Would BC/BS Pay for a Tubal Ligation Reversal in '84?

In 1984, it was unusual to have a tubal ligation reversal; as a matter of fact, it was a big deal. My wife and I, at the time, decided we wanted a child together, but she had had a tubal ligation with her last baby. I had an eight year old step daughter and a five year old step son. We found out through her ob/gyn that an experimental, but successful procedure was being performed in Nashville at a hospital other than Vanderbilt University.

There were some preparations that had to be made before the procedure could be done. First; my wife was to solicit a letter from Blue Cross stating that they would cover the procedure. This letter would be like gold to us.

Secondly, we had to find out if I had viable sperm and an adequate amount of the little swimmers. I acquired a container of the "substance", and took it 40 miles between my legs to keep it warm, to a previously determined laboratory. I must say, it was quite embarrassing to answer the question, "So what do we have here?" I am quite certain I was of a different skin tone going out to my truck than going in.

As it turned out, I had an adequate amount of sperm to procreate, so all we needed was the letter. After a few weeks, it arrived. To our delight it said it would pay for the procedure. We made the trek to Nashville and settled in a Hospital room. I have to admit, I was afraid for her to do this tremendous, life endangering thing for me.

The surgery was very successful, although they kept her for five days. The doctor was very pleased with the results and excited about the prospects. He said we needed to come back for checkup after five weeks, but it was okay to start trying as soon as she felt okay.

We decided to start trying rather scientifically. The doctor had given us a chart and we used a glass thermometer to determine her peak time for ovulation. She healed rather quickly, so we began the effort, however enjoyable.

After five weeks, we went back to Nashville to the doctor's clinic, this time. He had to check for patency , or clearance of passage through the repaired tubes. He put my wife in stirrups and involved me in the test. He pulled her cervix forward; it looked like a little button with a tiny hole in the center. The doctor then inserted a catheter connected to a syringe with about 7 cubic centimeters of sterile water in it. He asked me to inject the water; if she felt pain, the surgery had failed; if she felt no pain, the fallopian tubes were patent or clear for passage of an egg. I injected the sterile water with little resistance, and my wife felt no pain.

Two month's after her surgery, she was pregnant and came to term with a baby boy. She had him by C-Section on my birthday. It was and still is the best birthday present I could ever have. This was a major accomplishment in '84-85. Today, it is quite common.