Tubal ligation, commonly known as having one’s “tubes tied,” is a common form of permanent birth control in the United States. In most instances, the procedure has no impact on a woman’s ability to be a successful surrogate. Here’s why.
In traditional pregnancies, the body will release an egg from the ovary. It will then travel through the fallopian tubes and into the awaiting uterus. Then, if fertilization occurs, the newly created embryo will grow in the uterus.
In gestational surrogacy, a woman graciously lends her uterus to a couple in need through an In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) pregnancy. When creating embryos an egg is taken from another woman, either the intended parent or an egg donor, and joined with sperm outside of the body. Following embryo creation, the embryo is placed into the uterus of a waiting surrogate.
In gestational surrogacy, the embryo is transferred into the uterus once it is already formed, so there is no need for a fallopian tube. In fact, a woman could be lacking tubes entirely and still conceive and carry a healthy child through IVF and gestational surrogacy.
The person who supplies the eggs for embryo creation doesn’t have to have fallopian tubes either. Egg donors and intended parents can who have undergone tubal ligation can go on to successfully donate eggs to the IVF and surrogacy process. This is because the egg retrieval process removes the eggs from the ovaries before the body releases them into the fallopian tubes on its own.
Ultimately, you can be a successful surrogate with tied tubes. A child can be created, conceived, and carried without a single fallopian tube needed.