Tubal Ligation Reversal After Age 40 | Introduction
Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center specializes in reversing tubal ligation and repairing damaged or blocked fallopian tubes. We perform over 800 tubal repair surgeries per year and have patients who travel to us from around the world and across the United States to have tubal surgery at our center.
Our Tubal Reversal Statistics
We see a large number of women who have had their ‘tubes tied’ and who request reversal of sterilization procedures after the age of 40. From 2001 to 2007, 4025 tubal surgeries were performed at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center and 506 (13%) of these patients were women 40 years of age or older. We maintain a comprehensive date base of our tubal reversal pregnancy statistics based on patient age, method of tubal ligation, and tubal length. We also maintain statistics on our tubal reversal pregnancy rates compared with in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Additional Considerations for Patients Over 40
Women over the age of 40 have the added considerations of decreasing fertility, as a result of aging, and the approach of peri-menopause. Women under the age of forty typically do not have to factor these concerns into their decision to have their tubes untied.
We want our patients and potential patients to be well informed, and have decided to devote a series of articles specific to the concerns of women pursing pregnancy after the age of 40. This series will explain the fertility options available and the advantages and disadvantages of each option. When possible, we will present statistics so readers can make informed decisions about which is the best pregnancy option for them.
This series will also be helpful to other women – even those under the age of forty – who may be considering the choice between tubal ligation reversal or IVF.
Our series will cover several key areas:
Adoption
Tubal ligation reversal surgery
In vitro fertilization
Challenges specific to pregnancy after 40
Screening tests available to detect genetic abnormalities
Risks of pregnancy in older women
Stories of women over 40 who have had tubal reversals
In Summary…
Many women over the age of forty will consider tubal surgery to have their tubes untied or blocked fallopian tubes opened. These women have the added concern of decreasing fertility due to age. It is important they be well informed about the options and alternatives available to them. Additionally, they should be aware of the pregnancy challenges after they conceive and screening tests available for prenatal genetic diagnoses.
Dr. Berger, Dr. Monteith, and the staff of Chapel Hill Tubal Center are proud of the services and care we provide to our patients. We want our patients to be well informed before they make the important decision to have a tubal ligation reversal. We have seen good success in the rates of pregnancy in women over the age of 40. There are unique concerns older patients must consider and this series of blog articles will address these concerns.
The quality of care we provide can be seen in the Patient Satisfaction Messages that we receive.
Readers are also encouraged to visit, participate, and share stories with other women on our Tubal Reversal Message Board.
The next article in this series is Tubal Reversal After Age 40 | Pregnancy and Infertility.
Submitted by Dr. Charles Monteith
September 21st, 2009 at 11:49 am
[...] dedicated to older women considering tubal reversal surgery. The first article of this series is Tubal Ligation Reversal After Age 40: Introduction.Stories About Tubal ReversalsOur Tubal Reversal Blog has many personal stories of patients who have [...]
July 14th, 2009 at 10:20 pm
Angie
Tubal ligation is possible. The procedure is very safe. It would not be financially wise to have a tubal ligation at the age of 51 because there is a very low chance of pregnancy. Either adoption or IVF with donor eggs would be the best approach. If you tried to become pregnant at the age of 51 the chance of pregnancy would be less than 1% and almost zero; however, if you underwent IVF with donor eggs the chance of pregnancy would be approximately 50%. A recent blog of ours discusses IVF success compared with tubal reversal surgery with increasing patient age.
July 14th, 2009 at 9:25 pm
I am 51 and I have been married for 9 months to a younger man and we are looking into the possibility of having my tubal ligation reversed to have a baby. My tubes have been tied for about 20 years. I want to know are there risks of tubal ligation, would it be possible, would this be a wise choice, and would this work for us?
April 23rd, 2009 at 1:57 pm
The answer is yes. Although, a natural pregnancy at 48 would be very rare (we did just have someone in our practice become pregnant at the age of 47)!
IVF with donor eggs provides the highest success rate at close to 50%. Tubal ligation reversal is an option; however, the chance of a natural pregnancy after tubal ligation reversal at the age of 48 would be very low.
April 23rd, 2009 at 1:47 pm
I am 48. Can I still have a baby? I got my tubes tied in 1982.
April 22nd, 2009 at 6:36 am
As long as you are having regular menstrual cycles and are ovulating, there is certainly a chance of being a mother again. Read this recent testimonial from one our our patients who just had her TR baby at age 47! Of course, the pregnancy rates for women in the forties is lower than for younger women, and since fertility continues to decline with increasing age, if you are interested in having your tubes repaired, I suggest contacting our Nurse Administrator – Julia Smith, RN – for assistance without delay. She can be reached at her email address: julias@tubal-reversal.net or by telephone at (919) 656-8204. If you call, please remember there is a 5 hour difference in our time zones.
April 22nd, 2009 at 12:54 am
I am 42 and strongly desire another baby. I attended the S.O.F.T. clinic in London Ont and was told by the Dr. I was not a good candidate for the reversal surgery because my tubes were cauterised after being cut. He told us the electic current destroys most of the tube. I have 3 beautiful children age 9, 6 and 2 and thought that i would be happy with just the 3. My husband is not sure if he wants to have another because he is convinced we are too old and because we both are police officers and work shift work another baby may be too hard. I was in my 30’s when i conceived all of my children; because I was older when I had them would that meen i may beable to conceive at 42 if i had the surgery. I really want to have it done. I had a c-section with my son (not anticipated) and the idea of having my tubes done was jokingly brought up. I had no idea there were different types you could have done and was never told this. I also did not research it either since I had 2 normal deliveries in the past. I still have my period every month at almost the same time. Do I have a chance of being a mother again.
April 8th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
I am looking information about untying my tubes. I will plan this operation in five or six years. I will love to do this kind of operation so my partner could be happy with me for life time. Thank you.
March 19th, 2009 at 11:51 pm
I’m 40 and my fiancee is 38 and never had kids. Please tell me it’s not to late. Thank you.
March 18th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
[...] We are also running a parallel series written by the tubal reversal doctors of Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center. The current series looks at alternatives for having children after a tubal ligation procedure and has special focus on alternatives for women over the age of 40. The first article in the medical series is Tubal Ligation Reversal After Age 40 | Introduction. [...]
March 12th, 2009 at 9:26 pm
[...] The first and subsequent articles of our series is Tubal Ligation Reversal After Age 40 | Introduction. [...]
February 19th, 2009 at 9:06 am
[...] The first article of this series is Tubal Ligation Reversal After the Age of 40|Introduction. [...]
February 12th, 2009 at 6:06 pm
[...] The previous article describes the risk of having a tubal reversal surgery and the first article of our series is Tubal Ligation Reversal After the Age 40 | Introduction. [...]
February 12th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
[...] The first of the series is Tubal Ligation Reversal After 40 | Introduction. [...]
February 6th, 2009 at 10:45 am
[...] The first of the series is Tubal Ligation Reversal After Age 40| Introduction. [...]
February 1st, 2009 at 10:55 am
We have patients who come from other countries with regularity. It is easier than it seems- essentially the cost of a plane ticket. Many patients can fly to us with a cheaper airfare than some patients who come to us from Alaska, California, or Hawaii!
February 1st, 2009 at 5:14 am
I am glad to know that you are there for us for who hope seems lost. How could we access you owing to the fact that we live in Uganda ,Africa with limited services yet suffering from this infirmity of tubal blockage? Please help me , I am desperate.
January 28th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
It is so important to be able to make a well informed decision regarding one’s health and to understand both the risks and benefits of surgery. I look forward to reading all the articles in the series! What a wonderful topic to discuss Dr. Monteith!
January 28th, 2009 at 8:50 am
Thank you, Dr. Monteith, for addressing this tubal reversal issue. Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center has seen more patients 40 and over come to us for tubal reversal. For prospective patients in this age group considering tubal reversal, they will be more informed to make a decision.
January 27th, 2009 at 7:34 am
Dr Monteith this will be a great series of articles. I am sure that this will help alot of women with their own research. I am also looking foward to reading all of the articles.
January 27th, 2009 at 5:33 am
This is such a good topic. It seems that more and more we are seeing ladies over the age of forty who come to us for tubal ligation reversal. They come to us with their own specific questions . In this blog, Dr Monteith begins to answer these questions. Thank you Dr Monteith.
January 27th, 2009 at 5:23 am
An ovulation predictor kit (OPK) can be purchased at any pharmacy. If you would like assistance in having your tubes untied, call a Tubal Reversal Nurse at (919) 968-4656.
January 27th, 2009 at 4:24 am
I have had 4 children and would like to have one more for him as I know he would be a great father. He just never got the chance to father a child. Can I tell if I am still ovulating It has been over 19 years since I had my tubes tide. They just tied my tubes; they didn’t burn them. Can I buy ovulating kit at the store?
January 26th, 2009 at 6:49 pm
Thank you for your comment Phyllis and this is just what we are trying to do. We have close to 20 articles- so hang in there with us because some may not seem so encouraging but in the end you should have a good idea of what to expect.
January 26th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
I’m looking forward to having more information related to women like myself over 40 who have a desire for another child.It can be a little scary and overwhelming hearing all of the reason why we shouldn’t.It will be nice to hear the PROS along with the cons..just the straight facts so that we can make an informed decision.
January 26th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Thanks for sharing this information. I’m sure woman 40 and older will be interested in knowing that tubal reversal surgery has a higher success rate than the alternative IVF in this age category.
January 26th, 2009 at 11:53 am
This information should be of real interest to our patients over 40 who are contemplating all of their options to have another child. Education is key to making this important decision. Dr. Monteith always writes a thought provoking and educational blog.
January 26th, 2009 at 11:35 am
I will also look forward to the information! It’s a wonderful tool to have and I am certain that the viewers will gain a lot of useful information, to assist in their decision to have a tubal reversal.
January 26th, 2009 at 8:54 am
I think it is a great idea to provide this information to us more “mature” moms! I think it will be good to discuss hormone levels as they change over 40, what additional fertility tests a woman over 40 may want to get and what those levels should be and mean. There are many options including medications available to help a woman with higher or slightly abnormal levels, but it would be good to know this going into the TTC journey! I look forward to your information!
Carol (42)
DH (29)
DS (21,18,15,13)
TR 4/14/08
HSG 1/19/09 – both open
Still TTC!