Predictors of success of reversal of sterilization.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prognostic variables effecting the successful pregnancy outcome of reversal of sterilization.

DESIGN

Demographic and clinical history data were collected prospectively.

SETTING

Division of Infertility and Reproductive Endocrinology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.

PATIENTS AND INTERVENTION

Between 1981 and 1992, 217 consecutively referred patients underwent reversal of sterilization by a single surgeon using microsurgical techniques.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Prognostic variables associated with success were examined using logistic regression and expressed as odds ratios with corresponding 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

Age at reversal was a significant factor with the odds of a successful outcome for those < or = 35 years compared with those > 35 years being 2.3 with a 95% confidence interval of 1.3 to 4.1. There was some evidence that average tubal length as categorized in 2-cm intervals was a significant prognostic factor with the odds of a successful outcome for those with an average length of > 4 cm to those < or = 4 cm being 5.3 with a 95% confidence interval of 1.4 to 20.0.

CONCLUSIONS

Nonsubjective analysis of the prognostic variables of reversal of sterilization associates only age and tubal length of > 4 cm with intrauterine pregnancy.