IVF following impossible or failed surgical reversal of tubal sterilization

Microsurgical re-anastomosis or IVF offer ways of reversing previous tubal sterilization. This retrospective study analysed 56 attempts of IVF in 37 couples after impossible or failed surgical sterilization reversal. Efficacy of IVF in this group (TL) was compared with that of a tubal pathology control group (TP) at all stages of IVF (stimulation, fertilization and implantation). Depending on patient age, significantly fewer oocytes were produced after ovarian stimulation in the TL group than in the control (TP) group (P = 0.023 for all TL patients; P = 0.02 when patients aged >38 years were excluded). The total number of embryos available for transfer was significantly lower in the TL group (P = 0.0042), but this was age-related, since when women aged >38 years were excluded there was no significant difference between the two groups. The ongoing pregnancy rate was similar in both groups, the probability of ongoing pregnancy appearing to depend on patient age rather than on previous fertility.