Thursday, April 26, 2012

Tubal Ligation Reversal: Tubal Ligation Reversal: Is The Price Worth It?

Tubal Ligation Reversal: Tubal Ligation Reversal: Is The Price Worth It?:  This article gives the cost-effectiveness of tubal ligation reversal and IVF - the findings may be surprising to many doctors!

Tubal Ligation Reversal: Is The Price Worth It?

I recently read an article from an IVF doctor saying that tubal reversal surgery was not worth the price and that IVF was much better for women with tied tubes who want to have another baby. Of course, the article was biased by the doctor’s preference to do what he is trained to do – IVF. But I thought the question he raised was an interesting one to examine.

It is possible to determine the cost-effectiveness of a medical procedure by looking at both the cost for the procedure and the success rate.

How To Calculate Cost-Effectiveness

The average cost for a single treatment cycle of IVF in the US is $12,000 and the average pregnancy rate is 35% according to the latest statistics from the CDC. Therefore, the cost-effectiveness is $12,000/.35 or $34,285 for each pregnancy achieved. At Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center, the cost of a tubal ligation reversal is $5900 and the average pregnancy rate is 70%, so the cost-effectiveness of a pregnancy after tubal reversal is $8428 per pregnancy.

For other doctors or hospitals, costs of tubal reversal are quoted up to $35,000 for the reversal procedure and no pregnancy success rates are published, so one cannot extrapolate the results from Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center to other doctors or facilities.

Tubal Reversal Is More Cost-Effective Than IVF

This brief analysis of the relative cost-effectiveness of tubal reversal vs. IVF illustrates how wrong the IVF doctor's conclusions are. It is always a good idea to research in depth before accepting an uninformed doctor’s opinion about tubal ligation reversal compared with in vitro fertilization.

Anyone wanting more information about tubal ligation reversal surgery should review the extensive website at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center or call (919) 968-4656 for a free telephone consultation with a tubal reversal nurse. An excellent recent article to read is Tubal Reversal Experts: A Priceless Surgery.

Monday, March 12, 2012

How common is regret after tubal sterilization?


Most women do not regret their decision to have a tubal ligation. However, 1 out of 4 women will regret their decision about having their tubes tied. This was shown in the CREST Study.

Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center Offers Hope

The tubal ligation reversal experts at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center help women in reversing these ‘permanent’ decisions when they are no longer the right decisions for individuals and couples. We have helped many patients come by restoring the hope of new life and the chance for some to relieve their burdens of guilt and regret.

Read More About Guilt or Regret about Tubes Tied…

Monday, September 26, 2011

Tubal Reversal Video

A new Tubal Reversal Video has been added to the home page of the Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center website. This video, by the world's leading tubal reversal doctors, explains what makes this the most successful procedure for tubal ligation reversal and how women who want their tubes untied can verify the accuracy of the information provided by the world's best tubal reversal clinic.




Excerpt from Video Transcript »
Dr. Berger- Tubal ligation involves blocking the fallopian tubes. When women have this operation done it is meant to be permanent. But sometimes their circumstances change and they want to get pregnant again. Fortunately it's possible to remove the blocked part of the tube and reattach the remaining normal segments of tube. So, in fact, tubal ligation can be reversed.

Chloe Osborne, RN- At Chapel Hill Surgical Center our medical, nursing and support staff all work together to ensure a safe and comfortable experience for all of our patients. Our surgical team is comprised of tubal reversal surgeons, anesthesiologists, highly skilled surgical nurses and technologists.Our staff will make you feel comfortable from the moment you arrive. On the morning of surgery you may be given an arrival time or we may call and tell you when to arrive at the surgical center. We will do everything we can to minimize your waiting time. At Chapel Hill Surgical Center our goal is to provide the highest standard of care in a safe and pleasant environment. After you leave the surgical center we will follow up with you by phone two to three days after your surgery. You will also receive an email survey approximately two weeks after your surgery. We are always striving to improve and we always welcome your feedback about your experience at Chapel Hill Surgical Center.

Dr. Berger- My interest in microsurgical tubal anastomosis, the operation that repairs tubes that have been severed, goes back to the late 1970's. And very early in my career I realized that this was something that I wanted to do. I was also fortunate in my 30 something years of clinical experience to have work for many years with an outstanding plastic surgeon, a world famous plastic surgeon, and was able to bring plastic surgery techniques as well as microsurgery techniques to the field of gynecology in terms of repairing the fallopian tubes. And so in 1982 I opened this surgical center to allow me to deliver the type of medical care that I had in mind.

Anne Lees, Quality Assurance Coordinator- We have the largest database of tubal reversal statistics. We are the only outpatient tubal reversal center. Our surgeons only perform tubal reversals and have the most experience in restoring a woman's fertility not just in the United States but in the world.

Dr. Berger- Our data now after many years of collecting objective information and analyzing it showed that tubal reversal surgery when performed here by myself or Dr. Monteith has a higher success rate than in vitro fertilization. Approximately 7 out of 10 women will become pregnant after having surgery here. And of course pregnancy rate varies and depends on factors such as age, younger women have higher pregnancy rates and older women have lower pregnancy rates just as among women that haven't had their tubes tied and reversed.

You can read what we call baby testimonials. They are on our website, just click on the link that says testimonials. And what you will see there are just the words of some of our patients that have sent in information about the babies they have had with their pictures. And they include their email address so that if you want to contact them you can. This is true also for all of those women that write in daily sending in just their feedback about their experiences here. We call these patient satisfaction messages and these are posted daily on our website as well. And once again, these women that write us will include their email addresses so that you can contact them if you have questions. So you don't have to take my word for it that this is the best facility in the world if you want a tubal reversal you can ask women that have been here themselves what their experience has been like.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Unblocking Blocked Fallopian Tubes





Facing infertility is bad enough. Facing infertility due to blocked fallopian tubes is like a double whammy. First, for many who have blocked fallopian tubes there are no signs. There is no pain to let you know that something is wrong. The days come and go and trying to get pregnant is becoming stressful because it just isn’t happening. Using ovulation predictor kits, timing everything perfectly and having extra early pregnancy tests on hand has become an everyday fact of life.


After trying to get pregnant for an extended amount of time it is finally time to see a specialist. After many tests on you and your partner the verdict comes in. You have blocked tubes. When did this happen? Can it be fixed? The questions run through your mind because you now have been blindsided and have no clue what to think.


You are given two options in order to be able to have a child. You can either have tubal surgery or you can have IVF treatments. Which one works best? The physician is unable to give you a concrete answer.


IVF may be able to get you the baby you and your partner so desire. But the expense is something that just cannot be afforded. With the economy the way it is everyone is cutting back and this applies to most couples. The truth of the matter is it is a steep cost with no guarantees. If the IVF does work for one then what happens if the couple decides they want more children?


The other option discussed is tubal surgery. The pregnancy outcome is usually good, as you have been told. Finding an expert surgeon will have to be n the top of the list. Where is the best tubal surgery surgeon located? What are the costs involved? Is it close to the price of an IVF treatment?


The questions are like mountains that have to be climbed. The good news is that there is hope. The bad news is trying to find the right answers may take a lot of research. Of course finding the best surgeon is something that will need to be done and at the top of the list.


Many couples have the perfect answer for finding the right surgeon for this. They search out the top tubal reversal surgeons. These surgeons repair fallopian tubes all day and have seen cases that many other surgeons have not. They reverse tubal ligations for couples to have more children. If tubal reversal surgeons reverse the effects of damage that was purposely done to the tubes then they are the ones for this.


For more information on surgery for blocked tubes please call the tubal surgery nurses at 1-919-968-4656.


Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Advice For Picking Expert Tubal Reversal Surgeons

When choosing a tubal reversal surgeon you want the best. Having a tubal ligation reversal is a very delicate surgery to have the fallopian tubes repaired. Having the best tubal reversal surgeon available will greatly increase your chances of having a successful pregnancy following surgery. Although there is no guarantee for pregnancy following any type of procedure to restore fertility the odds with a good surgeon make it much better.

Having a surgeon that has experience in these types of surgeries is a must. Picking a surgeon that does not do this type of surgery on a regular basis is not a good idea. Choosing the expert tubal reversal surgeon who does just this type of surgery greatly increases your chances of pregnancy.

When consulting with a surgeon for the tubal reversal procedure and you are being told IVF would be better then beware. Many physicians will say they perform reversal procedure and then once the consultation takes place they try to push the IVF. They will state that the pregnancy rate is better and IVF is less expensive. Tubal reversal is expensive if performed in the hospital with a hospital stay involved. Tubal reversals do not cost more then IVF and they do not have to be performed in the hospital. They are performed daily at the leading tubal reversal center as an outpatient procedure. In the case of the outpatient procedure at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center the fallopian tubes are repaired in 98% of all cases.

When asking a surgeon about the pregnancy statistics make sure there are actual statistics. And be sure they are not another surgeon’s statistics on data taken from the Tubal Reversal Pregnancy Report 2009. This is the largest study performed to date on tubal ligation reversal and pregnancy success rates. This study was completed by Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center is has been being used by other surgeons to show couples how successful this procedure is.

For more information on locating an expert tubal reversal surgeon the tubal reversal nurses can be contacted by calling 1-919-968-4656.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Expert Tubal Reversal Surgeons

Expert Tubal Reversal Surgeons

What Are Expert Tubal Reversal Surgeons?


Expert tubal reversal surgeons are reproductive surgeons who are board certified obstetrician-gynecologists and who have performed at least 500-1000 tubal ligation reversal operations.

How To Find Expert Tubal Reversal Surgeons?


You can find expert tubal reversal surgeons by searching the internet for “tubal reversal surgeons”. As you click on the results and go to the doctors’ websites, look for information about how many operations they have performed to reverse bilateral tubal ligations. Then you can prepare a list of possible doctors to consider. It does take some effort and “reading between the lines” to figure out which doctors are actually experts based on their experience as opposed to those who simply say or imply they are experts.

What Other Criteria Should I Consider?


If you want the best outcome from your tubal sterilization reversal, look for the success rates published by the expert tubal reversal surgeons you have found. Success rates include both pregnancy rates and birth rates. The pregnancy rate is the number of women who have become pregnant divided by the total number of women having a tubal reversal operation performed by that doctor. The birth rate is the number of women who have given birth divided by the total number of women having a tubal reversal operation performed by that doctor. If the doctor does not show the actual numbers of operations performed, you should suspect that the reported success rate may not be real or is based on some other doctor’s success rates. It is unfortunate but true that this type of misleading information is shown on some doctors’ websites.

Who Are the Best Tubal Reversal Doctors?


Based on actual data that is shown on doctors’ websites, the choice of the best tubal reversal experts is clear – Dr. Gary Berger and Dr. Charles Monteith at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. These doctors publish the pregnancies and births reported by their patients on the Weekly Pregnancy Reports Forum of the Tubal Reversal Message Board, and they show all of the information in their Tubal Reversal Pregnancy Study reports. They have performed over 10,000 tubal ligation reversals and account for the most tubal reversal babies born worldwide.
For more information, examine the Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center website. If you have questions, call (919) 968-4656 for a free consultation. You can also review the Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center company page on Facebook and the Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center Group page on Facebook to learn what other women have to say about Dr. Berger and Dr. Monteith. There is a good reason why women travel from all over the world to the Chapel Hill center. That is where the best expert tubal reversal surgeons perform their work.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

PTLS Syndrome and What Happens

PTLS Syndrome has been around as long as tubal ligations have been being performed. Many in the medical field will not acknowledge that it exists but many women will tell you differently.

What happens most often is that women will begin make the decision to have a tubal ligation. After the ligation or having their tubes tied they will notice things are not right. They will have periods that are heavier with more clotting. Their hair will begin to thin and they notice mood swings that are worse then the normal PMS. Weight gain is something that they do not even want to think about because that just happens without the added calories. And the couple has issues with what used to be a good sex life. The problem is that the wife just has no desire. As much as this may bother her partner it tends to bother her more because she doesn’t understand what is happening to her and why she feels this way.

After some research many women will find something related to tubal ligation. This is either referred to as PTLS Syndrome or Post Tubal Ligation Syndrome. And when they do happen to stumble on the words a whole new world opens up to them. There is name for what they have been suffering with. The physicians have told them there is no way a tubal ligation could cause all of the things that have been happening.

Is there hope for those who suffer from PTLS Syndrome? Oh, there is but unfortunately not too many physicians realize this. And the women are ecstatic that they may be on to something and it is called tubal ligation reversal surgery. And the women that have this surgery are reporting improvement almost immediately.

Women that have gone to Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center for surgery for relief of PTLS Syndrome are speaking out. A recent patient who goes by the name of “MegZz” is telling her story. She had suffered with PTLS Syndrome for too long and was getting the surgery to help relieve the symptoms.

After arriving at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center for her surgery MegZz is now telling the world how good she feels. She wants women all over the world to know that it is not in their heads and that it does work. She is a voice for the many women that have been told that Post Tubal Ligation Syndrome does not exist.

Dr. Berger and Dr. Monteith perform tubal ligation reversal surgery four days a week. This unique tubal reversal facility is dedicated to just tubal reversal surgery. The staff to patient ratio is high so that each patient feels like she is the only patient there. And this is discussed in the latest video that MegZz has released telling her story and how she found relief. Her video, post tubal ligation syndrome journey pt3, shows just how excited MegZz is to be feeling better.

If you have questions the Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center nurses are always available for a free phone consultation by calling 1-919-968-4656. The tubal reversal website also has a very active message board as well as a blog and videos.

PTLS Syndrome

What Is PTLS?


PTLS stands for Post Tubal Ligation Syndrome. This is a constellation of symptoms that women may begin to experience after having a tuba ligation. Although the list is long, the most common complaints include heavy and painful menstruation, irritability, headaches, weight gain, and diminished libido.

Is PTLS Real?


Most doctors tell their patients who report symptoms after their tubal sterilization procedures that the symptoms are not related to the tubal ligation and that PTLS is a not a real syndrome. This is based on the contradictory reports from medical studies. Some women report that their doctors have told them they are imagining the symptoms and prescribe psychotropic medications. Others prescribe birth control pills or even recommend hysterectomy.

What Dr. Berger Believes about PTLS


When symptoms appear after a tubal ligation that were not present before it, it is certainly possible that tubal ligation may be a causative factor in the development of the symptoms. However, it is difficult to “prove” that tubal ligation has caused the abnormalities. Rather than taking sides in the debate about whether there is a “real” syndrome, I prefer to call PTLS post tubal ligation symptoms (rather than syndrome). This acknowledges the reality of the abnormalities being reported by women, who certainly know best about their own bodies and how they feel.

Can Tubal Reversal Treat PTLS?


Over a number of years, hundreds of women have undergone tubal ligation reversal at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center because of their desire to get relief from PTLS. During this time, we have collected data from more than 300 women, almost all of whom have subsequently reported improvement or resolution of their symptoms after their tubal reversal surgery. This suggests that the tubal ligation was a factor in the development of PTLS. Although the mechanisms are not well understood, there is evidence that hormonal changes can occur after a tubal ligation and that tubal ligation interferes with the blood flow between the uterus and ovaries. It is possible that tubal reversal surgery leads to the development of collateral blood supply between the uterus and ovaries, and this might account for the improvement in the various symptoms being reported.

Where Is More Information About PTLS?


An excellent source of information about PTLS is available from PTLS News From Tubal Reversal Net and on the Post Tubal Ligation Syndrome Forum of the Tubal Reversal Message Board. There are also many blog articles about PTLS on the Tubal Reversal Blog. The most recent one is about a woman named Meg who also writes her own blog and has recently made a video about her PTLS Journey on YouTube.

What To Do If You Have PTLS


Call (919) 968-4656 to discuss tubal ligation reversal as a Post Tubal Ligation Syndrome treatment.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Essure Reversal for Kayla

History of an Essure Reversal

 This blog article is the first of an ongoing story of an Essure Tubal Reversal for Kayla, a 41 year old woman from California who had her Essure removal yesterday, March 7th, 2011 at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center.

Kayla's Story in Brief

Kayla's story is similar to many other women who have come to me as patients requesting tubal sterilization reversal. She is a 41 year old mother who did not anticipate what would happen to her following her Essure tubal sterilization. Several years after it, she and her husband divorced. Then she met Rudy and fell in love. Rudy has been a wonderful surrogate father to her children and she would like to have a baby with him. She is in excellent health and has regular menstrual cycles. The only problem is that she had the Essure Micro-inserts that have blocked her tubes.

Kayla was referred by her doctor to an IVF clinic where she lives. After she and Rudy met with the doctor, they decided tubal reversal was a better choice than IVF for them. The IVF doctor recommended that she travel to North Carolina in order to have her Essure coils removed and fallopian tubes repaired

Kayla's Essure Reversal Procedure

At the time of Kayla's surgery, the Essure coils were scarred thoroughly in her uterus and tubes. After cutting the tubes where the coils protrude into them outside the uterus, the coils were able to be extracted. Then, the separated fallopian tubes were implanted through newly created openings in the cornual regions of the uterus and were sewn into the uterine cavity. This procedure is called tubouterine implantation or tubal implantation. The operation, performed as outpatient surgery, lasted approximately 90 minutes. Two hours later, Kayla and Rudy returned to her hotel to rest for the remainder of the day.

This morning she was seen at the hotel for her postoperative visit and then went to the airport to fly back to California. At this time, she and Rudy are in the air and they will be home by early evening. Tomorrow morning, a tubal reversal nurse will call to see how she is doing. Kayla knows how to reach me if she has any concerns and will report a positive pregnancy test using the Pregnancy Report Form on the Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center website. She knows to have her doctor follow the early pregnancy testing protocol that is described on our website page entitled "I'm Pregnant".

Essure Reversal Techniques

There are two ways that fallopian tubes can be reimplanted into the uterine cavity. One method involves making an incision across the back of the uterus and suturing the tubes through this opening, then closing the uterine muscle. This is somewhat similar to having a C-section. With this technique, any subsequent pregnancies should be delivered by having a C-section. In Kayla's case, however, it was possible to implant the tubes through very small openings at the upper sides of the uterus, in roughly the area where the tubes normally are attached. With this technique, subsequent delivery by C-section is not needed.

What Chances of Pregnancy After Essure Reversal?

Although it is not possible to predict for any single individual what the long-term outcome will be after tubal reversal surgery, follow-up statistics from thousands of women who have had tubal ligations reversed at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center show that age is the primary factor determining the tubal reversal success rate. At age 41, the chances of pregnancy are approximately 1 in 3. This is similar to the pregnancy rate in the general population of women who have not had a tubal sterilization and subsequent sterilization reversal.

Essure Reversal Follow-Up

Like our other patients, Kayla will be followed as time passes. As more information becomes available, I will summarize it in future articles on this blog. She has completed the first step in this journey - having her tubal blockage corrected through surgery. Once she feels completely recovered from her operation and back to normal, she can start trying to conceive. Hopefully, she will have a successful journey to motherhood once again.

More Information About Essure Removal and Essure Reversal

To get the latest information about Essure Sterilization Reversal, call (919) 968-4656 to speak with a tubal reversal nurse at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Essure Reversal: Essure Problems Overcome

Is Essure Reversal Possible?

Essure Micro-insert
Essure sterilization was approved by the FDA for use in the US in 2002. Since then, hundreds of thousands of Essure sterilizations have been performed. The manufacturer, Conceptus Inc., states, “The Essure procedure is permanent and is NOT reversible.”


Essure Side Effects and Essure Complications


According to information provided by Conceptus, the most frequent adverse events and side effects reported upon insertion of Essure micro-inserts were cramping (29.6%), pain (12.9%), nausea/vomiting (10.9%), dizziness/hotheadedness (8.8%), and bleeding/spotting (6.8%). During the first year of reliance on the Essure micro-inserts for contraception (approximately 15 months after micro-insert placement), the following episodes were reported as at least possibly related to the Essure Micro-inserts: back pain (9.0%), abdominal pain (3.8%), dyspareunia [painful intercourse] (3.6%). [Source - http://www.essure.com/Portals/0/Skins/Conceptus_Skin/PDFs/CC-0366-01%2013Nov08F.pdf]


Internet Reports of Essure Problems


There are numerous web sites and blog sites where women have reported long-term complications they have had with the Essure inserts – most commonly excessive bleeding and pain. One blog site entitled "Essure Problems Continue Among Women" has over 400 women's comments about side effects and complications. In some cases, their doctors have recommended and performed hysterectomies, presumably because they thought the devices were not able to be removed.


Essure Reversal and Pregnancy


Despite the manufacturer’s statement that Essure is not reversible, the tubal reversal doctors at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center have removed Essure devices and reversed Essure sterilizations with the technique of tubouterine implantation as outpatient surgery. Successful pregnancies have followed Essure reversals among women who regretted the sterilization operation and had the coils removed. Numerous medical studies have shown that approximately 10% of women who undergo surgical sterilization subsequently regret the procedure and want to become pregnant again. In some cases, women underwent Essure removal, but not tubouterine implantation, since they did not want to become pregnant but only wanted the Essure removed. The most frequent reasons for seeking removal of the Essure Micro-inserts were persistent pain, excessive and prolonged bleeding, and possible allergic reactions to nickel which is contained in the coils.


Post Marketing Surveillance of Essure Problems


The FDA maintains a reporting system for complications related to medical devices called MAUDE (Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience). This is a voluntary reporting system for doctors. If a doctor reports a complication of a medical device to the manufacturer, it is required for the manufacturer to submit the adverse event report to the FDA. A search on Google for “FDA adverse events Essure” produced only a single adverse event report for Essure in MAUDE  as shown here:
CONCEPTUS, INC. ESSURE KNH-DEVICE, OCCLUSION, TUBAL, CONTRACEPTIVE      
Model Number ESS 205
Event Date 12/07/2007
Date FDA Received    01/08/2008
Event Type  Other   Patient Outcome  Hospitalization; Required Intervention
Manufacturer Narrative
Add'l info will be added if physician sends a pathology report info and any info from add'l post operative visits. 
Event Description
This physician reported on 12/6/07, that he was going to remove the essure micro-inserts the next day due to persistent pain, this pt experienced after having them placed in 2007. The physician evaluated the pain with pelvic examinations which were normal, and a ct scan which showed the micro-inserts to be properly located within the respective fallopian tubes. A white blood cell count was normal. The day after surgery, he reported both micro-inserts were removed laparascopically without difficulty; they appeared normal in the right location without any inflammation. There was no pathology he could find to explain the pelvic pain. He performed a d&c, hysterectoscopy and laparoscopy. He reported to conceptus on 1/7/08 via fax, that during her post operative visit 2 weeks later, her symptoms were much improved and pain seemed to be resolved, but he would continue to monitor her. This physician feels the pain was essure related as he could not find any other pathology to explain her symptoms.

With the hundreds of adverse events and complications women have reported on various internet sites, the single adverse event reported to the MAUDE database represents the tip of the iceberg. The actual long-term complication rate associated with Essure sterilization is unknown.


Essure Reversal and Essure Removal ARE Possible


Women who want to become pregnant after Essure sterilization should be informed that Essure reversal is possible. And women who experience persistent pain or bleeding following insertion of Essure coils should be informed that Essure removal is possible. It is very unfortunate for a young woman to have a hysterectomy to treat problems associated with Essure when a simpler, safer, and more conservative approach is feasible. For more information about Essure removal and Essure reversal, call (919) 968-4656 for a free consultation with a tubal reversal nurse at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Tubes Tied Reversal

Simple Guide to Tubes Tied Reversal

tubes tied and cut"Tubes tied reversal" is a phrase some people use when searching for information about tubal ligation reversal, tubal reversal, or more generally, female sterilization reversal.

What Does Having Tubes Tied Mean?

tubesHaving tubes tied means that a surgical tie or ligature has been placed around a portion of the fallopian tube. In most cases, the doctor also cuts out part of the tied segment that is examined by a pathologist to ensure that a section of the fallopian tube has been removed. This confirms that a tubal sterilization was done and not the removal of part of another structure, such as the round ligament. (The round ligament looks very similar to the tube, is close to it, and is a ligament that runs between the uterus and the inguinal canal.)

Some doctors may say they have tied tubes when, in reality, they have blocked the tubes with clips or rings, or burned the tubes (also called tubal cauterization or tubal coagulation). Because of this generic use of the term “tied tubes”, it is best to get the operative report and pathology report, if available, that describes the tubal sterilization technique if you are considering having your tubes untied. You can send these reports to the tubal reversal doctors at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center who will examine them at no charge and let you know if your tubes can be untied.

Am I a Candidate for Tubes Tied Reversal?

In almost all cases, tied tubes can be untied. There are many variations in the ways doctors tie the tubes (tubal ligation and resection). As long as there are two segments remaining, tubal anastomosis (also known as tubotubal anastomosis, tubal reanastomosis, microsurgical tubal anastomosis, or microsurgical tubal reanastomosis) can be performed.

How Are Tubes Untied?

The image most people have of untying tubes is not accurate. Repairing blocked tubes resulting from a sterilization technique is not as simple as untying a shoe lace. What actually is done is opening the two blocked tubal segments and reattaching them. This is known as tubal anastomosis.

More Information About Tubes Tied Reversal

The most complete and accurate source of information about tubal ligation reversal comes from Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center. This medical center is specifically and only for tubes tied reversal. Nurses are available 7 days a week, 365 days at (919) 968-4656 a year to provide information and assist women wanting to have tubes tied reversal.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Tubal Ligation Long-Term Side Effects

What are the Long-term Side Effects of  Tubal Ligation?

Although many doctors say there are no tubal ligation long-term effects, many women say otherwise. Some of the women who experience long-term effects or symptoms after a tubal ligation subsequently decide to have a tubal ligation reversal. At Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center, these are the most frequent complaints that patients mention when describing their post tubal ligation effects:
  • Heavier menstrual bleeding
  • More irregular menstrual bleeding
  • More painful menstrual periods
  • Increased irritability and mood swings
  • Decreased libido
  • Hair loss

Does Tubal Ligation Cause Long-term Side Effects?

The question about whether tubal ligation causes long-term side effects has been debated for decades in the medical literature. There are studies that support both sides of the debate. Although some women start having symptoms right after a tubal ligation that persist to become long-term, it is hard to prove that the tubal ligation is what that caused them. This is because “before and after” studies are not considered adequate proof of causation. In other words, even though the symptoms started after the tubal ligation (thus called post tubal ligation symptoms or PTLS), they might be due to some other cause.

Will The Question of Tubal Ligation Long-term Effects Ever Be Settled?

It is unlikely that a medical study will ever be performed that can prove, once and for all, whether or not tubal ligation lead to long-term effects for some women. The only way to prove this would be to conduct a double-blind, randomized, experimental study in which 0ne-half of the women in the study would receive a tubal ligation and the others would not, yet neither the woman nor the study investigator would know whether she received the treatment under study (tubal ligation) or a placebo treatment. The randomized, double-blind, experimental study is the “gold standard” for determining causation in medical research. Obviously, such a study would be unethical to perform.

What Happens to Post Tubal Ligation Symptoms After Tubal Reversal?

In an ongoing study of over 300 women who had a tubal ligation reversal at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center, over 90% have reported improvement or complete resolution of their symptoms at 6 months and 12 months after the ligation reversal. The results are statistically significant. This suggests that the appearance of the post tubal ligation symptoms and their disappearance after tubal ligation reversal is not just a matter of chance or coincidence.

Learn More About Long Term Tubal Ligation Effects

An excellent place to interact with other women who have had long term effects of a tubal ligation is on the Tubal Reversal Message Board where there is a Post Tubal Ligation Syndrome Forum. You can also call (919) 968-4656 to speak with Tubal Reversal Nurse at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Tubal Reversal Success Rate

What Is Your Tubal Reversal Success Rate?


This is the most important question to ask and have answered by any doctor or tubal reversal clinic when you inquire about having a tubal ligation reversal.

What Does Tubal Reversal Success Rate Mean?

There are different ways to define tubal reversal success rates. One definition is the percent of surgeries in which the fallopian tubes are able to be opened – this is the Operative Success Rate. A more important definition is the percent of patients who become pregnant - the Pregnancy Rate. This is what most people think of when they want to know the success of tubal ligation reversal surgery. The tubal success rate that is most important  to women who have their tubes untied is the percent that have children after tubal reversal – this is the Birth Rate.

Measuring Tubal Reversal Success Rates

In theory, it should not be difficult to measure tubal reversal success rates. In reality, it is not as simple as it may seem. It requires constant follow-up with patients after tubal reversal surgery to know when pregnancies occur. Since people may change address, telephone number, or email address, they can be lost to follow-up. When they become pregnant, not all patients contact the doctor who performed their tubal reversal procedure, and certainly they may not report every pregnancy after tubal reversal. Even if it were possible to learn about every pregnancy from every patient, doctors and medical facilities aren’t in the business of collecting, recording, and analyzing this information. It is a time-consuming and expensive task, and it is not what doctors do. This is a research project that requires adequate staffing, funds, computer resources, and statistical knowledge that practicing doctors don’t consider essential for patient care. But if they don’t do this, how can any doctor know what his or her tubal reversal success rate actually is? The truth is, They Can’t Know!

What Does This Mean For Patients?

Any doctor can say he or she has a high success rate, or even quote a number such as “90 percent success”.  Ask questions to find out what the doctor is basing this statement on. Ask to see the numbers and statistics for this doctor's patients. This will let you know if the doctor actually has the information or is just giving you a number that really cannot be substantiated. Some doctors, unfortunately, may provide misleading information just to convince you to become his or her patient.

Consider the tubal reversal pregnancy rate (the number of women who become pregnant divided by the total number of women having tubal reversal surgery). These numbers keep changing over time, so the tubal reversal success rate regarding pregnancies will change as well. In order to tell if a doctor actually has the information needed to know the tubal reversal success rate, these are some questions to have answered:
    • How many women had surgery and how many became pregnant?
    • What is the time period in which the pregnancies occurred?
    • How did the doctor learn about the pregnancies?
    • How is the information kept?
    • How is it retrieved?
    • How is it analyzed?
    • Does the doctor have a computerized database with this information?
Ask to see reports showing the information!

True Tubal Reversal Success

There is only one tubal reversal clinic with an information system that allows you to know what the tubal reversal success rate is. You can even find out what the pregnancy rate and birth rate are for women of your age and your type of tubal ligation. That tubal reversal clinic is Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center.

Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center reports pregnancy information on its website in the Weekly Pregnancy Reports Forum of the Tubal Reversal Message Board. Another weekly report called Pregnancy Announcements provides more details about each of the new pregnancies. Detailed numbers and statistics are shown that relate pregnancies and their outcomes to the total number of surgeries performed by the tubal reversal doctors there.

Make An Informed Decision

Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center is the only medical facility that provides complete and accurate information on tubal reversal success. Dr. Berger and Dr. Monteith, the tubal reversal doctors there, do this because they believe that it is essential for women to have accurate information about tubal reversal success rates if they are going to be able to make a truly informed decision about having tubal ligation reversal surgery. Read the various doctor reviews patients have posted on doctor rating websites about Dr. Berger and Dr. Monteith.

If you have questions about tubal  reversal success rates, talk with a tubal reversal nurse at the Chapel Hill Center by calling (919) 968-4656.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Tubal Reversal Clinics Discount

Tubal Reversal Baby
Tubal ligation reversal can be a costly operation when all of the component charges are totaled. These include fees for the tubal reversal surgeon, anesthesia, operating room, supplies, medications, and when performed in a hospital, the hospital fees.  By having sterilization reversal in an outpatient surgery center, the fees are usually one-half or less than when the same operation is performed in a hospital. Even so, tubal reversal surgery is a major investment,so it is helpful to find tubal reversal clinics discounts provided that the quality of care remains your top priority.

Tubal Reversal Clinics

Some clinics and doctors perform tubal ligation reversals as outpatient surgery.  There is only one tubal reversal clinic that performs this operation exclusively. It is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center offers a $1000 discount on the cost of tubal ligation reversal when the fee is paid within 24 hours of scheduling the reversal procedure. Depending on which tubal reversal doctor is chosen, the discounted fee is either $5400 or $5900.  This tubal reversal clinic discounts the fee an additional $100 when paid by certified check, money order, or bank wire transfer. From time to time, Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center offers other discounted fees intermittently for tubal reversal surgery.  When they are available, these tubal reversal clinic discounts are mentioned on the Tubal Reversal Message Board.

How Can I Find Tubal Reversal Clinic Discounts?

The best way to find out about tubal reversal clinic discounts is to contact the tubal reversal clinic directly and ask if they have any reduced fees available. Sometimes, even when they are not promoting special fees, an additional discount can be obtained by taking a date that has opened up on their surgery schedule.  Rather than having the operating room remain unused in the case of a late cancellation, they may be willing to negotiate a discount for tubal reversal surgery on an individual basis. At Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center, the Nurse Administrator can offer individual tubal reversal discounts. The fastest way to find out about this possibility is to send an email to JuliaS@tubal-reversal.net or call on her direct telephone line at (919) 656-8204.

Should I Go To Mexico or India?

Some doctors or hospitals in foreign countries advertise lower fees than the tubal reversal clinics in the United States. There are people who are willing to go to a foreign country get the absolute lowest cost. This is risky since the standards in these countries for medical care are not the same as in the US. In this sense, the adage remains true, “You get what you pay for.” For women who consider safety as the primary factor in choosing a tubal reversal doctor or clinic, it is best to pay a bit more to have surgery in a licensed medical facility in the US. When tubal reversal success is also taken into account, Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center is the facility of choice.

How Can I Find a Tubal Reversal Doctor?

There are very few doctors who specialize in tubal ligation reversal surgery. This surgery is more intricate than performing a tubal ligation. An ob/gyn or reproductive endocrinologist is not the best doctor for this specialized operation. The best choice is a reproductive surgeon. Even better is a reproductive surgeon whose entire practice consists only of performing tubal ligation reversals. To find such doctors, you will have to do an internet search.

What Is The Best Tubal Reversal Clinic?

Perform an internet search on Google or Bing for “best tubal reversal doctor” or “best tubal reversal clinic”. Look at the actual search results, not the paid or sponsored ads. Your searches will produce the same result whichever search engine you use. Read all you can about the clinic and doctors you find in these searches. Call the Tubal Reversal Center to ask questions of a tubal reversal nurse. Look for the published pregnancy success rates and babies born after ligation reversal procedures. Converse with other women on the Tubal Reversal Message Board to learn about their experiences. You can also read reviews that the clinic’s patients post on the website. All of these sources of information will help you make a decision about the best tubal reversal doctors and best tubal reversal clinic. Contact the reversal center and ask about the discounts that may be offering. 

Conclusion

It is possible to get a tubal reversal clinic discount at the best tubal reversal clinic by doing careful research and following these guidelines. Call (919) 968-4656 for further assistance.