip
The Falope ring and Hulka clip are occlusive methods of tubal ligation. They block the fallopian tubes, but no tubal segments are clamped, removed, or burned. The Falope ring is also referred to as the tubal ring or tubal band. It constricts a segment of the fallopian tube very tightly, like an extra strong rubber band.
The Hulka clip is a miniature clamp placed across a very small (2-3 mm) segment of the fallopian tube. Another clip method besides the Hulka clip is the Filshie clip. The clips are similar except that the Hulka clip is made out of silastic and the Filshie clip is made out of metal. Occlusive methods of tubal ligation are predictably the best in terms of reversal since they damage such a tiny segment of the fallopian tube.
In contrast to the Pomeroy method, these occlusive devices are applied through a laparoscope. (Laparoscopy involves making a small incision below the belly button.) Many doctors prefer to apply tubal rings or clips when performing a tubal ligation on young women in recognition of the greater likelihood that a tubal reversal may be wanted in the future. Studies have shown that tubal ligation regret and the desire for tubal ligation reversal is more common when a tubal sterilization is performed among women in the twenties than among older women.
Tubal Clip and Ring Reversal Success
Each year A Personal Choice publishes current statistics about pregnancy rates and pregnancy outcomes among all of the women who have had tubal reversal procedures performed by Dr. Berger. The data for women who had tubal rings or clips shown in the table below is from our Tubal Reversal Pregnancy Study Report 2007.
Pregnancy Rates of Our Tubal Reversal Patients
The overall pregnancy rate after tubal reversal for women with clips or rings is 76% for patients at A Personal Choice. In the table below, the first column shows ages groups. The second column shows the number of women in each age group who had a tubal reversal. The third column shows the number of women in that group who became pregnant and the last column shows the percentage of women who became pregnant (the pregnancy rate) after their reversal procedures.
Pregnancy Rates After Tubal Reversal of Clips/Rings
|
|
|
|
|
|
<30 |
160 |
139 |
87% |
|
30-34 |
318 |
265 |
83% |
|
35-39 |
327 |
238 |
73% |
|
40+ |
116 |
55 |
47% |
Highest Pregnancy Rates After Tubal Reversal
The highest tubal reversal pregnancy rates are seen among women who have reversal of tubal clips or tubal rings. For women in their twenties, the pregnancy rate was 87%. The pregnancy rate ranged from 83% to 73% for women in their thirties. Among women age 40 or older, the pregnancy rate was significantly lower (47%), reflecting the decline in natural fertility with age. These pregnancy rates among our tubal reversal patients are similar to the pregnancy rates for women who have never had a tubal ligation to begin with.
