Tubal Ligation Reversal News

A new member of The Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center Message Board shares her concerns about whether she will have success with tubal reversal surgery after her local doctor advised against it due the technique used for her tubal ligation. In a small percentage of cases, a tubal ligation procedure leaves only the distal portion of the fallopian tube and no proximal tubal opening into the uterus. This may occur when monopolar tubal coagulation has been applied to the isthmic segment of the fallopian tube as it emerges from the uterus. In this situation, a new opening can be created through the uterine muscle and the remaining tubal segment inserted into the uterine cavity. This microsurgical procedure is called tubal implantation, tubouterine implantation, or uterotubal implantation. Dr. Gary Berger performs microsurgical tubal implantation if microsurgical tubal anastomosis is not possible due to the absence of a proximal tubal segment and interstitial tubal lumen.

After arriving in Chapel Hill, North Carolina for her tubal reversal surgery with Dr. Gary Berger, a member of the Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center Message Board shares her thoughts with other members of the message board. Although she was quite nervous before arriving, she was at ease after meeting Dr. Berger and his staff and felt they treated her “like she had been going there for regular visits”. Following her successful tubal reversal procedure with Dr. Berger this morning, she is resting at the hotel and will have the chance for pregnancy to occur again naturally each month.

A potential tubal reversal patient posts on the Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center Message Board seeking information about how to predict the amount of fallopian tube remaining after the tubal reversal procedure with Dr. Gary Berger. Although the operative report from the tubal ligation is helpful in determining the outcome after surgery, it is not 100% accurate. The amount of tubal damage is determined by where ligatures were placed on each tube and, if coagulation was used, the amount of electrical energy and length of time applied to the tubes. These are usually not specified in an operative report. The tubal segment lengths described in a pathology report underestimate the actual amount of damage done the tube during a tubal ligation procedure. The only occasion when the tubal length that has been damaged can be known in advance of the reversal operation is when a single tubal clip has been applied to the fallopian tube.

Women who have come from England for tubal reversal surgery with Dr. Gary Berger discuss their hopes and concerns as they begin trying to conceive. Patients travel from all over the world to have reversal surgery at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center. Dr. Berger is the only doctor in the US who limits his practice to tubal reversal surgery. Having performed more than 7000 reversal procedures, he has more experience with this surgery than any other doctor.

At Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center, two options are offered for women who need assistance with funding for tubal reversal surgery. Patients can participate in a pre-payment plan to save for tubal reversal surgery with Dr. Gary Berger or they can finance all or part of the surgical fee. With the pre-payment option, patients can pre-pay the surgical fee without interest prior to the surgery date. Once the account is opened, payments of any amount can be made at times of the woman’s choosing or as long as she wishes. Patients are able to receive discounted fees while using the pre-payment plan, but the balance must be paid in full prior to scheduling surgery. For women who prefer an arrangement that allows them to come for surgery with Dr. Berger sooner, Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center also works with a finance company so that patients can finance the surgery fee in part of in full.

A new member of the Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center Message Board shares her concerns about whether tubal reversal surgery is the right choice for her at age 39. She shares her belief that “pregnancy and birth should be natural things”. Other members share their own experiences and reasons for choosing surgery as well as their age at the time of surgery. The average age of a patient coming to see Dr. Gary Berger for tubal surgery is 36 - 42. A nurse for Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center provides information about the two options for pregnancy when a woman has had a tubal ligation and reminds the new member that tubal reversal surgery has the benefit of restoring fertility after a sterilization. Unlike IVF, reversal surgery is natural and provides the chance for a woman to conceive on her own each month without additional expense, surgical procedures, or medication.

There is a lot of information on the internet on tubal reversal surgery but not all of the information is accurate or factual. The website from Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center offers the most complete and accurate information out there. Dr. Berger’s dedication to quality patient care begins with the first visit to the website. The website offers information from the various types of tubal ligations to information about all aspects of tubal reversal surgery and its outcomes. Patients can browse through the different pages or simply type in what they are looking for in the search box that is located on every page. Weekly pregnancy reports, detailed pregnancy announcements, and testimonials from patients offer hope to others as they can read success stories following tubal reversal procedures. If you have a question regarding tubal reversal surgery you can find the answer there.

Fallopian tube lengths remaining after a tubal ligation are important determinants of the success of tubal reversal surgery. Tubal lengths are measured by Dr. Berger during tubal reversal surgery. The average length of the two fallopian tubes after repair were correlated with the likelihood of becoming pregnant. Even though pregnancy rates were higher among women with longer tubes, pregnancies were reported with tubal lengths of less than 2.5 cm. Although previously unreported in medical literature, it became apparent during this study that a repaired tube of any length can result in pregnancy.

Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center is the only tubal reversal clinic that maintains and reports pregnancy statistics on a weekly basis so that women who are considering a tubal reversal procedure can know the results of the operation. As in the past, a dozen new pregnancies were reported during the first week of April. Follow-up is maintained by the Tubal Reversal Center staff with each patient who is pregnant so that the outcome of every pregnancy is known. Annually, pregnancy statistics are updated on the Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center website regarding pregnancy rates and pregnancy outcomes. This information allows prospective tubal reversal patients to be fully informed about the success of tubal reversal procedures and is consistent with the principle of “evidence based medicine”. In this regard, as in the attention to individual patient care, Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center has the highest standards of care of any medical facility.

Tubal Reversal Message Board member ‘Lovebirds3371′ posts this question: “I had a tubal ligation in 2000. Little did I know or realize what was being done. My former doctor did a fimbriectomy and removed 6 cm off of one tube and 6.5 off the other. I have sent my reports to a lot of doctors and most say IVF is the way to go. But I have seen on the Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center website of women who have had it reversed. I know the success rate wouldn’t be great but it’s more than I have now. The IVF process is of course very costly and not a guarantee. Our insurance covers nothing of it. Any words of wisdom or hope? Dr. Berger, the Medical Director of Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center responds with this advice, “It is helpful for anyone who has had a fimbriectomy to read my blog post about fimbriectomy reversal. This indicates that an HSG or screening laparoscopy is recommended to see if there is sufficient ampullary portion of the fallopian tube to permit microsurgical salpingostomy, the technique that is used for fimbriectomy reversal.”

Hollie R., a nurse and administrator of a health care facility, posts her testimonial of another success story following tubal reversal surgery to share her story of the journey that she took to Chapel Hill to have her surgery with Dr. Berger and the happy ending that it had with the birth of her son James Preston III. She says, “I told my testimony at church and to anyone else who would listen to me about Dr Berger and how the Lord took me to Chapel Hill, and I remained faithful even in the lowest of times. I had everyone praying for me. There is so much that I have left out of this testimony but the most important thing that I can express is that first, Our God is Good, and second Dr Berger and his team have got to have the best job in the whole wide world. I would be so honored to work there to help all of these families that come from all over the world to have this tubal reversal procedure done. It is such a miracle!”

Hollie’s story shows that tubal reversal surgery offers women thechance to change what they thought was permanent and allow them to experience the joy of motherhood again.

A member of the Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center Message Board announces that she has had a positive pregnancy test following her tubal reversal procedure performed by Dr. Berger. Other women desiring tubal reversal surgery get the chance to gain information, read success stories, and provide support each other on the Tubal Reversal Message Board. Tubal reversal surgery with Dr. Berger gives women a chance not only to conceive a child again, but also to form bonds and friendships with other women wanting their tubes untied from all over the world as they realize they are not alone.

Scarlet04 announces on the Tubal Reversal Message Board that she has just scheduled her tubal reversal with Dr. Berger for May 22, 2008. She will be flying from Colorado with her husband and is grateful for the opportunity to “give him his own child.” Scarlet04 is congratulated by other message board members and reassured by Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center staff members that she will receive excellent care during her stay in Chapel Hill for her tubal reversal procedure.

Tubal reversal patients of Dr. Berger’s and members of Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center’s message board discuss “getting well” after tubal reversal surgery. Most of Dr. Berger’s patients feel back to normal within 5 to 10 days after surgery. The tubal reversal surgery does require an abdominal incision and this will take some time to heal. Tubal reversal patients need to take a few days to rest in order to give their bodies a chance to heal. Although some patients do not have any post operative pain or swelling, some other patients may experience some abdominal swelling and minimal post operative discomfort. Some tubal reversal patients of Dr. Berger’s return to a job where they sit most of the day 3 or 4 days after surgery and some other patients may need a couple more days longer before returning to work. Patients are urged to listen to their bodies and increase activities as they feel they are able to.

A member on the message board at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center writes, “Hi Tubal Reversal Sisters. I have a fertility monitor that I used for 3 cycles with no luck. After waiting 1 year and 4 months God blessed me to conceive after my tubal reversal procedure by Dr. Berger. I would like to give this monitor to one of my TR sisters. I will even pay the shipping charges.” Another member writes, “I did the same thing with my monitor when I got my BFP (positive pregnancy test). I only got to use mine for one cycle and I was pregnant.” These are examples of the caring and sharing relationships that develop every day on the message board at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center.

Ladies on the message board at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center want to know how to determine when menstrual cycle day one begins given the differences between amount of menstrual flow and when the flow begins. One tubal reversal patient asks, “If I started my period on Saturday at 6 p.m. when should I get my 3 day FSH level? Another asks if she counts cycle day one as the day she sees “pink”. Cycle day one is considered the first day of menstrual bleeding - spotting does not count. This is important for those who use ovulation predictor kits or are considering FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) testing to determine ovarian reserve in preparing for or following a tubal ligation reversal.

Elizabeth is welcomed by other members to the Tubal Reversal Message Board. She was in a troubled marriage and had a tubal ligation at a young age. She posts, “I was in a very very abusive relationship with their father, got a divorce,and am currently engaged to be married to the worlds best man! He is a better man than I have ever been with before. He loves the girls like they are his own and would love to have a biological child of his own one day soon.” She is excited that she found the Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center website and plans to have her tubal reversal as soon as possible. She is greeted with support and encouragement from other ladies like her with similar stories. Fortunately Dr. Berger can repair the fallopian tubes in 98% of the women who have had tubal ligation regardless of the type of sterilization procedure.

Kelly, who is 41 years old, is feeling hopeful after her recent tubal reversal procedure with Dr. Berger. She shares with other members on the message board at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center that Dr. Berger saw signs of recent ovulation during her tubal reversal last week. Linda, another member over age 40, is excited because her HCG (pregnancy hormone) numbers have been rising and her ultrasound revealed a pregnancy in the uterus. Dr. Berger publishes pregnancy rates on his website according to age, tubal ligation method, and fallopian tube lengths. In 2007 the pregnancy rate for women over 40 years was 41% after tubal reversal surgery performed by Dr. Berger.

Surgical technologists, also called surgical technicians, are the unsung heros of the surgical team at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center. The surgical technicians are responsible for making sure that all equipment is in perfect working order, the operating rooms are meticulous, and that all equipment and instruments are sterile. Their training and working every day with Dr. Berger ensures that tubal reversal procedures go smoothly, safely, and that patients are under anesthesia for the minimal length of time necessary. They must think and act quickly, safely, and accurately to assist the surgeon to achieve the optimal surgical technique throughout the entire operation, from the time a patient goes to sleep until she awakes.

A new member of the Tubal Reversal Message Board, ‘mistydawn729′ posts, “I am so happy to have found this place! I have my tubal ligation just over a year ago after the birth of my second child. Within the past 6 months I have really got to thinking that I have made the wrong decision and have been trying to find information about getting my tubal ligation undone. Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center sounds great. Is there anyone here that can give me a little more insight into what to expect from the tubal reversal surgery?”

Tubal Reversal Message Board member ‘wantanotherchance’ posts, “Should women have there hormone levels checked before tubal reversal if they are 38 years old? Every time I ask my doctor to check them, he says as long as I have my menstrual regular my hormones are fine.” At Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center we recommend that women ages 40 or older have a cycle day 3 FSH serum assay to assess their ovarian function and reserve of eggs. Pregnancy is possible at any age as long women are having regular menstrual cycles. At Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center the pregnancy rate for women 35-39 years old is 67% after tubal reversal surgery performed by Dr. Berger.

In the 1995 National Survey of Family Growth, women who reported having a tubal ligation were asked the following question. “As things look to you now, if your tubal ligation could be reversed safely, would you want to have it reversed?” 24% expressed the desire for tubal reversal on the part of herself and/or her partner. Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center is the only medical facility that is exclusively for tubal ligation reversal. Follow-up statistics show that tubal reversal by Dr. Gary Berger has not only the highest documented pregnancy and birth rates but also has the highest safety of any tubal reversal procedure.

I had 2 children before my tubal ligation. I regretted having the tubal the moment I woke up from surgery. Anyway, life went on with my husband and 2 kids until I had the urge for a third child. That is when I went to Dr. Berger at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center. He was able to reverse one tube and it was a short one. After trying unsuccessfully for about a year I went to 2 different RE’s who were skeptical about the tubal reversal and stated that IVF was the only way to go. So after 2 tries with IVF the RE came to the conclusion that my ovarian reserve was poor and the chance of conceiving was less than 5 percent. So I gave up. In 2006 we started an adoption process with Ethiopia and we brought our son home just last week. But 1 week prior to going to Ethiopia I found out that I was pregnant with a home pregnancy test! I went to my OB and every other day my HCG levels were more than doubling. When I came back from Ethiopia my pregnancy was confirmed with the sac in the uterus and a heartbeat! So now in 2008 I went from having 2 kids to 3 to soon to be 4. This taught me not to let anyone discourage you into thinking pregnancy after a tubal reversal procedure can’t happen because God has His timing and His reasons.

Congratulations are offered to 12 ladies as they announce on the Tubal Reversal Message Board they are pregnant this week after undergoing tubal reversal surgery with Dr. Gary Berger. The average age of this week’s ladies is 36 year old. Among women age 35-39, the pregnancy rate is 58% and for women 40 and older the pregnancy rate is 40%. Although these rates are lower than for younger women, they show that as long as a woman is still ovulating, pregnancy is still possible regardless of a woman’s age.

Members of the Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center discuss their feelings of nervousness as they await their upcoming tubal reversal procedures with Dr. Gary Berger and Dr. Charles Monteith. BM posts, “I have just scheduled my tubal reversal surgery for April 9, 2008. I am so nervous. I already have three children and my husband wants to have 2 more. Our baby is 9 and the other two are 14 and 16. I’m ready for it but I’m very nervous at this point.” Pam Mills, CRNA responds,” GM, I am so glad you chose Dr Berger for your tubal reversal, you definitely are in good hands. I am the nurse anesthetist at the surgical center, and I want you to know we will take good care of you. If you have any specific concerns please let me know. We are here to take care of you and to help remove stress from the equation. I will look forward to hearing from you.” RDestiny adds, “You have chosen the best staff to perform your TR! Feeling nervous is normal. You’ll be in great hands in Chapel Hill.”

Outpatient anesthesia at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center is tailored to meet the needs of ambulatory surgery so patients can leave the surgical facility soon after their operation. The anesthesia team ensures patients’ comfort before, during, and after your tubal reversal surgery. Our two board certified anesthesiologists and registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) specialize in outpatient anesthesia and have a total of more than 50 years of combined experience.

Many women come to Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center for a chance of pregnancy after remarriage. “I am 32 years old and I long to have a baby with my husband (we each have children but none together). So, having a baby is fantastic!” Although tubal reversal is not right for everyone, Dr. Berger can successfully repair the fallopian tubes in 98% of women who have had a tubal ligation, regardless of the type of sterilization procedure.

Members of the Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center discuss what happens if your period begins on the day of your tubal reversal surgery. Debjim posts, “I was on cycle day 2 of AF (menstrual period) when I had my TR, no need to worry, the staff is wonderful and made me comfortable and calm because I was nervous about it.” The date for tubal reversal does not have to be rescheduled if menstruation occurs on the scheduled date for the procedure.

Members of the Tubal Reversal Message Board post their pregnancy tickers that show how far along their pregnancies are after undergoing Tubal Reversal Surgery at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center. Tickers are also a fun way to track ovulation, delivery due dates, and days remaining until your tubal reversal surgery date. “This was a great idea, I hope others chime in with their tickers too!! I am so excited about only 18 more weeks to go. How are you feeling these days? My morning sickness kicked in around 7 or 8 weeks and it was the worst ever! Hope you have better days though!!”

Members of the Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Message Board discuss how they felt after have Tubal Reversal Surgery with Dr. Gary Berger. “Dr. Berger did a wonderful job on my incision. I have had 2 C-sects and he used my already existing scar and, had it not been for 2 small places that split, you could not tell that I had a TR incision. The day after surgery I felt better than the days following. It has been 2 1/2 weeks since my TR and I feel great. It took me about 10-12 days to get back to feeling normal again. To me, the pain from the procedure felt much like that of an extreme workout session (sore abs from sit-ups).”