I would like to share with readers the personal story of Jessica and Robert. They were one of the first couples to report a Monteith pregnancy. Their experience is very illustrative of the emotional and moral difficulties patients can have after tubal ligation and when considering tubal reversal or in-vitro fertilization. Their story demonstrates the ultimate success tubal ligation reversal can often bring to couples and the hope of more than just a single pregnancy.
With their permission we would like to share their story so others may derive both hope and inspiration.
Divorce And Tubal Ligation
Jessica was 25 years old when she had her tubes tied. She was the mother of three children and had been married for three years. She had recently gone through a difficult divorce and was determined not to have any more children. She had a vaginal birth with her third child and asked her doctor to perform a tubal ligation after the birth of her child. The doctor refused and told her she would have to think about her decision more before he would do a tubal ligation procedure.
Tubes ‘Tied’ With Tubal Clips
Jessica was determined to have her tubes tied. She was insistent, returned after her birth to again discuss the procedure, and her doctor eventually gave in to her desire. Jessica underwent a Filshie tubal clip sterilization procedure within several weeks of the birth of her last child.
After Tubal Ligation
Three years after her tubal ligation, Jessica met Robert and within six months they married and wanted a child together. They consulted with a local infertility specialist and discussed both IVF and tubal ligation reversal. The specialist told them he did perform tubal reversals, but he had not done a reversal surgery within the last two years and would have to special order the surgical equipment to perform the reversal procedure.
According to Jessica and in her own words,
“They did not want a plumber to work on her car.”
Translation: she did not want an IVF specialist with little experience in tubal reversal to repair her blocked fallopian tubes.
Reluctantly they decided to pursue IVF with their IVF specialist.
IVF After Tubes Tied: IVF Cycle 1
They signed up for a shared risk assisted reproduction payment plan. This plan required they pay for all of Jessica’s medications and then they would make monthly payments for the IVF (similar to a home mortgage). They financially qualified for the plan and enrolled and were ready to begin.
They underwent the initial medical tests required and were ready to begin their first IVF treatment cycle. They underwent all the preparation and even went through a mock embryo transfer (a test run to place eggs back in uterus). They never started. After a serious discussion, they realized paying for the IVF treatment could bankrupt them.
Reversal Tubal Ligation or IVF: IVF Cycle 2
Eventually, they decided if they really wanted another child in their lives they would have to make serious financial sacrifices to do so. They were determined to make it happen and they again started the process. Jessica bought the medications required and had two days of Follistim hormonal injections. After the third day, she and Robert panicked, realized they were terrified of the process they were starting, and were very fearful of having a multiple gestation pregnancy.
Jessica stopped her injections of hormonal medications and called the IVF office in a panic. The office nurse tried to calm Jessica down and she also gave her confidential advice. She told Jessica to consider having her tubes untied. The nurse advised her to search the Internet under ‘tubal ligation reversal‘.
Jessica and Robert had essentially ruled out tubal reversal because their IVF specialist made it seem like a major production with little chance of success.
Jessica and Robert eventually discovered the website of A Personal Choice and would be forever thankful for this nurse’s confidential advice.
Successful Tubal Ligation Reversal
Jessica traveled from Edgewood, Maryland for tubal ligation reversal in September of 2008. Her surgery went well and both tubes were repaired. After reversal, her right tube was 6.5 cm and her left tube was 6.0 cm. Her operation lasted 69 minutes.
Chances of Pregnancy After Tubal Reversal: Excellent!
Two months after her tubal ligation reversal, Jessica became pregnant! She reported this pregnancy to us using our Pregnancy Report form and her due date was estimated to be in July 2009. We were able to follow up with her to ensure she was doing well and she has kept us informed of the progress of her pregnancy. She even sent us ultrasound pictures showing the growth of her little baby girl!
Jessica and Robert did deliver a healthy baby girl. She was born July 27th, 2009 exactly at midnight. She weighed 9lbs and was 19 inches. Her parents named her…Sarah Hope.
They have also recently announced a second successful pregnancy after tubal reversal and this baby is due in August of 2010!
I would say their chances of pregnancy have been indeed been excellent!
Submitted by Dr. Charles Monteith
