Conference turris::womannotes-v2

    There have been discussions of tubal ligation for contraceptive
    purposes in Womannotes V1 (102, 146, 434) and V2 (177) - but no
    real discussion of reversing them.  I suggest you may also want
    to ask around in GUMMO::MEDICAL and maybe even TERZA::PARENTING
    (some people there may have done what you'd like to do).
    
    -Jody
    

    If you had your tubal ligation by cauterization then it is
    essentially impossible to reverse, or so I was told when I had
    it done to me. The earlier types of operations where the tubes
    were cut and tied have been reversed (in fact some reversed
    spontaneously). 
    
    Bonnie

    A woman I know had an operation to reverse tubal ligation about
    three years ago.  (I don't know which type of tubal ligation she
    had.)  The operation cost $2K at that time and was not covered by
    John Hancock (so she said).  She was told the reverse operation
    might work and might not.  So far she hasn't gotten pregnant, so
    she assumes it didn't work.
    
    Lorna
    

Getting pregnant through invitro is difficult and expensive (about $5,000 
a try, and it might take several tries).  You could try it, but adoption might
be a better option for you. 

Also, I have heard a rumour that a pregnancy in one's forties after recent
births is not a big deal, but if many years have passed then the body acts
almost as if it were your first.  You may want to look into this.

Good luck whatever you decide!

        Carol

    I believe the frequency of Downs Syndrome rises *sharply* after about
    age 35, too.  
    
    						=maggie

    I think the frequency of Downes Syndrome rises for the over 35-40
    age group for first time pregnancies.  For multipara mothers, the
    risk is much lower.
    
    Dondi

    re .5:
    
    True, but even at age 40, the risk of Down's Syndrome is only about 1%.
    (which may be large, depending on how you look at it).
                                                   
                  /
                 (  ___
                  ) ///
                 /                        
    
    P.S. Arlene had our first child at age 40, three years ago, and
    our second a month ago, both are just perfect. 

    Thanks so much for your replies, especially .7.  I guess that's
    what I need to hear.  That it can and has been done, successfully.
    I would definitely have genetic counseling
    done beforehand.  I think its time to check with my medical records to find
    out what kind of tubal ligation I had.  I just would like to say
    to my boyfriend that if having children becomes a burning issue
    with him, then at that time, we'll take a good, long look at where
    we are and what our individual goals and couple goals are.  At least
    I want to know that I still have an option, that I'm just not
    at a dead end in a beautiful growing relationship.
    
    And I'd really like to hear from others of you, both pro and con.
    
    Thanks,
    
    Janet

  If I remember my genetics correctly, the frequency of chromosomal
abnormalities starts to have a significant increase after the age of 30.

  Interestingly enough, when I took Human Genetics 4 years ago my teacher
suggested strongly that it isn't simply the age of the ovum that causes this
increased likelihood; She suggested that the sperm produced in older males
could also contribute to this increased risk of birth defects.  I've never
seen any evidence or papers on this, though.

    
    I hope your teacher's wrong, because my father was 62 when I was
    born!
    
    Roberta
    

    In any case, the man involved is quite a bit younger.  No problem
    there, except for the drugs he has taken.
    
    Janet

    Re: drugs
    
     The biological ramifications of drug taking vary significantly
    by gender. Since a woman's entire egg supply is present at birth,
    it is possible for long term effects to be felt due to the interaction
    of a drug with an egg the is farther down the queue. Men, on the
    other hand, produce sperm constantly. The average adult male
    replenishes his supply approximately every two weeks. Thus a man's
    drug habits have a much shorter term effect on reproduction. It
    is theorized that after a few weeks of abstinence from drugs, a
    man's sperm supply will be "clean." This theory presupposes that
    a man's reproductory organs are capable of producing healthy sperm.
    To date, no scientifically accepted causal link has been shown between
    a man's <previous> drug taking and his ability to produce healthy
    sperm once said drug taking has been discontinued. I would not worry
    about his past as long as you are both healthy and he has really
    stopped taking drugs.
    
    -E

Re: -.1

  I'm almost positive that this is not true.  There are teratogens which
will affect the male gametes and the affects can last much longer than
the "2 week sperm life cycle."

  Maybe someone can fill this in, but hasn't cannibus sativa been pointed to
as causing problems with the male reproductive system?

    To the best of my knowledge, which admittedly isn't gospel, the
    effects of drug use are rather short term in males. While cannabis
    sativa (and indica for that matter) has been shown to cause damage
    after an extended period of heavy use, the effects are believed
    to go away in time. Perhaps a longer time span than two weeks as
    the gonads need time to repair themselves, but they seem to revert
    to normal operation in the studies that I've heard about. My reference
    to the two week timespan probably holds more water for casual use
    than chronic use. I'm also under the impression that the drugs involved
    were heroine and cocaine, and the period of use was a rather long
    time ago >= a year. Rather than splitting hairs about timespans,
    I simply would like to suggest to her that she may not have much
    to worry about in his case. If she is really concerned and the
    possibility of pregnancy becomes great, she may want to have him
    checks out for normal sperm counts and formation.
    
     I do value your input, though. I am just relating what I can to
    the best of my knowledge. If anyone has any recent information on
    this subject, please respond and let the community know.
                                            
    -E

    There was some research done in the 70's which the services used
    to explain why (for safety reasons) using grass would not be tolerated.
    THC can be absorbed by fatty tissues and remain "in suspension"
    until the fat breaks down.  Typically, that could occur during the
    hottest action one was performing, being it a (combat) patrol, 
    flightline maintenance in the extreme heat for numerous sortie 
    turnarounds, flight-deck catapult or aircrew duty, etc...
                  
    The conclusion was that THC didn't necessarily flush out of your 
    system in two weeks, but could return and even impair your judgement
    at the worst possible time...a safety hazard.
    
    I can't document this research and don't know if its accurate. 
    I mention it merely because someone stated that males flush clean
    of cannibis sativa in 2 weeks which disagrees with this finding.
                                                 
    DougO

    ....maybe I'm paranoid....
    but one issue I thought of related to his drug use -- AIDS---
    How long ago was this use?  and for how long?  and did he EVER
    share needles...or maybe you've both been tested, and turned up
    negative.  Just thought I would mention this as my last visit
    to the gyno she mentioned she had a patient whose husband used
    drugs briefly some 10 years prior (in college) and they never
    gave it a thought...till their son (age 2) was diagnosed with AIDS.
    
    As for pregnant after 40, its really a matter best decided at the
    time, with counseling, and input from your doctor.  I have friends/
    relatives who have had children (both first, and other) after 40
    with no problems...but then I also have some who did have Downs
    Syndrome children...so, its a matter of family history, your health,
    and luck I think.
    
    anyway....best wishes with whatever you decide!
    

    Thanks for bringing up yet another issue that hadn't even crossed
    my mind.  My boyfriend was shooting up and it was even less than
    l0 years ago.  In the case you mentioned, did the husband test positive
    for AIDS?  Could you elaborate a little on this.
    
    Thanks.
    
    Janet

    I may be a little rusty on this, but I hope we all realize that
    references to the "AIDS test" and "testing positive for AIDS" are
    inaccurate. There is no test that determines whether someone has AIDS.
    There are several tests that show whether one has developed antibodies
    to AIDS (which in turn shows whether one has been exposed to AIDS). 
    
    It can take years in some cases for the antibodies to develop, so a
    person who has been exposed to AIDS can get a "negative" on the test. I
    understand that even if one tests "negative", one can expose others.
    And although there are many theories floating around, I don't believe
    that it's been conclusively shown that exposure to the AIDS virus
    guarantees that you'll get the disease.
    
    Liz 

    
    Unfortunately, I don't know much more about the case my gyno
    cited.  The young boy did indeed have AIDS...not just positive
    testing.  As for his parents...I really don't remember if she
    said both, or just the father tested positive.  In either case
    neither of the parents exhibited any physical symptoms of the
    disease--as stated in (-.1) they were apparently just 'carriers'
    for the time being.  Who knows if later they may develop ARC or
    AIDS.  
    And yes, testing negative doesn't mean you don't have it and
    will not develop it.  And testing positive doesn't always mean
    you will get it.  
    The tests are still not 100%, which is why many folks who
    are in the high risk categories take multiple tests over
    a period of years (along with modifying their sexual habits
    of course...).
    Sorry I couldn't be  more definitive on this.   Just thought
    it was an issue which should be mentioned.
    
    deb
    

    This was moved from 560, because the topic was already discussed in
    this version of womannotes (namely here in 367).
    
    -Jody
    
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Note 560.0                  Reversing Tubal Ligation                  No replies
LEDS::CARDILLO                                        7 lines  26-APR-1989 09:58
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    Has anyone out there had a tubal ligation reversed or known someone who
    has?  I'd be interested in what the operation was like and how
    successful (ability to get pregnant afterwards) it was?
    
    THanks,
    
    jc