Tubal reversal restores a woman’s ability to conceive after a tubal ligation. A second option for pregnancy after tubal ligation is in-vitro fertilization (IVF). Some doctors push IVF as the best option for women with a tubal ligation. However, tubal reversal surgery is a better option. It’s success rates are twice as high as IVF and it allows a woman to conceive as many times as she can, instead of only once per treatment. Most importantly, it doesn’t come with the added risks of IVF.
Risks of IVF include:
Multiple Births: It’s common for multiple embryos to be implanted during an IVF treatment. This can lead to multiple births. Multiples pregnancies increase risks for both mother and baby. The most common complication is preterm delivery, which can hinder development. The risk of low birth weight, gestational diabetes, and fetal growth restriction also increase with IVF.
Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS): IVF patients are typically given a large dose of artificial hormones to help stimulate the ovaries. This stimulation encourages the ovaries to produce more than one egg. These are then collected, fertilized, and returned to the uterus. However, it’s possible for these hormones to hyperstimulate the ovaries. Mild cases of OHSS cause painful swelling of the ovaries and an upset GI tract. Moderate to severe cases include excessive weight gain (2+ lbs per day) and shortness of breath. Approximately 1% of patients require a hospital stay for this condition.
Egg Retrieval Complications: When eggs are ready for retrieval, they are removed using an aspirating needle. Though rare, this needle can cause bleeding or infection. It can also damage the bowel or bladder. Some women require laparoscopic surgery to remove the eggs if the ultrasound is inconclusive.
Increased Cancer Risk: The hormone-induced ovarian stimulation that IVF patients experience may lead to an increased risk of ovarian cancer. Doctors have long been aware of the cancer prevention benefits of the pill, which reduces the risk of ovarian cancer by reducing ovarian activity. The increased ovarian activity associated with IVF may therefore increase the risk of cancer. A study found that women who had gone through IVF treatments were 4 times as likely to develop borderline ovarian cancer. This is a slow-growing cancer that rarely leads to fatalities, but it can require surgery.
Clearly, IVF poses many risks. Tubal reversal surgery does require surgery but the procedure requires only two small incisions and lasts less than two hours. Most of our patients are back at work within 5-7 days after the procedure, and no artificial hormones are required.
Tubal ligation reversal is the best option for women who want to get pregnant after tubal ligation. Dr. Morice offers the lowest cost tubal reversal in the nation.
Call us at (985) 702-BABY or email at drmorice@mybabydoc.com for your free tubal reversal consultation.
