| The goal of having a tubal ligation reversal is usually | | | | getting your HCG levels done every couple of days |
| to be given the ability to have another child. It stands | | | | and try again when your HCG level hits 2500. It |
| to reason, then, that there will be certain protocols | | | | should be visible via ultrasound by then. |
| you should follow for a pregnancy after tubal | | | | About a week after the gestational sac can be seen, |
| reversal. | | | | the yolk sac should be visible by ultrasound as well. |
| Once you start showing signs of being pregnant, you | | | | Yes, that's another ultrasound. Perhaps you are |
| will want to have a pregnancy test done to check if | | | | wondering why all this concern, testing and |
| you are. Well, that's the first step in being sure. You | | | | ultrasounds. The point is to be sure you have the |
| can do it one of two ways but usually we all use the | | | | embryo implanted in your uterus. |
| cheapest first which is buying a home pregnancy test | | | | Having the reversal surgery increases your ectopic |
| at the store. This is a urine test. If it gives you a | | | | pregnancy after tubal reversal risk by about 10%. |
| negative but you still show signs, wait a few days | | | | While it doesn't seem like a large increase, I am sure |
| and then test again. Although home pregnancy tests | | | | you will agree you want to do everything you can to |
| are 97% accurate, they cannot tell if you are | | | | make sure it doesn't happen to you. If not caught in |
| pregnant as early as a blood test. | | | | time, an ectopic pregnancy may mean losing a |
| A blood pregnancy test is usually administered by | | | | fallopian tube as the doctors take measures to |
| your doctor at his office or you can have it done at | | | | safeguard your health. It's much better to catch this |
| some clinics. This will most likely be your next step | | | | possibility while it's still early enough to use something |
| once you have a positive on your home test. The | | | | like Methotrexate to terminate the ectopic pregnancy |
| doctor will just want to verify it. Now the fun begins. | | | | and save your tube for future attempts at making a |
| You will need to have your blood drawn twice a | | | | baby. |
| week to be tested for your HCG levels. HCG is the | | | | Hopefully you will also be submitting a Pregnancy |
| pregnancy hormone and it rises as your pregnancy | | | | Report to your tubal reversal doctor. This will allow |
| continues. Once it has hit about 1500, you should | | | | him to collect vital data about his own success rates. |
| have an ultrasound done to check for the gestational | | | | Not only that, it allows you to maintain contact with |
| sac in the uterus. If it doesn't show one, keep | | | | your surgeon and let him know what is going on. |