When I was 21, I had a tubal ligation after my first child. I was in an abusive relationship and made a rash decision. I am now remarried and have a healthy relationship with my husband. We have talked about having a baby for over a year and we feel we are ready now. I live in the Midwest. We have visited the only doctor in this area who performs tubal reversals, and he wants $12,000 up front. I have been looking for doctors who are more affordable. I looked on the Internet and found a doctor about three hours away who does it all for $7,000. I was wondering if there is a place that supplies a list of doctors who do this procedure and their price and location. How will I know if I'm getting a fair price and a good doctor? --Michelle

Prices can vary widely even within the same geographical area. I have received email from women who have been quoted anywhere from $6,500 to $12,000. But just because you spend more, you cannot be assured that you are getting better care. There is no shopper's guide to re-anastomosis, but I will give you a list of questions to ask your prospective microsurgeon.

1. How many of these procedures do you do in a given year, and how long have you been performing this procedure? (The more experience, the better.)
2. Do you use an operating microscope (mandatory for good results) or do you use loupes (magnifying eye glasses -- less satisfactory)? What size suture is used? (8-O to 10-O is best.)
3. What are your success rates? (They should be 85 percent within two years of surgery.)
4. Is the procedure done on an outpatient basis? If not, how long will I stay in the hospital?
5. What methods of anesthesia and postoperative pain control do you use?
6. What tests are done before surgery? If I am over 35, do you recommend a day 3 FSH to evaluate ovarian reserve before surgery? (If your doctor does little or no testing, you may be in the wrong hands.)