Natural Pregnancy At 46 After Tubal Ligation Reversal
Posted On: Monday, April 27th, 2009
Dr. Berger and Dr. Monteith would like to share with readers the Patient Testimonial submitted by a new mother and recent patient of Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center. 
Dawne and her husband had one child together and decided they wanted another child. She initially underwent a cycle of in vitro fertilization, which was unsuccessful because not a single egg could be retrieved for fertilization.
After her failed IVF procedure, Dawne came to Chapel Hill for a tubal reversal in November of 2007. In January of this year and at the age of 46, Dawne gave birth to a healthy baby boy (Cole Alexander).
Why Tubal Reversal At A Center Of Excellence?
Dawne chose to come to Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center because of the extensive information about tubal reversal surgery found on our website. She felt a connection with other women she met through the Tubal Reversal Message Board. The experiences, feelings, and medical information shared by other patients were invaluable in her decision to have tubal reversal surgery at a center of excellence in infertility surgery. 
Dawne was determined to try an have another child through reversal of tubal ligation. As long as pregnancy was a possibility, she wanted to have her tubes untied.
Below is Dawne’s testimonial letter to Dr. Berger and at the conclusion of this article is a commentary from Dr. Berger about tubal reversal surgery and women over the age of 40. The first article of this series is Tubal Ligation Reversal After Age 40 | Introduction.
Tubal Reversal Success Story: Testimonial #808
Dear Dr. Berger,
My 47th birthday was on April 4th and the best present I received was from you! Because of the work you and your staff perform at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center, I was able to celebrate my 47th birthday with my 3-month-old son, Cole Alexander, who was born on January 6th of this year.
Pregnancy After Tubal Ligation
After my tubal ligation in March of 2004, I never thought I would feel the warmth of a small baby’s body on my chest, or kiss daily the fat rosy cheeks and toes of a newborn.
Tubal Ligation Reversal Surgery: Successful at 45
I had my tubal reversal performed on November 12, 2007 and seven months later, I was pregnant with my third child. Cole is a beautiful and healthy baby. While I had complications with my pregnancy, which were totally due to my own health issues and not my age. I had the same problems when I gave birth to my other two children at ages 29 and 41.
Inspirational Personal Pregnancy Story
IÂ would be honored to have you share my story. I was really inspired to have my tubal reversal at 45 years old, primarily, because of the wonderful postings I read on your message boards. I read them on a daily basis before my procedure and continued to do so after my surgery.
Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center has the best website for tubal ligation reversal surgery, and more importantly, about how women feel about the reversal process, that I have seen.
I sincerely hope my success story (giving birth 3 months before my 47th birthday) will be a source of inspiration to others. I hope the women over 40 years old will read it and continue to have faith miracles can still happen, even after 45.
Sincerely,
Dawne S.
Comment About Tubal Reversal for “Older” Women
Dawne’s testimonial is particularly appreciated for the hope she brings to other women in their forties who want to become pregnant after having a tubal ligation. When I listen to the stories these women tell me at their preoperative consultations, it seems that many – and perhaps most – doctors are discouraging to them. Most of the women age 40 and over say that they have been advised by their doctors that only IVF using the eggs of younger women (donors) can offer them hope of success. While it is true that donor egg IVF has a high pregnancy rate, this option is not acceptable to many couples who prefer to try to have their own biological children. My view on this is that as long as a woman in menstruating and ovulating, there is the possibility of having another child after a tubal reversal procedure. The decision is a highly personal one that should be made by each couple based on accurate information and informed consent about the potential benefits, risks, and costs of tubal ligation reversal vs donor egg IVF.
Gary S. Berger, M.D.
Medical Director
Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center
Next Tubal Reversal Article…
The next article in this series discusses the impact of irregular ovulation and miscarriage upon women over the age of 40, Pregnancy and Tubal Reversal: Challenges Increase With Age.
How To Get A Tubal Reversal?
Readers interested in tubal reversal surgery are encouraged to visit the homepage of Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center.
Experiences and questions can be shared with other women of our Tubal Reversal Message Board and many more personal stories about tubal ligation reversal can be found on our Tubal Reversal Blog.
If readers have questions about tubal reversal surgery, they are welcome to call (919) 968-4656 for a free nurse consultation to see if tubal reversal surgery is right for them.
April 28th, 2009 at 1:32 am
Thank you so much for sharing Dawne’s story. It is so encouraging. I am 45 and scheduled for surgery in May! My husband and I are so excited, yet we are also ready to accept whatever happens or doesn’t happen. I will just be glad to be put back together again.
April 28th, 2009 at 6:56 am
This is such a great personal story and I am so glad that Dawne has offered to share it with us. This is sure to give lots of women hope for a baby of their own! Congratulations Dawne and Cedric!
April 28th, 2009 at 7:26 am
[...] The next article in this series is a pregnancy testimonial submitted by a previous patient Dawne:Â Natural Pregnancy At 46 After Tubal Reversal. [...]
April 28th, 2009 at 9:07 am
Congratulations Dawn and Cedric! Cole is adorable. Thank you for sharing your story. As Dr. Berger stated, the decision to have the tubal reversal is highly personal. However, I do believe that testimonials like these play a part in the decision of many women over the age of 40.
April 28th, 2009 at 9:26 am
I too will be 45 before any of this will be possible for me but this story gives me some hope that once I have this done, I should be able to have one of those TR babies too!
April 28th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
Yes, thank you Dawne for this glimmer of hope for all of us “over 40″ group. I’m 45 and scheduled for my TR the end of May. I am going into this with the attitude “what is meant to be will be” I have age against me, and a high FSH level. BUT, I have soul searched and prayed about this and feel it IS what I’m suppose to do. Chapel Hill has given me a chance to change my mind a couple times but I have faith that I am suppose to do this and then let God take over. Thanks again Dawne, you are a special woman for sharing and giving inspiration to the rest of us.
April 29th, 2009 at 4:48 am
An excellent personal story of tubal reversal success! This will offer such hope and encouragement to all of the ladies over forty who are interested in tubal ligation reversal.
April 29th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Welcome to the world baby boy Cole Alexander! Dawne thank you for sharing your beautiful story. A wonderful source of inspiration!
April 29th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
I am so happy that my sucess story has been an inspiration to others. Unfortunately many doctors and family members/friends can be discouraging when you mention that you are trying to conceive after a certain age. It is important to try and stay positive and draw inspiration about your decision from where ever you can get it. I can personally say there really is no better feeling then when that pregnancy test comes back positive and nine months later you get to welcome another love into your life who will soon call you Mommy.
Good luck Lisa, Myrtle and Denise. It seems like 45 is the new 35 for having babies!!!
April 30th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
This is a very encouraging story. It is sure to inspire many women over 45 who would like to conceive after they have had their tubes tied.
May 7th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
[...] are encouraged to read the previous personal patient story about pregnancy in older women, Natural Pregnancy At 46 After Tubal Ligation Reversal. This is a very personal story of Dawne who became a new mother after having her tubes untied at [...]
May 18th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
[...] Dawne: Natural Pregnancy At 46 After Tubal Ligation Reversal. [...]
June 30th, 2009 at 9:16 am
[...] Dawne: Natural Pregnancy At 46 After Tubal Ligation Reversal. [...]
October 25th, 2009 at 12:01 am
I have been praying for a baby for over 5 years..I am 47 and had my tubes tied after my third child in 1991. My husband of 8 years had a vasectomy 20 years ago. We have been praying for a miracle. We raise our 8 year old grandson, but really feel in our hearts for another baby. We believe in miracles beyond miracles. I just keep praying God fixes both of us because we really don’t have the income right now to fix us both. We believe God can fix us, but we also believe in the use of doctors. My youngest son Travis passed away at 14 in 2006. We had discussed and prayed before his passing so this baby would not be a replacement, as no one can replace my Travis. God bless all of you and I will continue to pray. I actually have a new car seat, pink bible scripture baby quilt, dress, and mommy, daughter bracelet, a lot of faith. If it is to come to pass, than it will, if not than that will be Gods Will. I will check into my insurance though to see if it is possible, with God all things are possible. God Bless all of you.
October 27th, 2009 at 4:16 am
[...] tubal reversal. Our patients are of all ages: some of our patients are younger and others are much older. Some patients are Caucasian and from the mid-west while others are African American from the [...]
April 2nd, 2010 at 7:21 pm
Congratulations Dawn. This is such a encouraging story. A year ago I had my tubes untied at age 46. I am hoping and praying to go through motherhood again. No thanks to all the doctors that made me feel as old as a dinosaur. Maybe God can prove them wrong. God bless.
June 15th, 2010 at 11:06 am
This is such an encouraging story! I just had my tubal reversal and they were only able to reconnect one tube (the other was too badly damaged). I just turned 40 this year and was originally told that IVF was my only viable option. However, because of my high FSH and low egg count, my doc agreed that TR was the best option.
So two weeks out of surgery – with one tube connected – I am optimistic! This story warms my heart and tell me that it is possible. Thank you!
August 7th, 2010 at 1:11 pm
Thank you for sharing Dawne’s story. I just turned 45 and remarried for 2 years. The doctors made me feel like an old maid and having a child is impossible without donor IVF. They also refuse to untie my tubes because of my age. We prefer to have a child naturally. This story inspires me to make the appointment to have my tubes untied knowing we did our part. The rest we will leave in Gods hands.
October 31st, 2010 at 3:12 am
[...] the resources at its website. See how a reversal of tubal ligation can improve your chances for a natural pregnancy even if you are over the age of 40. The surgeons and staff at CHTRC are the [...]
December 10th, 2010 at 2:04 pm
Thank you. Dawne’s story is a great inspiration to me, I’m in the process of coming to Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center and this is such a great faith story of not giving up and to trust God. Thanks so much, so to all to be new mothers out there, step out on faith and go on and plan that nursery as I did knowing that God will grant this unto you, remember faith without works is dead, thanks again and may God continue to bless you.
Debra
November 8th, 2011 at 4:53 am
I would like to know wherether yo can assist me guyz I am leaving in South Africa and I had my tubes cut in 2006 when I was giving birth to my second child through a scisor in 2009 I underwent a rerversal procedger but I was told by this doctor that my tubes were cut very short but she joined them with artificial ones but nothing happenned although we are under pessure with my husband to get a child as we met early in 2009 and this year 2011 I went back to this doctor to flush the tubes as I was told that they are blocked only to find that it is a mess tubes are damaged no hope at all but I spotted this site so can you please help we are still positive that one day we will get help
November 8th, 2011 at 6:48 am
Cynthia – Send a copy of your operative report of your surgery and I’ll let you know what can be done.
Gary S. Berger, M.D.
Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center
109 Conner Drive
Suite 2200
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(919) 967-8637 fax
December 24th, 2011 at 1:14 am
I too was told I was too old and there was “no way” they were going to help me. I just turned 47 with no signs of menopause but feel I am racing the clock. I’ve been remarried for three years and my husband has no children of his own which he badly desires, as do I. We’re not selfish, one child would be heaven. My first husband threatened to leave me if I didn’t have the tubal. I was young and not at all assertive, I have regretted it since. Now my husband and I are paying the price for that decision. I wish I could find a doctor to at least give me a fighting chance before it is too late. Ironic that my doctor has remarried and had two children at my age. Granted he’s not the one delivering, but it’s still hypocritical in my book.
December 24th, 2011 at 11:07 am
Bourne – As long as you are having regular menstrual cycles, you have a chance to get pregnant again and we would be happy to perform your tubal reversal procedure at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center.