Why Women Get Tied Tubes Untied
Over a year ago, I approached Dr. Berger at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center to start a new career as a tubal ligation reversal specialist. When I started to pursue my interest and training in tubal reversal surgery, I naively thought that only women who wanted to have another child had their tied tubes untied. I have come to realize that some women seek to have their tubes untied for many reasons other than to have another child after tubal ligation.
Of course the number one reason is to have more children, but there are many more and equally important reasons patients give. Some common reasons patients come for tubal ligation reversal are to:
- relieve symptoms associated with a tubal ligation (PTLS)
- feel whole again
- be like God intended them to be
- comply with their religious tenants
- feel more like a woman
- relieve regret of a prior mistake
- correct a decision made during a bad relationship
- fill the emptiness from the loss of a child or another loved one
As a generalist ob/gyn, I was always keenly aware of how many women bore both the burden of having children and the burden of sterilization. It was only after I became a ligation reversal specialist I saw how heavy the burden of tubal ligation could be. Now I have the opportunity to help in these situations and feel gratified that my training as a tubal reversal surgeon is progressing nicely under Dr. Berger’s mentorship.
Submitted by Dr. Charles Monteith
Tubal Reversal Specialist
Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center
August 11th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Through the internet and communication blogs, like the indepth website of Dr. Berger’s, word is getting out that tubal ligation is reversible. Even the adverse symptoms of post tubal ligation syndrome is getting attention. Thanks to the information and studies done by Dr. Berger and Dr. Monteith and the expressions of our patients, the reasons for tubal ligation reversal is available to help others.
June 25th, 2008 at 8:10 am
Many of the women who come for surgery express surprise when they discover that other women have had – or are having – similar experiences to their own. It is common to believe that no one else has changed her mind about having a tubal ligation, but these posts show that women are not alone in this decision.
June 23rd, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Tubal ligation reversal gives women the opportunity to change the past and gives them new hope for the future. It allows women the chance to restore fertility and relieve any symptoms of PTLS that they may be experiencing.
June 23rd, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Thanks to Dr. Monteith and Dr. Berger at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center, women who want to have their tubal ligation reversed have the option for surgical correction of a regretted tubal ligation.
June 23rd, 2008 at 11:54 am
Tubal ligation reversal is a blessing for so many people. Some who want to feel whole again and releive the pains of PTLS and others that want the ability to have more children again. I’m so glad that I can play a part in this miracle.
June 23rd, 2008 at 10:18 am
This is a wonderful topic, with great questions. We are tremendously blessed with four healthy children. However, since my TL three years ago, I have greatly changed my perspective.
My husband didn’t want me to have the TL, but supported my decision because I was the one who had to carry and deliver the children.
My decision was based mostly on the comments of complete strangers and some family members. Completely off-handed remarks about the size of our family, and how close together our kids are made me feel as if we were doing something wrong!
So, instead of looking towards God, for what He teaches us about children and how the world views being “different” as Christians, I looked to my emotions regarding how “bad” it is to have many children today.
Even when listening to the inflated environmental issues, you will hear disparaging commentary on how having a lot of children is irresponsible! (no matter if you are bringing them up to be great contributions to society)
So, my walk with Christ is so much closer for having endured the results of a selfish and hastily made decision. I have suffered severe PTLS for 3 years now, and the symptoms began even before I realized I regretted what I had done.
Now, as a homeschooling mother who is completely committed to Christ, and her family, I seek to be whole again. While we are not doing this to aggressively seek to have more children, whatever God holds for us is His plan, and our will, as well.
I encourage all women to do what is right with their families, even when it isn’t the modern and popular course-such as having only one or two and being a career woman. I no longer care what people think or comment about us having a lot and me homeschooling, as I aim to only do what is right in Christ and my family. My children are good and well behaved kids, and I wonder if even some is jealousy over the fact that we have had 4 and they are behaved kids when many struggle with having one that listens to them? Many in the world may not understand this, though. I know it is all God’s grace, and I take no credit.
Either way, I feel blessed that we finally saved and have scheduled on 7/30 with Dr. Monteith! I pray for a complete restoration of fertility and health, so that I may feel completely surrendered to God’s Will for our family.
Thank you for this blog, and the opportunity to share our thoughts and TR, and future TR patients!
Andrea
June 23rd, 2008 at 6:35 am
These stories are great to hear. They make our jobs as as tubal reversal surgical nurses that more special. Thanks for sharing.
June 22nd, 2008 at 9:50 pm
My dh and I chose TR because we already had two children together and while we wanted to add to our family, we wanted to do so in a natural conception without the risks of IVF or IUI. We simply felt in our situation that was not necessary.
After researching TR and weighing the options we were given, we proceeded with a TR and scheduled our surgury for Sept 7th, 2006. I left Chapel Hill with a newfound sense of joy that we were able to try to add to our family and begin trying to conceive immediately.
Almost a year to the day of our surgury – September 10th, 2007 I found out I was pregnant. After a very smooth easy pregnancy and planned induction on May 13th, 2008 we had our third child a very healthy and happy girl we named Carly Jane.
We are most grateful to Dr.Berger and the entire Chapel Hill staff for the wonderful experience and thankful for the addition to our family. I was so happy to find a place that at least gave us the chance to add to our family in the manner we saw fit.
Thank you all so much for this life-changing surgury and our final “addition” to the family.
June 22nd, 2008 at 9:48 am
Thanks again for a great blog topic. It’s great to hear comments on this blog straight from our patients explaining what their reasons for tubal reversal were. Congratulations to Karen on her upcoming delivery! We can’t wait to see pictures of your new baby. And we look forward to meeting you later this summer Joy!
June 21st, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Many patients do come to Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center for many reasons. The one thing that they all have is common is the fact that they would like to change a decision that they once thought was permanent. Not only does tubal reversal surgery allow women to conceive again but for some it is a chance for them to feel whole again. No matter what the reason, if someone is serious about getting their tubes untied, Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center is the place to go.
June 21st, 2008 at 4:41 pm
My husband and I chose TR because I had two children of my own from a previous marriage and my husband had neither, previous marriage nor any biological children. He has been such a great provider for our family and a great Father/Dad to my two boys; whom call him DAD and have for quite sometime. Never in our wildest dreams did we think we would be able to 1) afford a TR 2) get pregnant. We sold our home and got started. We had seen Dr’s here in our area and they just made it seem so “far fetched” us being able to conceive. We had talked for quite sometime about getting the reversal done and had come across Dr. B online but were kind of skeptical at first, months went by and then there we were again at CHTRC website, this time we knew it was Dr. B who would help us on our way…… We scheduled our appt in Dec and had the procedure done Jan 2007. We miscarried not once but twice but were trying to stay positive know that “WE CAN GET PREGNANT!!” Not only did one tube work but they both did!! After giving my body a break emotionally and physically we began TTC once again and we are now currently 36 weeks 6 days pregnant with a little girl, our TR miracle!! We will forever be greatful to Dr B and staff!!!
June 21st, 2008 at 3:52 pm
I find this to be a most interesting topic. Dr. Monteith’s comments update a previous blog topic that I wrote about Why Tubal Reversal.
June 21st, 2008 at 2:33 pm
There are a few good reasons I chose to have a tubal reversal. The main reason is because my husband now forced the issue since he doesn’t have children of his own. My kids who are older now (13 and 11) would love to have a new sibling who is part of me as well as their stepfather. It is a HUGE decision that needs a lot of thought and time put into it. I will be 32 tomorrow and I had been thinking of doing it since I was 28. I am happy to say we are going to TTC later this summer. Many thanks to Chapel Hill staff. Thanks a bunch for giving me this wonderful opportunity to be a new mother again.
Joy