Tubal Ligation and Tubal Reversal

2011-12-06T10:31:00.001-08:00

Tubal ligation is the procedure used to block women's fallopian tubes. This is done after a couple has made the decision that they do not want to have more children. It is also known as "tying the tubes". If a woman states that she has had her "tubes tied" she is referring to tubal ligation.

Tubal ligation is performed in a variety of ways. Clips and rings are the most widely used forms today. Fallopian tubes can also be cut and burned. Those having the procedure of clips or rings are the easiest to reverse.

Tubal reversal or tubal ligation reversal refers to the fallopian tubes being repaired. A surgeon will remove the damaged part of the fallopian tubes and then reconnect the healthy remaining segments.

Many will wonder why a couple would pay to have the woman's fallopian tubes repaired. In most instances, it is to have fertility restored. The spouse may not have children of his own and this is the most natural way to have a child.

Another reason why tubal ligation reversal is chosen is to relieve the symptoms of Post Tubal Ligation Syndrome. Although not recognized by many in the medical field, women are finding relief from PTLS with reversal surgery.

The cost of tubal reversal can vary greatly among surgeons. Where the surgery is performed can also have a great effect on the price. Surgeries performed as an outpatient procedure in a stand-alone center cost far less than those performed in the hospital. Couples will also choose to have the reversal performed in a center because all of the couples are there for the same reason. In the hospital there are many different patients there for many different reasons. Because there are so many ill patients in the hospital many couples are just not comfortable.

Couples choose to have tubal reversal because it is the most natural way to conceive a child. There is the option of IVF (in vitro fertilization) but many are just not comfortable with this procedure. Others cannot afford the high price tag associated with each treatment. Others have actually been through the IVF treatments and they have not worked. Tubal reversal is the last resort for many couples.

When deciding on a tubal reversal surgeon choosing the one with the most experience. Having the most experienced will certainly help the odds in having a successful pregnancy. Because a surgeon costs thousands of dollars more does not make them the best. If the surgery is performed in a hospital it is going to cost more, as stated above.

Recurrent Miscarriage and Herbal Medicine

2011-12-06T10:29:00.001-08:00

Herbs and Blood Clotting Disorders Contributing to Recurrent Miscarriage

Both anticoagulants and antiplatelet mitigators are medicines that reduce blood clotting in an artery, a vein or the heart.

Heparin and Lovenox are anticoagulants and aspirin is an antiplatelet.

Antiplatelets such as aspirin decreases platelet aggregation and thrombus formation. They are mostly used in problems with arterial circulation where anticoagulants have little effect.

Anticoagulant medications make the blood 'thinner' and prevent the formation of blood clots and hence could prevent stroke.

Both anticoagulants and antiplatelet medications have been used to treat chronic recurrent miscarriage due to thrombophilic disease.

There are several herbal medicines which possess antiplatelet and anticoagulant properties.

Jiang Huang and Yu Jin are herbs that possess antiplatelet properties. Chuan xiong has both anticoagulant and antiplatelet properties.

I am not recommending that a patient with a thrombophilic presentation use herbs instead of Western medicine which possess the required qualities necessary to prevent miscarriage via anticoagulant or antiplatelet activity. Sometimes however, a drug does not possess the same qualities of an herb. An herbal formula, for example, has a multitiered effect. The correct formula might for example, be used to reduce inflammation, reduce platelet aggregation and/or reduce coagulopathies as well as reduce stress, strengthen the immune function and help facilitate weight loss in an obese patient. All of these things would be required in a patient of this type to increase the odds of a successful on-going pregnancy; not just Heparin or Lovenox or Aspirin. This is important to consider in case you miscarry even when taking these types of meds.

In other words, you may need more intervention than these meds are capable of providing.

I would recommend that you follow the instructions of your reproductive endocrinologist and hope for the best. But in the face of failure with traditional Western medical approaches, trying herbs may help contribute to a full term pregnancy. In my practice I have seen this occur many times.

Many patients faced with the difficult challenge of trying to conceive or who recurrently miscarry are instructed by their reproductive endocrinologists to not take herbs. This is because your doctor is trying to protect you because his or her training is in Western medicine and not in Chinese medicine and they do not feel comfortable mixing Western medicine with herbs.

Though their hearts are in the right place, their experience is not. I have, on multiple occasions prescribed herbs to patients who were taking gonadotropins or Clomid or Lupron, etc., and have never seen any problems. The combination either helped the patient or did not.

The herbs will not reduce the effectiveness of the meds nor, in most cases will they increase the potency of the meds. The only exception to this would occur if I prescribed herbs with anticoagulant/antiplateleet properties to a patient who was taking Lovenox or Heparin. Then there would be a potentiating and possibly dangerous effect.

Acupuncture can increase metabolic function and stimulate the flow of blood throughout the body. Increasing hemodynamics is not, however the same as actually reducing platelet aggregation or reducing hypercoagulation. The benefit of using acupuncture with herbs is that the acupuncture will help ensure the distribution of the herbs throughout the body.

Typically when getting treated for infertility or recurrent pregnancy loss the most effective approach in the absence of success with Western medicine alone is to combine acupuncture, herbs and Western medicine.

When you are prescribed herbs be certain that a board certified herbalist is doing so.

Mike Berkley, L.Ac., FABORM is the first acupuncturist/herbalist in the United States to devote a complementary medicine center to the care and treatment of those facing a challenge to conception.

The Berkley Center for Reproductive Wellness has a team of NYS licensed and board certified acupuncturists and board certified herbalists to assist you on your journey.

We work with patients from RMA, NYU, NY Cornell, St. Lukes-Roosevelt, Batzofin Fertility Services, The Sher Institute, New Hope Fertility and many others.

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Tubal Ligation and Tubal Reversal

Recurrent Miscarriage and Herbal Medicine