Getting Started With Tubal Reversal
You’ve now made the decision to go forward with your quest to have a baby through tubal reversal surgery at Fertility Answers. Follow this step-by-step guide to make your journey as successful as possible:
1. Obtain a copy of your surgery/operative report from your tubal ligation surgeon
There are two options for women who have had a previous tubal ligation and now desire to have more children: 1) tubal reversal surgery or, 2) in vitro fertilization (IVF). A decision to determine which option is right for you will be discussed during your initial consultation.
One way to determine whether tubal reversal surgery is the best option for you is through an interpretation of the operative report from your tubal ligation. With this information, our physicians are able to provide feedback on the type of sterilization that was performed and the amount of tube that may be remaining after the reversal. FertilityAnswers provides a Medical Records Release Form to assist you with obtaining your report.
If you cannot get a copy of your tubal ligation operative report, our physicians can begin your surgery with diagnostic screening laparoscopy to examine your fallopian tubes and determine if tubal reversal is likely to be successful. If so, the tubes will be repaired immediately. If your tubal ligation has severely damaged your tubes and repair is not possible, you will be given a partial refund. Fortunately, our physicians are able to repair the tubes in 80-90% of cases.
2. Call to schedule an initial consultation appointment.
Your initial consultation appointment can be scheduled by calling (337) 989-8795. Our office hours are Monday-Thursday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Before you schedule your initial consultation, you should fax your tubal ligation operative report to (337) 989-8766 using our Fax Cover Sheet. If your husband has had a semen analysis, please obtain a copy of this also. Please send your fax to the attention of “Tubal Reversal Nurse”. Please see our Contact page for more information on scheduling your initial consultation. Please note that consultations are usually scheduled for Wednesday mornings. If you live out of town, a phone consultation can be arranged with one of our physicians.
3. Complete the registration and medical history forms.
Before your consultation and scheduling your surgery appointment, a nurse will e-mail you with a confirmation letter and instructions on how to enter your information via our electronic medical records system. These forms will take you approximately 20 minutes to complete. Before you begin the online forms, you may want to have the following information handy:
- weight
- height
- drug allergies
- known reactions to anesthesia
- prior surgeries, years and complications
- past medical history
- medications
- family medical history
- husband’s medical history
4. Schedule your tubal reversal surgery.
If, after your consultation with one of our physicians, it was determined that tubal reversal surgery or a screening laparoscopy is your next step, call our office or contact one of our Tubal Reversal Nurses by phone or e-mail to schedule your surgery. Tubal reversal surgeries are currently performed on Friday mornings. Your pre-operative visit will be scheduled for the Thursday before your tubal reversal surgery on Friday. Before calling, choose a few dates that would work best for your schedule. When you speak to the nurse, she will let you know which dates are available.
Patients often travel long distances for this surgery and our staff is prepared to help with this process. To minimize the time you have to spend here, your pre-operative visit at the office of Fertility Answers will be scheduled for the day preceding your tubal reversal surgery. On the day of your tubal reversal, you will spend the morning at Lafayette Surgicare Surgery Center on the Women’s & Children’s Hospital campus and then the rest of the day back at home or at your hotel room if you are coming from out of town. If you live less than 3 hours away, you may feel more comfortable in traveling home that day. If you stay overnight, a post-operative incision check can be arranged at the office prior to leaving town the next morning.
5. Make arrangements for payment of surgery fees.
Your payment can be made by cashier’s check, money order, VISA, MasterCard, or by personal check (must clear 14 days before scheduled surgery date). All fees are all-inclusive and cover the doctor’s professional fee, the anesthesiologist’s fee, supplies, operating room charges and facility fees, pre-operative consultation with your surgeon and follow-up by phone and e-mail. Please see our Fees page for more information.
6. Obtain the pre-operative lab testing for you and your partner.
Please see our Labs page for information about lab tests that are required or optional before tubal reversal surgery. Additional lab tests may be required depending upon an individual’s medical history. Abnormal test results indicating medical problems will delay scheduling surgery until corrected or may result in your procedure being rescheduled or cancelled. Cancellation fees may apply.
Please request your doctor or lab to fax the test results to us at (337) 989-8766. Or, give us the fax number to your doctor’s office or a local laboratory and we will send an order for your tests. Pre-op lab results are due in our office at least 3 weeks prior to the surgery date. Testing should be performed within 3 – 5 days of scheduling surgery, but not more than 90 days prior to the surgery date.
7. Schedule an anesthesia consultation.
At your preoperative visit, you will meet with an anesthesiologist or one of his staff. He may also contact you within a week of scheduling your appointment. During this consultation, the anesthesiologist will review your health and anesthesia history. Depending on your health history, additional lab or medical testing may be required.
8. Make hotel and travel arrangements.
If you are coming from out of town, there are several hotels within a short drive to Fertility Answers Lafayette and Baton Rouge offices.
9. Read through the Tubal Ligation Reversal website.
Our physicians and staff have prepared a great deal of information on what to expect and what to bring when you come for surgery. It is helpful to read the on pre- and post-op so that you can be prepared before and after your surgery. Our mission is to provide patients with accurate, detailed information so that their tubal reversal journey is a positive experience from start to finish.
