I'm 38. My last pregnancy was 13 yrs ago. Following the birth of my last child I had my tubes tied and burned. Now, I would like to have another baby. Can I get a reversal? If so, what are my chances of becoming pregnant?
Thank you for the email. There are many things to consider when deciding if a tubal reversal is the right choice for you and your family.
The obvious advantage with a tubal reversal is the hope that you will be able to achieve pregnancy with no interventions. The typical estimate is that, if everything goes well and all things are optimal, about 75% of women will achieve pregnancy within their 1st year of trying. If there are any factors that are not optimal, the chances for success can be significantly lower.
Here are some things to consider:
• Before a tubal reversal should take place, we first need to know if it is a good option. For example, we need to think about egg quality, your age, tubal status, endocrine status, and it is very important to know what the sperm quality is of the male partner. A consult fee will $350.00, but there are also fees for lab testing on both partners.
• If you are determined to be a good candidate, surgery will need to take place. The success of the surgery can often not be determined until after the surgery. For example, what conditions are the tubes in and is there any scar tissue or endometriosis. The cost of surgery is typically between $18,000-$24,000. There are cheaper rates posted on the internet, but often they are not including the hospital fees. The surgery typically requires 6-8 weeks of leave from work due to the open incision.
• If the reversal is “successful”, the chance of success is still not insured. For example, there is an increased risk for ectopic pregnancy.
• After a reversal, you will also have to consider birth control options-contraception vs. tubes tied again
The other option is obviously IVF. The benefits of IVF are:
• Cost typically is less 12-15K is average
• Many variables can be worked around
• Success rate each month is much greater
• Options for prevention of genetic disease through new genetic screening
• Option to screen embryos for chromosome or genetic conditions to decrease the chance for having a baby with a syndrome, or a miscarriage, through a process called preimplantation genetic testing
There are obviously drawbacks as well
• Requires medication for stimulation.
• It is not the “natural” option that some couples desire
There is much to consider prior to deciding what is the best option. The first step is a consultation with your fertility specialist to discuss your history and start your lab work up. From there, the specialist will be able to advise you on the options that best fit your needs.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
A woman's chances of getting pregnant after a tubal reversal depends on several factors: the type of tubal she had and the number and quality of her remaining eggs. If your tubal was done purely with cautery (burning), you may not be able to have your tubes reversed, but because each situation is different, I recommend you see a reproductive endocrinologist to determine if you are a good candidate for a tubal reversal. If you are not, you may still be able to use IVF in order to get pregnant.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Yes. However, your success is dependant on a few factors, including your ovarian reserve. For this, your doctor will need to perform an ovarian reserve test to measure your fertility and your ability to get pregnant. The other determinant is how and where you tubal ligation was performed (cutting and tying only, using electrical charge to divide the tubes or both, using placement of clips, where on the tube the division was perfomed and how much tube was left). I recommend you see a fertility specialist to make these determinations.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
You can certainly have a tubal ligation reversal and your chances of pregnancy would be around 60%.
Published on Jul 11, 2012