If you are considering tubal reversal surgery you have probably done some serious investigation into different tubal reversal doctors and tubal reversal techniques.
Very likely you have seen information about reversal doctors using dye testing or using a tubal stent at the time of the tubal repair.
Have you wondered which technique is better?
At A Personal Choice we know the answer to this common tubal ligation reversal question and the reasons why it is so frequently asked of us by potential patients.
If you continue reading you may get a good answer to the question of which is better for tubal reversal….. stents or a dye test?
Dye Testing During Tubal Ligation Reversal
Some reversal surgeons advocate flushing the tubes with dye after the tubes have been repaired.
To do this, a small tube is placed through the vagina and into the cervical opening before reversal surgery begins. After the tubes have been repaired the dye is flushed into the uterine cavity and out of the tubes. During the reversal surgery flushing process, the reversal surgeon looks at the ends of the tubes near the ovaries.
If dye is seen coming out of the tubes then the tubes are considered open and if dye is not seen coming out of the ends of the tubes then they are presumed closed.
Tubal Stents During Tubal Ligation Reversal
Some reversal specialists will place a temporary small thread (or tubal stent) during the reversal surgery through the open end of the first part of the tube near the ovary. This thread is then placed in the second part of the tube near the uterus and into the uterine cavity. The tube is then repaired over the tubal stent and after the tube is repaired then stent is then removed.
The tube is considered open if the tubal stent can easily be removed.
Dye Testing Or Tubal Stent: Which Is Better?
If you are even asking this question I would assert you have become a victim of the aggressive marketing of tubal reversal surgery.
As a result of the poor economy and it’s impact on the provision of health care, many doctors are now ‘specializing’ in tubal reversal surgery. These doctors need a way to distinguish themselves from the leaders in the field of tubal reversal surgery. One easy way is to advocate they do things differently than other doctors is by claiming they perform dye testing during tubal reversal.
The implication is because dye testing is more medical intervention and takes longer then it is better than other methods of tubal repair.
I was an ob/gyn for 11 years before joining Dr. Berger and becoming a tubal reversal specialist.
During my time as an OB, I never had a patient ask me to use absorbable monofilament to close their uterus during a c-section, to use a GOMCO clamp rather than a Plastibell for their baby’s circumcision, or to use Lugol’s solution for examination of their cervix during a pap smear. I did have many patients request the “Pill that fights acne” or the “Pill that makes you lose weight” or refuse to use the birth control patch because of the lawyer’s ads suggesting the patch caused blood clots.
The point I am trying to make is medical marketing can cause a serious dilemma for people by causing doubts for those who have little medical knowledge with which to make informed healthcare decisions.
Is A Tubal Stent Better?
We have performed over 10,000 tubal reversal surgeries. In the early days of tubal reversal, we did perform dye testing but soon evolved to the use of tubal stents during tubal reversal surgery. We found tubal stents provided a more efficient way to repair the tube with less potential for complications than did dye testing.
Over time we have perfected techniques to make tubal reversal surgery safe and out-patient. We were recognized for our efforts last year as leading tubal reversal specialists by The Triangle Physician.
Since we made the switch to tubal stents we have performed over 8,000 tubal reversal surgeries with the tubal stents and have had many Baby Testimonials to support the fact that our tubal reversal methods work.
Is Dye Testing Better?
We feel meticulous microsurgery using a temporary tubal stent is better than dye testing during tubal reversal surgery. Our next article, Dye Testing Or Tubal Stents During Tubal Reversal: Advice, provide insight into how we arrived at our conclusion that dye testing is not as good as a tubal stent during tubal reversal surgery. Stay tuned…
Submitted by Dr. Charles Monteith
