IVF vs. Tubal Reversal - Making Your Decision
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If you had your tubes tied but have decided you want another child, your doctor will probably suggest doing the in vitro fertilization (IVF) process. But there is an. That alternative is a tubal reversal. Should you have one? Let’s check out IVF vs. tubal reversal to see what might be best for you.
A tubal reversal is a micro-surgical technique of repairing the fallopian tubes where they were cut. The preparation is minimal for the surgery including some review of your tubal ligation operative records. If you have a BMI greater than 30, it is suggested you get it down for your own surgical safety. You can check out this page to determine your BMI if you need to: www.tubal-reversal.net/body-mass-index-bmi.php
To undergo the IVF process, you will need to have a series of injections. Some will be subcutaneous which means just under the skin but some have to be put into the muscle. For each drug you get, you will have to go in each day for a few days to receive the shots. This is just to prepare your body such as stimulating it to produce more eggs at once than normal.
Seems like it should be time to remove the eggs, right? Well…you get another injection before ovulation is due. And your doctor will have to monitor you to be able to grab the eggs at the right time. He or she will do this with a needle. This is painful as you can learn by reading a few of the forums available on the topic of IVF.
Finally, you will have to wait for a few days while the fertilization process goes on in the lab after which you come back for the implantation. Usually you will get more than one fertilized egg implanted. You will be at risk for a multiple birth if everything works right but more eggs will increase your chances of a resultant pregnancy. And you will get more shots.
Will all this be successful? That depends on several things which can include something as “simple” as how careful your doctor is and whether or not he rushed the implant procedure and if he put the embryo in a good place. At any rate, you will need more injections now to help sustain things and make your chances better. With all these shots, you should be aware that there are some dangers not only to you but to your child as well, if you should be lucky enough to carry to term. Look around the web to see what the potential dangers are from IVF.
So what are your chances of a success on any one cycle of IVF? The figures vary depending upon such things as how many eggs were implanted, but the most common figures seem to be a 10% to 30% chance of pregnancy.
Let’s look at how the success rates of IVF compare to the success rates for tubal reversal. You can look around the Internet to find out what is generally quoted or you can ask the surgeon you are looking at what his specific success rates are. If he doesn’t know, check out Dr. Berger who publishes his success rates right on his website at www.tubal-reversal.net/. Using those, you can see that the overall success percentage is 69%. If you look at all the charts given, though, you can see it varies from a high of 82%. You will have to see where you fit in. And the good news is that once the surgery is done, if no other problems crop up, then you can keep on trying to have a baby however many times you need all for the cost of the one surgery. No undergoing cycle after cycle of IVF treatments.
And that’s the last thing to cover. One session, or cycle, of IVF will cost on average $10,000 to $12,000 with most patients being told to expect to undergo at least three cycles. That’s like $30,000 or more. Some doctors charge even more. Now compare that to the average cost of a tubal reversal which is $8,000 to $9,000 in the U.S. So what do you think about IVF vs. tubal reversal now? Which choice will be the best for you?
