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 c ouples after impossible or failed surgical sterilization reversal. Efficacy of IVF in this group (TL) was compared with that of a tubal pathology cont rol group (TP) at all stages of IVF (stimulation, fertilization and implant ation). 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 e xcluded). The total number of embryos available for transfer was significan tly lower in the TL group (P = 0.0042), but this was age-related, since whe n women aged >38 years were excluded there was no significant difference be tween the two groups. The ongoing pregnancy rate was similar in both groups , the probability of ongoing pregnancy appearing to depend on patient age r ather than on previous fertility.