Female Sterilisation Reversal

Tubal Sterilisation Reversal using Microsurgery began in late 1971 when Professor Owen had completed original research into joining the body's tiniest tubes in his newly pioneered specialty called General Microsurgery. He had successfully reattached the totally amputated finger of a two year old boy in 1970 and had success with his new technique of Vasectomy Reversal in men in 1971. In 1972 the first baby was born following his new microsurgical operation for women. These operations were World firsts.

Since then, hundreds of babies have been born to his patients following his team's meticulous repairs of the delicate fallopian tubes, which measure only 0.3 mm in diameter at their narrowest point (3 or 4 hairs thick).

Who can have Tube Blockages Reversed?

Patients between 22 and 47 years of age who have been surgically sterilised and are referred by their doctor or gynaecologist, have successfully had this operation. Many have had several children since. We accept women who have had Caesarean sections in previous pregnancies. The length of time since the sterilisation procedure should not affect the result for healthy women in the normal child bearing age group. If the tubes were 'cut and tied' we request the investigation of the length of tube remaining and the state of the pelvic organs by laparoscopy before considering reversal. We like to interview both partners before an operation and we rigorously follow up and counsel all our patients. Just email us or ring (612) 9954 5455 for an appointment. If you are far from Sydney we do not necessarily need to see you prior to your hospital visit (we will interview you in either in our rooms or in hospital before the operation) provided you are referred by your local doctor with adequate health records and an assurance you are fit for a gentle general anaesthetic.

Results May Vary - But Why?

Three of these sterilisations are performed by Laparoscopy and block either very small (by Clips), small (by Rings), or not quite so small (by Cauterisation) sections of the 10 cm long tubes. The fourth method (Cut and Tie) requires a more open operation and more tube may have been removed. If the sterilisation block in the tubes was close to the uterus, then results of reversal are outstanding, so that our results with reversing Hulka or Filshie Clips give a take home baby rate of 98% consistently over the past 20 years and results for the Falope Rings reversals are almost as extraordinary. The clips and rings sterilisations can only be applied in the Isthmus, the end of the tube closest to the uterus. Cautery or cut and tie sterilisation methods can be done anywhere along the tube, even out towards the ovarian end (in the Ampulla) so can do more damage. But even here, with all our results in this area pooled, including loss of long lengths of tube leaving only 2-1/2 cm of Ampulla, we obtain 75% take home baby rates from our microsurgical operation called Salpingo-Salpingostomy. No IVF Unit in the world has anything like these results and we use no dangerous drugs, and you have normal sexual intercourse to achieve the pregnancies.

How is the Operation Performed?

With a fit woman, in a particularly well-equipped hospital under light general anaesthesia, a neat horizontal incision below the pubic hairline (Pfannensteil Incision) allows access to the tubes in the pelvis. (The 'under the skin' stitch repair is removed painlessly 10 days later.) Using remarkable magnification and brilliant lighting provided by a modern Operating Microscope, special microinstruments and sutures (all designed by Professor Owen) the ends of the tubes are dissected, freed, checked for patency and function and, after checking the ovaries and uterus, the tubes are joined perfectly. Several days in hospital are kept as pleasant as possible and women are usually out of bed inside 48 hours. After the post operation 'period' has occurred and with a month of healing behind her, the patient can try for a pregnancy when she feels ready. Most women ovulate at between ten and fourteen days after 'period' bleeding commences and that is the best time to try for a pregnancy. We encourage patients after any operation to take healthy food and vitamins and minerals to help the healing process and to take it easy for 2-3 further weeks.

Microsurgery Vs IVF (Test Tube Baby)

Our microsurgery operation is once only, is remarkably successful in obtaining Normal Pregancies by Normal Intercourse without any Drugs, Hormones, etc. No IVF programme or advanced techniques anywhere in Australia or the World offers anywhere near even half as good a take home baby result as does the Owen microsurgical operation. Our team has had consistently outstanding results for over 20 years. With well over 800 cases of Clip reversals (98% achieve babies), Ring reversals (95% achieve babies), Cautery reversals (86% achieve babies), and Cut and Tie reversals (75% achieve babies) and many cases when women come to us for reversal after 4-10 IVF attempts have already failed and one of our operations is followed by a successful pregnancy outcome, we are confident that microsurgery is the way to go for this condition.

Professor Owen's surgical team, now operating at Castlecrag's modern Private Hospital for over 10 years, has been together for 19 years. The hospital's services, food and care delight the patients who come from all over Australia and all parts of the World to be cared for by this highly acclaimed microsurgery team.