Tubal Reversal Surgery versus IVF Success Rates

The two treatments are compared on the basis of some factors like 1. Which option is less expensive?rn2. Which treatment is easier?rn3. Which treatment is least risky?rnLet’s discuss the both treatments then we will decide which choice would be better Tubal Reversal Tubal reversal is an outpatient procedure that involves making a small abdominal incision. It involves micro-surgical techniques to reconnect the interrupted tubal segments. When the treatment is successful, the patient becomes fertile again and she can conceive baby more than one time naturally. Not all types of tubal ligations are reversible. If the damage to the remaining fallopian tube segments is extremely more, successful reversal is not guaranteed. It is therefore very important to know what sort of sterilization procedure was done before tubal reversal surgery. All surgeries carry some risks so tubal ligation reversal also carries certain risks like infection, damage to the nearby organs, poor tissue healing and anesthetic complications. The cost of tubal reversal usually depends on the clinic, surgeon and region. It is not covered by the insurance policies. Generally the cost of tubal reversal is less that IVF but in some areas, it is more than IVF.rnIVF This technique is used in women with abnormal or blocked fallopian tubes. It is considered as highly successful treatment of infertility. In this procedure the ovaries are stimulated to get the oocytes with the help of needle-aspiration, and then combine them with the sperm. This occurs in the laboratory. The healthy embryos are then transferred back to the uterus. It is less invasive procedure with minimum post-procedure down-time. The risks include ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome but it occurs only in 1-5% of patients. There are also the chances of multiple gestations.rnThe success of this process depends upon the patient attending the clinic and the experience of the doctor. It also depends on the techniques employed. The cost of the IVF also depends upon the region and clinic. Success Rates In tubal reversal the live birth rate is reported to range between 55-81% depending on the female age. Women who are younger than 35 years of age have 70% success rate if there is no other significant cause of infertility. If viewed from the perspective of cost-per-cycle tubal reversal is relatively efficient but in case of success-per-cycle perspective, tubal reversal carries low rates i.e. less than 5% in most series. In case of age, tubal reversal has less success rate. In this case IVF is the better choice but it is also affected by age. The success rate of IVF also decreases when the female age is above 35. If viewed from a perspective of cost-per-cycle, IVF is considered as relatively expensive. But in case of a success- per-cycle perspective, the success rates of the IVF are much higher than tubal reversal. What To Choose: IVF Or Tubal Reversal? The decision between the two is difficult. It depends on the cost, age and the presence of any potential infertility problems. If more than one pregnancy is desired then tubal reversal is a better choice. But if a woman is above 35 years old and only one child is desired then IVF is the best choice.