Egg donation is a generous gift to infertile couples who are struggling to conceive. Women who become egg donors may be motivated to help a couple make their dream of building a family to come true and in return, donors are generously compensated for their time and dedication. If you’re considering donating your eggs, you probably have a lot of questions starting with “What is the age limit for egg donation?”

At the Center for Reproductive Health, donors must be between the ages of 20 and 31. We’re always looking for bright and healthy young women to participate in our egg donation program.

Why Age is Important for Egg Donation

Women who undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF) with donated eggs want to make sure their chance of having a healthy pregnancy is good. For this reason, they need the donated eggs to be as high quality as possible. The highest quality eggs usually come from donors in their twenties and early thirties. 

Women are born with all their eggs and don’t produce new ones as time passes. As women age, the number of available eggs that remain decreases and the chance of eggs carrying defective genes increases. The older you are, the more chance there is that the pregnancy will fail and there’s also a higher risk of genetic disorders. 

Other Factors Required to Be an Egg Donor

Besides being between the ages of 20 and 31, egg donors must be in good overall health including a healthy BMI, so donors can’t be excessively overweight or underweight. You should be in good mental health with no history of substance abuse and you should be a nonsmoker, usually for at least six months. 

During the screening process, your family medical history is reviewed to make sure there’s not a history of hereditary diseases. You’re given a comprehensive physical exam to check the health of your ovaries. To qualify for egg donation, you should have both ovaries and a healthy ovarian reserve. Tests are done to check for sexually transmitted diseases. 

A psychological evaluation is done, and you’ll be given more information on what’s involved in egg donation such as the time commitment that’s involved, side effects that you may experience and potential complications. There are several steps to egg donation including injections of fertility hormones to stimulate the production of eggs, several visits for ultrasounds and then an appointment is scheduled for egg retrieval. There’s no evidence that egg donation has an impact on your remaining eggs.

Final Steps

If you successfully pass all the screenings, you’ll sign a legal contract that clearly states your rights and responsibilities as well as the compensation you may be receiving for egg donation. You should carefully review this document with an attorney to make sure you fully understand.

Egg donation is a very generous gift and in return, donors usually receive between $5,000 and $10,000 per cycle. If you’re interested in learning more about becoming an egg donor or you’re ready to apply, reach out to the team at the Center for Reproductive Health.

Getting your tubes tied is intended to be a permanent form of sterilization, but if you’ve decided you want to get pregnant even though you didn’t expect to feel this way, you’re not alone. Tubal reversal is a surgical procedure that’s done to reconnect the fallopian tubes, which were previously cut or tied to prevent pregnancy.

People who choose to go through tubal reversal have a lot of questions, mostly involving the likelihood of conceiving a child after tubal reversal. Questions we hear at the Center for Reproductive Health include things like “How soon can I get pregnant after reversing a tubal ligation?” Women who don’t get pregnant right away after tubal reversal may ask things like “What are the chances of tubal reversal being successful after 15 years?”

Am I a Candidate for a Tubal Ligation Reversal?

There are a lot of different factors that affect whether you’re able to have a baby after a tubal ligation is reversed, and many of these factors are discussed with your doctor before the procedure is scheduled. Age is one of the most important factors that affects your chances of having a baby after tubal reversal. Your chance of successfully conceiving is also affected by your overall health, the health of your partner’s sperm and whether you’ve had any conditions such as endometriosis that have causes scar tissue.

The type of tubal ligation you had done is also considered. For a reversal, there must be sufficient tubing left for your doctor to be able to successfully reattach the tubes. 

Chances of Success

Roughly 50 to 80 percent of women under the age of 40 are able to successfully get pregnant within a year or two. The chance of conceiving declines as a woman gets older. 

Even though many women get pregnant within a year, many others don’t. If six months passes and you still haven’t gotten pregnant, your doctor may recommend an HSG procedure, also called a dye test, which is done to evaluate the condition of the tubes to make sure they’re still open. If there’s nothing wrong with the tubes, your fertility team can provide information on other things that might help such as timed intercourse and ovarian stimulation.

There’s no guarantee of pregnancy after having a tubal reversal. At the same time, if you don’t get pregnant within the first couple of years, that doesn’t mean that attaining pregnancy is impossible. If it’s been 15 years since your tubal reversal, there’s a good chance that your age is affecting your egg production or the health of your eggs, which reduces your chances of your tubal reversal being successful. 

Other Options for Getting Pregnant

The team at the Center for Reproductive Health have the knowledge and compassion needed to guide you through understanding all your options for attaining pregnancy. If tubal reversal isn’t right for you, or if it’s not successful after some time has passed, you may want to consider other fertility treatment options such as in vitro fertilization (IVF). To find out more, schedule a consultation today.

There are many couples who are unable to conceive and for some of them, donated eggs may be the answer they’re looking for to make a successful pregnancy possible. The team at the Center for Reproductive Health work with infertile couples every day who may not be able to have a baby without the generosity of egg donors. If you’re interested in helping an infertile couple have a family by donating your eggs, you may be wondering what’s involved and how to qualify for egg donation. 

Health Requirements

The first step in the egg donation process is to fill out an application.  If you meet the eligibility requirements, an in-person interview is scheduled. To donate eggs, you need to be in good mental and physical health and between the ages of 20 and 31. You should have a healthy BMI and not be overweight or underweight and you should have both ovaries and regular periods. You must be a nonsmoker with no history of drug use or alcoholism. 

Screening for egg donation is very thorough.  You’re given a physical exam which includes evaluating the health of your ovaries. It also includes tests for sexually transmitted diseases and free fertility diagnostic testing including a genetic carrier screening test. This comprehensive screening is a great opportunity for you to learn important information about yourself. Your family medical history is discussed, which should be free of hereditary diseases. 

Learning What’s Required

If your physical exam and family health history all go well, you’ll have a meeting with a psychologist for a psychological screening. You’ll learn more about what’s involved in egg donation so that you’re prepared for the time commitment involved and potential complications. Most egg donors have few side effects, but you should be aware that you may experience mood swings, bloating, nausea or diarrhea. 

Egg donation doesn’t have any impact on the eggs you have available for future cycles. Some women are afraid that donating eggs could lead to early menopause, but there’s no evidence to suggest that this could happen.

Legal Contract

If you successfully pass all the screenings, before moving forward with the process of egg donation, you’re required to sign a legal contract. This is an agreement between you and the recipient or between you and the Center for Reproductive Health which outlines your rights, duties and compensation as an egg donor.

Throughout the process, your privacy is protected. Egg donation is anonymous and the couple receiving your donation learns only general information about you such as your height, weight and ethnicity.

Donating eggs is a very generous gift to infertile couples, and in return you receive a generous compensation for your time and dedication. Compensation is usually between $5,000 and $10,000 a cycle. If you’re interested in applying to be an egg donor or if you have additional questions, don’t hesitate to contact the team at the Center for Reproductive Health.

Even though you had your tubes tied at one time because you believed you wouldn’t want to get pregnant, you have changed your mind. Once you’ve been screened for tubal reversal surgery and your doctor has determined you’re a good candidate for this procedure, you’ll want to know what to expect from tubal reversal surgery. One of the questions we hear most often is “How long does a tubal reversal surgery take?”

What to Expect When Having Tubal Reversal Surgery?

You’ll receive instructions ahead of time on what to expect on the day of your procedure. The Center for Reproductive Health performs tubal reversal procedures in state-of-the-art outpatient facilities. You won’t be able to eat or drink anything after 10 p.m. the night before your procedure. This procedure is done under general anesthesia, so you will be given medication to keep you asleep.

The procedure typically takes one to two hours. If you have any pelvic scarring from prior surgeries or if your body type is obese, it may last longer than two hours. The highly experienced physicians at the Center for Reproductive Health try to keep surgery time short whenever possible, because this helps speed up your recovery and lowers the risk of infection.

The incision that’s done for a tubal reversal surgery is small, usually about two to two and a half inches long. Having a small incision is another way to keep your recovery time as short as possible.

You remain in the recovery area of the outpatient facility for about an hour after surgery. When your medical team determines it’s safe for you to leave, you’ll be able to go home. Since anesthesia is used, you’ll need someone to drive you home.

How Long Does Recovery Take?

You may have some discomfort for the first day or two, and your doctor may prescribe medication for the pain for the first few days. Plan to rest the first couple of days. In most cases, ordinary daily activities can be resumed after a few days.

Post-op instructions are provided, which include information on when it’s ok to return to work. Most people can return to work about three to five days after surgery but you may need to wait longer before returning to work if your job is strenuous.

Be sure to follow the post-op instructions and attend the follow-up appointment that’s scheduled so your doctor can make sure you’re recovery is going as expected. Stitches will dissolve over time and don’t need to be removed.

Your doctor lets you know when it’s ok to begin trying to conceive. Up to 80 percent of women are able to get pregnant within a year or two after a tubal reversal. Other options are available that may help if you don’t conceive after a tubal ligation reversal.

The team at the Center for Reproductive Health understands that many questions come up when you’re trying to get pregnant and they’re ready to answer any questions you may have. Reach out today if you have questions or make an appointment for a consultation.

Women who have had their tubes tied may be able to get pregnant again by having a procedure called a tubal ligation reversal. In this procedure, the fallopian tubes are reconnected or reopened so that they can allow an egg and sperm to unite. For many women, a tubal reversal gives them a chance to try to get pregnant even though they once believed they wanted a permanent form of birth control. 

How effective is tubal ligation reversal? It’s estimated that around 50 to 80 percent of women who have this procedure go on to conceive. There are many factors that can impact your chance of getting pregnant if you have this procedure. 

Are You a Good Candidate for a Tubal Ligation Reversal?

In most cases, tubal ligations are reversible and fallopian tubes are able to be reconnected. There needs to be enough tubing left for your doctor to reconnect. If you had your tubes tied using clips and bands, there’s a good chance the procedure is reversible. 

Before performing a tubal ligation reversal, your doctor evaluates the likelihood that you’ll be able to conceive if the fallopian tubes are unblocked or reconnected. Your age is one of the most important factors. Your ability to get pregnant naturally decreases as you get older, and women under the age of 35 have the highest rates of success after a tubal reversal procedure.

There are other factors that may reduce the likelihood of your being able to conceive after a tubal reversal. Your partner’s health and the quality of his sperm have to be considered. Prior surgeries for conditions such as pelvic inflammatory disease, fibroids or endometriosis may have left scar tissue, and this may affect your chance of successfully getting pregnant after tubal reversal.

What Happens if the Tubal Reversal Doesn’t Lead to Pregnancy?

There is no guarantee that having a tubal reversal will lead to conception. It may take a year or two before pregnancy occurs. Many women do get pregnant within three to six months after the procedure. If you still haven’t been successful after six months, your doctor can perform a dye test to make sure the fallopian tubes are open. This involves an injection of dye through the cervix while the path of the dye is followed using imaging.

If the dye test shows that there’s not a problem with the fallopian tubes, other options for conception can be discussed. One option is minimal in vitro fertilization (mini IVF). This is a form of advanced reproductive technology in which the growth of eggs are stimulated using low dose hormones. Eggs can then be retrieved and fertilized in a lab setting before being implanted in your uterus. This procedure has minimal risk and low cost.

The expertise of your surgeon can have a big impact on your results from tubal ligation reversal. At the Center for Reproductive Health, you have access to highly experienced fertility experts who are committed to helping you achieve your dream of getting pregnant. Schedule a consultation today.

Women often have their tubes tied with the expectation that they won’t want to have any more children. As time passes, it’s not uncommon for them to change their minds and wish to have another chance to get pregnant. Fortunately most tubal ligations are reversable with a procedure called a tubal reversal, which may be an option if you’re considered a good candidate for the procedure.

Once the decision has been made to have a tubal reversal, the next question many women have is how long to wait to conceive after tubal reversal. The physicians at the Center for Reproductive Health work closely with each woman who has a tubal reversal and provide detailed post op instructions.

What to Expect After Tubal Ligation Reversal

A tubal reversal typically takes two hours or less and is done as an outpatient procedure. You’ll spend around an hour in recovery after surgery before going home. There are different approaches to tubal ligations, which means there are also some differences in tubal reversal procedures. Your doctor reviews your unique situation when recommending how soon to resume normal activities including resuming intercourse.

You may find that you’re experiencing some discomfort or reduced energy levels for a week or two. About a week after surgery, you’ll have a follow-up appointment where your doctor can evaluate how well your incision is healing and your recovery is progressing. At this visit, you’ll be able to discuss whether there’s any reason to postpone trying to conceive. In many cases, it’s a good idea to wait one or two months after your surgery before attempting to conceive to allow your body time to completely heal.

When Will I Get Pregnant?

There are no guarantees that a tubal reversal will be successful, but many women do conceive within one to two years after a tubal reversal. The chance of attaining pregnancy without additional fertility treatments after this type of surgery is about 50 to 80 percent if you’re under the age of 40. The chance of success goes down to about 30 to 40 percent if you’re over the age of 40.

What Happens if I Still Can’t Get Pregnant?

There are several different factors that can affect whether you’re able to get pregnant after a tubal reversal. Your age is one of the most important factors, along with your overall health and the health of your partner’s sperm.

The experts at the Center for Reproductive Health can work with you to explain other options that may help you to conceive, such as in vitro fertilization. This may be a better option for you if you’re over 40 or if you have any other issues that may be causing infertility such as endometriosis, uterine fibroids or pelvic inflammatory disease.

If you have been unable to conceive after tubal reversal, make an appointment for a consultation. The team at the Center for Reproductive Health is committed to exploring all possible options for helping you make your dream of conceiving a reality.

If you’ve decided you want to have a baby even though you had your tubes tied in the past, it may be possible to do a tubal reversal. A tubal reversal is a procedure that’s done to reopen and reconnect your fallopian tubes so that an egg can unite with sperm and allow you to get pregnant. Several factors need to be considered to determine if you’re a good candidate for a tubal reversal, such as your age, what type of procedure was done and how much tube remains.
Since the amount of remaining tube is a factor, most women who are interested in having a tubal ligation ask, “How much tube is needed for tubal reversal?” At the Center for Reproductive Health, expert staff are able to reverse almost all types of tubal ligations. A fallopian tube is usually around 10 to 12 centimeters long, which is about four to five inches. Even when fallopian tubes are cauterized or burned, the majority of the tube remains unharmed. Women who have about 7 cm of tubing left have the best chance of getting good results from a tubal reversal. If you have less than 5 cm of tubing, you may not be a good candidate for a tubal reversal.

What Other Factors Are Considered?

Several other factors are considered in addition to the length of tubing that remains. Your age is an important factor. The younger you are, the better chance of success you’re likely to experience after a tubal reversal, and the best success is usually achieved in women under the age of 40.
Before scheduling tubal reversal, your doctor does a thorough review of your medical history. If you have other problems that may affect fertility such as uterine fibroids, irregular periods or endometriosis, it can affect your chance of conceiving even if you have tubal reversal. The health of your partner’s sperm is also considered.
The success rate of a reversal procedure can be impacted by the type of procedure that was done. If rings or clips were used to tie your tubes, this type of procedure is usually easier to reverse than procedures in which the tubes were burned. Even if your tubes were burned, the procedure may be reversible if there’s enough healthy tube left for your doctor to reattach.

How Soon Can I Get Pregnant After Tubal Reversal?

If you had a tubal ligation that was done to prevent pregnancy, your fallopian tubes were cut, tied, or burned to stop an egg from being fertilized. It’s not uncommon for women to feel differently after some time has passed, and if you have changed your mind about wanting to prevent pregnancy, it may be possible to reverse this procedure and unblock the egg’s path. 

When women consider having a reversal procedure, it’s common for them to ask, “What are the chances of getting pregnant after tubal reversal?” The Center for Reproductive Health provides compassionate support to couples who are exploring their options.

Factors To Consider

The chances of pregnancy after a tubal reversal can range from around 50% to 80%. There are several factors to consider that help determine whether you’re a good candidate. One of the most important factors is your age. Your chance of getting pregnant decreases as you get older. The best candidates are typically women under the age of 40 who had their tubes tied right after having a baby.

The type of tubal ligation you previously had done and how much tube is left are other important factors to consider. Your doctor needs enough healthy tube(s) to be able to reconnect them. If your tubes were tied using rings or clips, this type of procedure is easier to reverse than if electrocautery was used to burn your fallopian tubes.

Your Overall Health

To find out if you’re a good candidate, your doctor will do a thorough review of your medical history including your history of pregnancies and pelvic surgeries. Blood tests and imaging tests may be ordered. Conditions that contribute to infertility such as endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, and uterine fibroids can affect whether this procedure is likely to be successful. Other health conditions such as heart problems or autoimmune diseases can also affect your ability to have a tubal reversal followed by a successful pregnancy.

Your Partner

Your partner’s overall health and the health of his sperm can also affect your chances of getting pregnant after tubal reversal. A sperm count and semen analysis may be done before having a tubal reversal to determine the quality and quantity of your partner’s sperm. If there are issues with your partner’s sperm or any other reasons that tubal reversal isn’t right for you, you may want to consider in vitro fertilization (IVF). Undergoing IVF may be a better choice than tubal reversal for women over the age of 40.

Getting Pregnant After Tubal Reversal

Your doctor lets you know how long after a tubal reversal you should wait before trying to get pregnant. Women who are able to conceive after tubal reversal usually do so within the first year or two after the procedure.

A tubal reversal isn’t a guarantee of attaining a successful pregnancy, and there are other options to consider. Highly trained and experienced specialists are available at The Center for Reproductive Health who want to help you reach your goal of having a baby. Schedule a consultation today.

If you made a decision to have your tubes tied, but years later decide you’d like to have a baby, you may be able to have tubal reversal surgery. A tubal ligation clamps or seals the fallopian tubes to prevent pregnancy. Tubal reversal surgery rejoins the part of the fallopian tube that was previously clamped so that an egg can pass through.

How long does it take tubes to heal after tubal reversal surgery? It’s natural to have questions about how soon you recover from this type of procedure so you can return to your normal routine. The team at the Center for Reproductive Health is available to help you understand what’s involved in tubal reversal surgery and how long it takes to recover.

Am I A Candidate?

Before having tubal reversal surgery, your doctor evaluates your overall health and the likelihood that reversing your tubal ligation will allow you to successfully conceive. Some of the factors considered include:

• Your age
• The type of surgery you had done
• How much fallopian tube is undamaged
• Whether you have any gynecological disorders such as endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease or fibroids

Your doctor also considers whether you have any autoimmune diseases that might affect pregnancy. The health of your partner’s sperm is also considered before performing this procedure. If you’re not a good candidate for this procedure, IVF is another option that may help you to have a baby.

The Procedure

A tubal reversal is an outpatient procedure that usually takes about two or three hours. You’re asleep during the procedure and won’t feel any pain. After the procedure, you’ll stay at the medical facility for a couple of hours. You may have nausea and discomfort at first and your doctor may prescribe medication to help control side effects of the procedure.

Recovering From Tubal Reversal

Recovery time can vary from one woman to another. You may have some pain and tenderness around the incision site and the incision site needs to remain clean and dry to promote optimal healing. Most women can resume normal daily activities in a week or two. During the first month after surgery, you should avoid lifting anything over 20 pounds. You can resume having sex two or three weeks after the procedure. 

A post-op visit is scheduled after the procedure. At this visit, your doctor checks to make sure your healing is progressing as expected.

Pregnancy After Tubal Reversal

The hope is that having a tubal reversal gives you a good chance of having a healthy pregnancy. Many women go on to conceive within a year of a tubal reversal. Age is an important factor in your ability to get pregnant after this procedure. Success is affected by the type of tubal ligation you originally had done, the amount of tube that’s left and the experience level of your surgeon.

The experts at the Center for Reproductive Health work closely with you to answer any questions you may have about recovering from tubal reversal surgery and things you may be able to do to help fertility. Schedule a consultation today.