Consider all your options before preparing for tubal reversal surgery

If you want to have another baby after having had a tubal ligation procedure, also known as having your “tubes tied,” you’re not the only one. Patients sometimes regret getting this form of permanent birth control. When this happens, they often visit our Austin fertility specialists. The patient may start by asking questions about preparing for tubal reversal surgery. However, Texas Fertility Center no longer offers this procedure. Instead, we offer in vitro fertilization (IVF), which we believe is more effective and beneficial for most patients.

Part of preparing for tubal reversal surgery involves collecting information

It’s important to remember that tubal reversal is a surgical procedure. As a result, this procedure comes with the typical risks of surgery and anesthesia, including blood loss, infection and scarring. Not only that, but the patient needs to take time off work for recovery. This is typically seven to 14 days. In contrast, IVF doesn’t come with these same risks or require an extended recovery period.

Another problem with tubal reversal surgery is that it isn’t always successful. This is true even when a highly skilled surgeon performs the procedure. As such, a patient could undergo a surgical procedure and extended recovery period only to end up needing IVF to welcome a baby later.

For these reasons, our Austin fertility specialists don’t perform tubal reversal surgery and recommend IVF to tubal ligation patients instead.

How IVF works for tubal ligation patients

If you decide that preparing for tubal reversal surgery isn’t the best option for you, our Austin fertility specialists will help you explore the IVF process. To conceive using in vitro fertilization, you’ll go through several steps.

• First, you’ll take ovarian stimulation medications to help your ovaries produce multiple eggs. To make sure that your body doesn’t make too many eggs, you’ll visit your doctor for routine monitoring appointments.
• When your follicles reach a certain size, you’ll receive a trigger shot to mature the eggs within the follicles. You’ll then have an outpatient egg retrieval 36 hours later. You can return home immediately after this procedure.
• Our embryologists will use sperm from your partner or a sperm donor to fertilize your retrieved eggs in the IVF laboratory. They will then monitor the growth and development of the resulting embryos.
• Finally, your doctor will transfer one of the resulting embryos to your uterus and then monitor you for signs of pregnancy.

Preparing for tubal reversal surgery isn’t right for many patients, but IVF can be a great option for bringing home a healthy baby. Contact us to learn more about how our Austin fertility specialists can help you.