Primary therapy for tubal disease: surgery versus IVF.

Infertility involves fallopian tube occlusion or other malfunction in over 25% of cases. Reconstructive surgery offers the possibility of natural conception, but the success rate overall is less than 30% and if the hydrosalpinx is severe or other factors are involved, much lower than that. IVF-ET currently offers a much higher success rate. Although the cost of IVF per cycle is over three-fourths the total cost of tubal surgery, the eventual success rate of IVF is so much better than that of surgery that the costs per baby delivered are some 10% lower. In addition, more infertile couples are rewarded in their quest to have a child.