Learn about the benefits of IVF after tubal ligation

Susan Hudson MD is an experienced New Braunfels fertility doctor who knows women can change their minds after tubal ligation (“getting their tubes tied”). At first, patients think that a tubal reversal is the best option. However, Dr. Hudson and many other doctors around the United States don’t perform tubal reversals. Instead, she recommends another fertility treatment option called IVF (in vitro fertilization). After talking to her, patients find that there are many benefits of pursuing IVF after tubal ligation.

What do you need to know about tubal reversal?

For a woman to be a candidate for tubal reversal she must regularly ovulate and have a partner with healthy sperm, or plan to use a sperm donor. If a woman or her partner have underlying fertility issues, tubal reversal isn’t the best option.

Even if a woman is a candidate for this procedure, it is a surgical procedure. With any surgery, there are risks, discomfort and recovery time associated with it. This is yet another reason why Dr. Hudson recommends IVF after tubal ligation.

Finally, even women who have a tubal reversal may still need to pursue IVF. This is because reversal procedures do not always work. An unsuccessful procedure can be especially frustrating, as many insurance providers do not provide coverage for tubal reversal.

What do you need to know about IVF after tubal ligation?

A prime benefit of IVF is that it produces higher pregnancy rates than tubal reversal. Another benefit is that IVF bypasses the need for open fallopian tubes. Instead, the doctor retrieves the woman’s eggs from her ovaries after she takes medications that cause multiple eggs to grow.

Next, an embryologist fertilizes the eggs with sperm from the woman’s partner or a donor. A doctor then transfers the healthiest resulting embryo to the woman’s uterus where it can develop into a baby.

The final benefit of IVF after tubal ligation is that it allows a woman to keep her permanent birth control in place so that she doesn’t have to worry about unplanned pregnancies in the future.

Before recommending in vitro fertilization, Dr. Hudson will review the patient’s medical history and have her undergo a series of tests. From there, she helps the patient select the best path to taking home a healthy baby.

Contact us for more information about our fertility services. Our New Braunfels fertility doctor and her team look forward to helping you grow your family.