Tubal Ligation Reversal After 40 | Tubal Reversal Process
Preparation for tubal ligation reversal surgery is the same for all patients regardless of age. Any person considering ‘untying tied tubes‘ should read this article to understand how to arrange and schedule a tubal ligation reversal.
This is the sixth article in a series dedicated to women considering alternatives for pregnancy and tubal ligation reversal after the age of 40.
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.
Overview of Tubal Ligation Reversal
Patients who desire pregnancy after having their tubes tied should consider reversal of tubal ligation as their first choice. This summary of the process for having a tubal reversal is for the patients of Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center .
Tubal Ligation Reversal | Step 1
Potential patients may want to review our Getting Started information and pregnancy statistics data we have available on our website regarding tubal surgery at our tubal reversal specialty center. Potential patients can fax or mail us a copy of their tubal ligation operative report, pathology report of tubal segments (depending on type of ligation), and any other surgical reports regarding surgery of the uterus or ovaries.
The reports are reviewed at no charge by our tubal reversal doctors, Dr. Berger or Dr. Monteith. Patients are notified if they are suitable candidates for tubal ligation reversal surgery. Since we see patients from around the world, we have developed a system of communication, which relies heavily on email, fax, and phone. This results in a streamlined system for patient evaluation and greatly improves communication with our patients.
Tubal Ligation Reversal | Step 2
The majority of patients who contact us will be suitable candidates for tubal reversal at our center. In our experience, over 98% of patients will have tubal ligations which can be reversed. Our nursing staff will obtain complete medical histories and arrange for patients to have blood drawn by their local physician to ensure patients do not have anemia, hepatitis, or HIV infections prior to undergoing reversal surgery.
Our anesthesia staff will also conduct a medical history by phone to prepare in advance for their outpatient anesthesia.
Tubal Ligation Reversal | Step 3
We offer affordable tubal ligation reversal at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center. Occasionally, special time-limited discounts are offered. The cost for reversal surgery at our center ranges from $4900 to $6900 (at the time of article publication) depending on how payment is made and the tubal reversal doctor chosen.
Payment for the surgery can be made by cash, credit card, money order, or bank wire transfer. We also offer a pre-payment plan or using Medchoice Financial, a financing company. Regardless of the method, payment for the surgery must be made in full before scheduling can be done. Some health insurance plans may reimburse the patient for some of the cost of tubal ligation reversal surgery. It is the patient’s responsibility to check with their insurance carrier and file for reimbursement if available.
Tubal Ligation Reversal | Step 4
When patients come here for surgery, they must accompanied by a responsible adult over age 18. Patients will stay at the local Sheraton hotel, which provides transportation to our surgical center.
The reversal doctor interviews patients the day before surgery. The surgery occurs the next day, lasts 60-90 minutes, and is performed through a small incision.
The ends of the tube are opened and rejoined together (tubotubal anastamosis) using microsurgical techniques. The surgery is a safe and is designed to be outpatient surgery. Our surgical complication data was reviewed in the fourth article of this series.
After discharge from our recovery room, patients rest in their hotel room and are evaluated by a member of our staff the day after surgery. After their postoperative evaluation, patients may return home. International patients will stay for 1-2 additional days before traveling home. All patients are walking and performing daily activities the day after surgery and most patients are back to their normal routine by 1-2 weeks after tubal reversal surgery.
Tubal Reversal Surgery After 40| Safe
The vast majority of our patients do extremely well both during and after the surgery. This is true independent of age. Surgical risk could be increased in any person, regardless of age, who has a significant medical problem such as extensive heart or lung disease. These patients are not candidates for outpatient surgery and will need to have in-hospital surgery elsewhere. As a result of our screening process and skilled anesthesia staff, women over the age of forty should not be concerned about any increased risks or complications from reversal surgery at our center due to age.
When considering any medical or surgical intervention, one should consider the risks of the intervention and the possible benefits. The previous article discussed the risk specific to the reversal surgery and the risk of pregnancy after having a tubal reversal.
Readers are encouraged to read through the archived blog stories and read the many personal accounts and descriptions of surgery from previous reversal patients. The next and final issue of this Tubal Ligation Reversal After 40 series will feature several patients over the age of 40 who have undergone reversal of tubal ligation at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center.
Readers are also encouraged to read the daily Patient Satisfaction Messages submitted to us from patients who have had tubal reversal surgery at our center.
Our Tubal Reversal Message Board is also a great place to meet and discuss this blog series or share any experiences in the quest for more children through tubal ligation reversal.
The next three articles will provide an overview of in vitro fertilization. The next article in thsi series is Tubal Ligation Reversal After 40 – IVF Overview.
Submitted by Dr. Charles Monteith
April 24th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
[...] The next article is Tubal Ligation Reversal After 40 | Tubal Reversal Process. [...]
March 31st, 2009 at 10:00 am
[...] We have previously published on the risk and benefits of tubal surgery, as well as provide a comprehensive overview on how to schedule tubal surgery. [...]
March 5th, 2009 at 11:01 pm
[...] · Overview of Tubal Reversal Process [...]
February 23rd, 2009 at 5:04 pm
I don’t have statistics for year 44 alone, just the group statistics by 5 year categories. But I know that several women age 44 or older have had children, and as long as you are ovulating, either on your own or with ovulation stimulating medications, there is certainly a chance you will conceive. There is a graph that shows fertility rates by age on another blog that may assist you in this regard.
February 23rd, 2009 at 1:59 pm
I am 44. I had tubes reversed by Dr. Berger in 1998 and have had three children since. It took me 1.5 years to conceive after my last son in 2005. I miscarried it at 9 weeks. I have taken Clomid and am now on Follistim injections this week. Do you have any statistics for TR with positive results for my age of just turning 44. Is there any hope, or am I wasting my money and having false hope. I do ovulate and had my FSH and LH checked prior to previous pregnancy, and it was good, no problems. Thanks
February 17th, 2009 at 7:23 am
[...] This is the seventh article dedicated to women considering alternatives for pregnancy after the age of 40. The first article is Tubal Ligation Reversal After Age 40 | Introduction. The preceding three articles discussed tubal ligation reversal: ·Benefits ·Risks ·Scheduling [...]
February 16th, 2009 at 9:31 am
This is a wonderful summary for women looking into tubal reversal. Hopefully the detailed information will relieve anxiety of the unknown as women familiarize themselves with the process of tubal reversal outpatient surgery at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center.
February 13th, 2009 at 5:44 am
Thank you Dr Monteith for this clear and concise summary. We have more and more ladies over the age of forty coming for tubal ligation reversal and I know this will serve as an excellent tool for them.