Questions About Tubal Ligation Reversal

Debra Verville asks Are You Thinking About Tubal Ligation Reversal? and says this list will help with your research:

1. Where and how is the surgery performed? Many physicians still perform the surgery in a hospital setting. The most trained physicians are able to perform the tubal reversal on an outpatient basis in about an hour. The outpatient surgeries have less recuperation time and patients are usually back to work in about a week.
2. Be sure to research the staff. While in surgery is there a board certified anesthesiologist there at all times? Be sure to note the qualifications of the staff. Is the nursing staff all RNs or are they mixed with LPNs? Are there any unlicensed nursing assistants on duty? This should be top priority!
3. Is there a support system in place for the patients and their partners? Many times making this decision is hard enough while alone. If no support system is available can the physician recommend one?
4. Does the doctor have a web page or website available? Many physicians now use Websites so that the patients can get answer and research questions.
5. Be sure to ask if the doctor keeps statistics on the tubal reversal surgeries (most don’t!) It is a little disconcerting that many doctors’ writings have been popping up on the Internet using Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center statistics. Be sure they have their OWN statistics to show you.
6. What follow-up care procedure will they be following? Will the doctor and staff follow-up on you once and then that is it or will they follow your progression for years? (This is needed to perform data collection to get statistics)
7. Will there be anyone available to you before your surgery should any question arise? There are facilities that do have someone on call to answer the phone 24 hrs. a day 7 days a week including holidays.

Dr. Berger’s website also poses Seven Questions to Ask to Find Out If  Tubal Reversal Is Right for You

1. Have you had your tubes tied, but would now like to conceive again?

If you have had a tubal ligation performed (commonly referred to as having your tubes tied), then you may be an excellent candidate for tubal reversal surgery!

2. What type of tubal ligation did you have?

There are several different ways for a doctor to tie somebody’s tubes. In order for a tubal reversal to be successful, there needs to be enough healthy tube remaining to repair the blocked tubes.

3. What is your age?

The natural fertility rate declines with age. As with any pregnancy, conceiving after reversal surgery is more successful when you are younger. You can still become pregnant after age 40 if you are ovulating and have periods, but the pregnancy rates will be lower than for women in their twenties or thirties.

4. How does tubal reversal compare to in vitro fertilization?

Having your tubes tied was intended to be permanent. When circumstances change, and women with their tubes tied would like to have more children, they may be told that their only option is in vitro fertilization (IVF).

In most cases, tubal reversal is more affordable and has a higher pregnancy rate then in vitro fertilization.

5. What should I look for in a doctor before choosing who will perform my tubal reversal?

You can check online to see if the doctor is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and a member of the Society of Reproductive Surgeons. Doctors with both of these credentials are recognized by their peers as experts with the training and experience best suited for tubal reversal surgery. Dr. Berger is a member of both of these organizations.

You should also check to see how many tubal reversal surgeries the doctor has performed. The more experienced the doctor the less likely it is that something unexpected will happen. Dr. Berger has the most experience with this outpatient procedure of any reproductive surgeon in the world, and has performed more then 7,000 tubal reversals!

6. How much does tubal reversal cost?

We offer four different payment options with the lowest being $5400. Please visit our Tubal Reversal Cost page for full details of all of our payment options.

7. The next step

If you would like to find out more about tubal reversal and how it can change your life, please call Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center at (919) 968-4656 for a free consultation with one of our experienced Tubal Reversal Nurses. We’ll be glad to answer any questions you might have!