IVF vs Tubal Reversal

[lisaruby]

Hi all,

I had a tubal ligation (coagulation) in my 20's. In my mid 30's was overcome with huge desire to have baby with dh. Sought advice of ivf doctors and they said don't bother with a tubal reversal, it will basically never work and that I'm the perfect candidate for ivf...blah blah blah.
To make a long story short, 3 ivf's and 40K+ later, after being told with each round that I had "perfect" embryos and what not...not one of them took. In desperation I flew to NC to see a tubal reersal specialist (the best!!) and had a microscopic tubal reversal done. This was 13 months ago. After charting everything the 1st 10 months, I gave up in frustration and lo and behold had my first ever BFP 2 days ago!!! Didn't even know I was pg, just "felt weird". Ladies, I can't tell you what it felt like to see that 2nd line after literally hundreds of BFN over the last 2 1/2 years of TTC. I want to let those ladies who are contemplating ivf because of TL to know that yes reversals work!!! I had a HSG done 2 months ago and found out that only 1 of my tubes was really open after the operation....but that's all it needed! I truly thought something was wrong with my uterus and that embroy's couldn't implant in me. Thanks for listening..sorry for the rambling.

lisaruby

[Stacey P.]

Congrats to you Lisaruby- I am on injections right now for my first IVF. After having a Tubal Ligation 6 yrs ago (cut about 1/16 in. of each tube and cautarized them) and now 2nd marriage and hubby has no children, was told after visit to Dr. that IVF would be the best option and basically a reversal would be a waste of money. I guess I am just responding to you because I want people to know that TL is something that niether one of us should have done until out 40's! There are IUD's that last 5 yrs and are wonderful alternatives.

[lisaruby]

Hi Stacey,

Thanks for the response. I wish you all the best with you IVF and hope you have twins!! If IVF doesn't work this time, just remember the name "Dr Berger" in NC. You can google him online for Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center. He's the best!! The reversal costs a total of $5,900 and he has a huge success rate!! I do wish you the best with IVF, but I wish someone had told me about this doctor prior to me trying 3 times. Now I can try every month and lo and behold....it happened!

lisa

[taylin12]

Hi Lisa- Just wondering if Dr. Berger has a web site. I also had tubal ligation 7 years ago. I did IVF last summer but m/c the end of September at 9 wks. I did FET in January but had chem pg. I think my next step should be Tubal reversal. What do you think?

[tlink34]

Those docs always tell you not to waste your money on reversal because they make more money on IVF. I was pg 4 cycles after my reversal and have a 13 month old to show for it!

I saw Dr. Perez in Rio Bravo Mexico for my reversal. The reversal is $3150! Cheapest by far anywhere and he has been doing them for 28 years!

[SomedayMommy]

Thank you for sharing! As Lisa said, when considering a tubal reversal, go with the very best - do your research. Tubal reversal microsurgery is very very delicate, and takes the right hands.

Congratulations to you!!!!

ETA - a qualified surgeon will also have to investigate how your ligation was done. Cautery or clip and how much tube is damaged/destroyed.

[candacertt]

I spent over $8500 on tubal reversal surgery. We had the very best surgeon with the best equipment in the area. The OB who performed my ligation was present for the reversal, he also provided the surgical notes on the ligation beforehand. (My tubes were tied, the excess removed and cauterized) When I woke up, they told me they were only able to repair one side, but the HSG(dye test) post surgery looked great. After not getting pg even using IUI/Clomid, I knew something was wrong. They did another HSG which showed the tube although connected, was to narrow for a fertilized egg to pass through. I was sent to Tulane in New Orleans to a world-renown doc who could dilate my tube similar to a heart catheterization procedure, they even did it in the heart cath lab in surgery. After another round of clomid and IUI (I have no ovulation or cycle problems, only tubal factor)--still no pg. I had exploratory surgery and they determined the tube had been torn by the wire used to dilate it. (we spent several thousand dollars for the dilation/hsg's and exploratory surg). the docs were apologetic and offered to attempt another surgery to reconnect the tube and we'd only have to pay for anesthesia. I refused--I didn't want to be cut on again and figured the tube is still to narrow, so we'd be right back where we started. I had a failed IVF in July '07 and am 3dp6dt of 1 nearly perfect blast and this was our last option. We have to quit after this if it doesn't work.
I don't want to rain on your parade--I do have a coworker who got pg after about 1 year of reversal surgery. They only wanted one more child and she is on the pill, now. They are trying to decide if she will again have a ligation or if DH will have vasectomy---so there is always that to consider, too.
IF sucks--even if it is secondary--you get less sympathy then, only people saying you should be thankful for what you already have---don't they know you are???
Sorry--had to vent--I'm in the hellish 2ww!!!!!
Candy

[AriRedEagle]

I had a similar experience to candacertt. During my ligation, the tubes were cauterized, but not too much was cut out back in 1997. In 2005, I had a tubal reversal which went well and ended up with an ectopic the following month which resulted in the loss of that tube. Well, long story short, here I am nearly 5 years later in the midst of my 2WW with my first IVF. Even though the HSG showed my other looked fine, they don't tell you the small smooth muscles in the tube that need to move the newly fertilized embryo down to the uterus may not work properly after being reconnected. It was not worth it for me personally to have gone through the reversal. I think it is a gamble, you never know for sure what will work and what won't until you try.
I also have a friend whose DH had a vasectomy reversed and they ended up having to turn to IVF as well. She now has 2 children...