IVF vs Tubal ligation reversal

Hi all, My husband and I have decided to try and have children. I have 4 from my first marriage and then had my tubes clipped. My husband has had no children and I although he loves mine would dearly love to have one of his own. He has had his sperm tested with ample quantity but some mobility issues and some shape issues. We have looked into IVF and had had the all clear if we want to try it. I am 44 my husband 42.
My dillema is that as a fertile woman I fell pregnant at the drop of a hat with really good pregnancies, I looked into IVF from a financial point of view as it seemed cheaper than a reversal. Now I'm not so sure - if it doesn't work you need to come up with the funds again and again whereas if my tubes were reversed we can try as long as we want. So now I am not sure which way to go. I thought originally that my partners results indicated we could use the extra help but the IVF surgeon didn't think they were that bad and I have spoken to many people with the same sort of results that conceived naturally.
Can anyone help with my dilemma?

Debbie

[nina2249]

where do you live. I had a tubal reversal done almost one year ago may 20 last year. I spent 6000 dollars. I'm only 38. I have spent a year trying to get pregnant I did fall pregnant in November and miscarried Dec. I have spent over 10.000 so far trying to get and stay pregnant. Had I known of all the complications of tubal reversal , recovery time, being allergic to the sutures he used, infection,. ect... And we are all different  as i know.  And in Sept  of 08 he did a HSG to see if my tubes were still open after surgery and my right one he said was closed . I was devastated. I was like all that money and time to heal was a waiste. Cause its harder to get pregnant with one tube. instead of twenty percent a month i was like 10... Well this was 7 months ago. this past monday I had another HSG done cause i wanted to know if i was wasting time and more money and when he was done we were both shocked to find out they were both open. Because i was ready to sign up for IVF.. So long story short had i known of all the things and  the waist of time treatments and injections i would have chosen IVF and saved myself a year of hope and heartache . So my next cycle we will be using gonal-f injections now that I know both my tubes are open and flowing. well i hope this helps.

[40smama]

Debbie - your story sounds almost exactly like mine - I had four children from a previous marriage and my husband had none.  He too basically raised the last two & loves all of them like they're his biological children.

What it comes down to is age.  When we consulted a re about reversal vs. IVF, I found out, much to my chagrin, that I was too old to do the reversal and that IVF was my best shot.  The reversal is cheaper for sure & has a good success rate but again, from what I understand, your age is the most deciding factor in doing this procedure.

I was 43 at the time of our consult - we didn't have any motility issues so knowing that you're 44 in addition to the male factor, I would strongly go for IVF.  The embryologists can do ICSI (injecting the sperm directly into the egg) & that will greatly increase your chances.

We did end up getting pregnant through IVF via donor eggs.  We tried IVF once w/my eggs but it didn't work out.  Good luck w/your decision - get a good doctor and do good research - jen

[missdebbie]

Thanks all. It is just so frustrating not knowing which way to go. I live in Sydney - South.

[prettywoman030981]

I just had a reversal last month and I only spent $4000 for the surgery.  

I think that you have to look at all the aspects of both before determining which to do.  Yes, with a reversal, you can just keep trying the natural way with no real added cost, but a lot of reversal doctors will advise you because of your age, that IVF might be the most successful route.  That is not to say that a reversal will not be successful.  There is a woman on another board that I belong to that is 42 and is pregnant now naturally.  She had her reversal surgery 2 years ago.

My suggestion is research, research, research and research some more.  Find some doctors that do reversal and call around, ask questions, get some answers.  Then once you have all the information you need you can make a well-informed decision!

Good luck with what ever you decide to go for!  I know that this journey from infertile to baby is a difficult one!

Oh, and if you want some information about reversals, here is the support group I talked  about earlier: http://fittobeuntied.com/forums/index.php?act=idx.  It is called Fit To Be Untied and there is a wealth of information and support there!

[YvetteY]

I sent you a  private message.