Diagnostic Laparoscopy Before Tubal Reversal: A Recap
Posted On: Saturday, January 12th, 2008
Why Some Patients Choose To Have Screening Laparoscopy
Tubal ligation procedures vary in the severity of injury occurring to the fallopian tubes. Although most tubal ligations are reversible, there are some cases where tubal reversal is not possible. If the operative report from your tubal ligation indicates there may be a problem in repairing the remaining tubal segments, or if you cannot get a copy of your operative report, you may be interested in the screening laparoscopy option offered at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center.
With this option, your surgery begins with diagnostic laparoscopy to examine your fallopian tubes. If tubal repair is possible, tubal reversal is performed immediately while you are under anesthesia. That way you do not have to undergo anesthesia and surgery on two separate occasions.
If tubal reversal is not possible, the operation is concluded with just the diagnostic laparoscopy. There is an additional charge of $1000 to add the screening laparoscopy, but with this option you will receive almost half of the total surgery fee in refund should tubal repair not be performed. The “laparoscopy package” is excellent insurance in situations when the method of tubal ligation is unknown.
Screening laparoscopy is available to patients with a Body Mass Index (BMI) under 32 who are interested in more assurance regarding the outcome of the reversal surgery. It is recommended – but not required – in cases where the amount of tube remaining is questionable, such as after monopolar tubal coagulation at multiple sites along the tube.
If you have questions about the laparoscopy option, you can discuss them with Dr. Berger and the Tubal Reversal nurses during your preoperative consultation.
January 12th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
This option of having a screening laporosopy is beneficial if no records are available to you. If you do not have any records of technique used for your ligation a screening lap will be to your advantage. Dr. Berger wants the best result for all his patients. It is really a great “insurance policy” to have the screening lap if no records are available. Why go through all the surgery and disappointment to find you didn’t have enough tube to work with? This can be determined prior to having a laparotomy.
January 12th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
Many of our patients would like to have more of an assurance regarding the outcome of their tubal reversal, even when the tubal ligation operative report is available. Although it is never required, this option will allow Dr. Berger to assess the tubes prior to the reversal.
No one can offer a guarantee with surgery or pregnancy, but this option is a little like insurance, providing the opportunity for a partial refund if the tubes are found to be too short to repair.
January 13th, 2008 at 8:08 am
I think that this is a wonderful option for patients. This gives patients whose situations are somewhat unclear or a little more damaging a chance to have the tubes assessed by Dr. Berger before going through the actually surgery. By having Dr. Berger perform the laparoscopy, not only is he the one assessing the tubes, but if the tubes are repairable, he can move straight to tubal revesal surgery. The other advantage is that the patient is put to sleep only once. This is yet another example of Dr. Berger exceptional commitment to his patients.
January 13th, 2008 at 10:23 am
What some patients do not realize is that if they opted to have just a screening laparoscopy surgery with their local GYN doctor it would probably cost them about $4,000.00 out of pocket (since it would be an elective procedure and most likely not covered by insurance). Dr. Berger allows patients to add the screening laparoscopy on for only $1,000.00 additional. Plus, patients who have the screening laparoscopy procedure just prior to reversal at our facility do not have to have two separate surgeries. This means only having general anesthesia one time and getting everything done at once. Another plus is that because Dr. Berger is a tubal reversal specialist, if he is the one performing the screening, then the patient is sure to get the very best interpretation whether her tubes are repairable or not. A doctor performing the screening who is not a tubal reversal specialist actually may tell a patient her tubes are not repairable when in fact, Dr. Berger would be able to repair them!
May 22nd, 2008 at 6:51 pm
[...] by IVF. She did not want to do this, so the recommendation was made to start her operation with a screening laparoscopy ). We were concerned if we proceeded straight to ligation reversal surgery, she may not have good [...]
May 24th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
[...] had. If an operative report is ominous, then this allows us to advise patients to consider either a screening laparoscopy or in vitro fertilization (IVF) before attempting ligation reversal. This can prevent having an [...]
August 4th, 2008 at 11:20 am
[...] recommended a screening laparoscopy to give us a quick evaluation before undergoing any surgical incisions. This would allow us to stop [...]
January 1st, 2009 at 7:08 pm
[...] were worried her fallopian tubes might not be repairable. We recommended Dorinda undergo a screening diagnostic laparoscopy. This procedure would allow us to look at her tubes with a small camera via a small incision and [...]
April 18th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
Hi there! I m a 42 year old woman. Sterilized in 1996. I’m wanting another baby as I have a new partner who has no children. I went to see a gyn doctor about a reversal yesterday. He basically told me I was too old and there was no point in him considering it. I came back heart broken. However. I want to come to America and see you guys and have it done. I live in the UK. How would i go on about visa/flights and etc? I would be grateful if you could supply me with the information please. I feel so alone. Thank you.
April 19th, 2009 at 8:00 am
There have been many UK residents who have come here for tubal reversal. Here is a link to a website that explains how to get your travel authorization to the US on line – http://www.visitusa.org.uk/visitors/esta.aspx as well as travel assistance. You may be interested in reading this testimonial recently added to our website about tubal reversal for women over 40.
July 27th, 2009 at 8:19 am
[...] removed during her tubal ligation than most patients so she opted to begin her surgery with a screening laparoscopy to make sure her tubes could be reversed before having a major [...]
September 2nd, 2009 at 9:01 am
I’m so glad I found this tubal surgery blog site…Keep up the good work.
November 30th, 2009 at 5:05 pm
I am 38 years old. I have had 2 children by c-section and a Tubal Ligation done in 1994. I have been pregnant once, but lost the baby. I want a reversal tubal l done. At my age and weight (I’m in the 40 BMI, but going down), I smoke, but going to quit soon, can I get a ligation reversal still and will I have trouble since I already had 2 c-section’s done? I was checked also once before and it all looked good for me to have a reversal, but that was 8 years ago.
November 30th, 2009 at 6:20 pm
Teresa – Having 2 c-sections will not prevent you from scheduling tubal ligation reversal surgery. The BMI limit for scheduling at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center is under 35. This is for patient safety as outpatient surgery. Smoking increases the risks of postoperative complications, reduces the chances of getting pregnant after reversal surgery, and increases the risks of miscarriage and other complications of pregnancy, so it is important for you to stop smoking as soon as possible.
February 6th, 2010 at 2:57 pm
This is an option I am really considering. Twelve years ago I had my tubes tied after my second child. Just recently my husband and I talked about adding a third addition to the family. After much consideration we decided to go for it. We want a little boy, although we can’t determine what the sex of the child would be. We have decided to go through with the tubal reversal in hopes for a successful pregnancy. I know it’s not a guarantee, but we will remain hopeful.
April 16th, 2010 at 3:15 pm
I had 3 C-Sections and had my tubes tied in 2004. I remember before going into surgery the doctor told me it was irreversable. I was young and un-informed and now regret the decision I made then. My husband to be has expressed his desire for a child and I am now considering a reversal. I am quite saddened to know that there may be a chance that the reversable isn’t possible.
April 16th, 2010 at 3:23 pm
Kaycee – Doctors are taught to tell patients that when they have a tubal ligation it is permanent. But in almost all cases, tubal ligation can be reversed!
April 16th, 2010 at 3:52 pm
Thank you Dr. Berger for your reply and I am much relieved. I feel like a burden has been lifted. I will now work on my financial capability.
May 4th, 2010 at 10:57 pm
Hola tengo 10 año de ligada com parascopia y tengo dos ñiño y ya nis nino esta hombre y me gustaria tener otro bebe tengo 34 y soy venezolana me gustaria saber si aqui en venezuela se puede desliga las mujeres estoy desesperada por favor responda a mi correo jenny_vina@hotmail.com gracia y buenes noche
May 5th, 2010 at 12:15 pm
Nosotros no disponemos de información acerca de ningún doctor o centro quirúrgico donde se realice la reversion tubal fuera de los Estados Unidos, pero nuestras pacientes vienen de todas partes del mundo.
July 14th, 2010 at 12:41 am
I had tubal reversal in November 2006 and still not pregnant do you think my tubes got blocked again?
July 14th, 2010 at 6:47 am
If you have not become pregnant within a year then have a HSG x-ray to see if your tubes are open. If you have already done so and your tubes are open then there is no reason to have another HSG and you should look for alternative reasons. If you have been our patient please send the HSG x-rays to us or call the office for more information.
August 14th, 2010 at 2:22 am
I am 40 years old, had my first child at 18, and a tubal done at 25.
My husband just joined the military which has brought us to NC, we have been talking about this for sometime and we have decided that we would like to have a child together.
He does not have any children so this would be his first
Of course at my age I have many concerns, but have friends and have heard of a lot of women in their 40′s having children.
We did a semen analysis on him back in Nov and everything was fine.
I am not able to find or obtain my records for my tubal.
I know that you can perform a diagnostic laparoscopy and that is something that I will need, my question is I think that is something our insurance will cover and on a military salary we don’t have much to spare and anywhere we can save would help.
I know you don’t accept insurance but is this a procedure I can have done at the hospital on base and have the records sent to you? If so, what would I need to let the Dr know in regards to the information that you will need?
Thank you
Amy
August 14th, 2010 at 7:29 am
Amy
You don’t necessarily need a diagnostic laparoscopy but it depends on what your tubal ligation operative report describes. Insurance may pay for this procedure in your local hospital but it depends on the reasons for the surgery. You will need to talk to you doctor about this. You should send us your records for review. You can find a Medical Release Form on our website.
August 31st, 2010 at 9:57 am
I had my tubal ligation in December 2007 after my youngest son was born. After four years of being single after a divorce, I recently remarried and we have decided to add to our family. We have researched our options, and feel that a tubal reversal is the most practical choice for us. I am in the process of trying to locate my medical records to see what type of tubal I had to send you. What do I do if they cannot locate my records?
August 31st, 2010 at 10:55 am
Amy
If you can not find your records then you can come for tubal reversal with the understanding we are able to repair most tubal ligation procedures or you can have a diagnostic laparosocpy immediately before your tubal reversal surgery to see if your tubes are repairable.
December 17th, 2010 at 10:12 pm
I’m pretty sure that my tubes were cut, tied, and burned when I had my ligation 4 years ago. I have been told before that it is possible to have a reversal when your tubes have been “tied” but not when they have been “burned”. Is this true?
December 17th, 2010 at 10:41 pm
Melisa
These are all reversible. Please read this article for more information: Can Cut Tied And Burned Tubes Be Reversed? Common Myths About Burned Tubes.
January 9th, 2011 at 5:03 pm
I have four kids all via csection. I had my first daugher in 97 and I only had the surgery because my docter said that I was laboring for too long I was misinformed. And every child I had after that was via surgery no doctor wanted me to try natural birth. So after my last child 4 years ago after the csection I tied my tubes besides my husband didn’t want anymore kids. Now I’m divorced and my fiancé has no kids I want to start a family with him am I able to. Doctor please helpppppp!
January 9th, 2011 at 6:40 pm
Shaneka – Dr. Monteith can reverse your tied tubes even after 4 c-sections.
January 9th, 2011 at 11:44 pm
Thank you so much for the great news. Getting ready to start my account see you soon.
March 9th, 2011 at 11:15 pm
I am 32 and after 11 years since my tubal ligation,3 kids and getting married. I have decided to have another child. I found out that my tubes were banded (tubal rings) during my tubal ligation. What are my chances of getting them reversed and being successful?
March 10th, 2011 at 8:17 am
Marisa
Tubal bands can be reversed and at the age of 32 your chances of pregnancy after tubal band reversal would be 72%.
August 4th, 2011 at 7:18 pm
Dr.Berger i’m mother of 5 and would like to have number 6. After my 5 child I did get my tube ligation and burned. I can get my record. My husband is ready for it . What do we need to do? Do i have to have a laproscopy surgery. I am 37 yr old our baby is 4yr old. Can it be done?
August 4th, 2011 at 8:26 pm
Denise
You should be a good candidate for tubal reversal. The best way to get started is to call our office and speak to one of our Tubal Reversal Nurses who can answer all your questions. You should call during business hours (919) 968-4656. We look forward to hearing from you.