If you or your partner has had a vasectomy at some point, and you now want to have children, there is a good possibility that the procedure can be reversed so that conception can occur.
Approximately 300,000 vasectomies are performed each year in the United States.
Vasectomy is considered a permanent form of sterilization. But some men opt to have the procedure reversed, so that they can once again father children.
For a while, the popular theory was that there was a “cut-off” date of around 10 years from the date of the vasectomy when it could be successfully reversed and viable sperm found to be present in the vas.
However, further research has shown that there is no real shelf life on reversing a vasectomy. In fact, the chance of finding live sperm within the vas is 86% after 5 years and 60% even after 20 years!
A Vasectomy reversal is a procedure that allows men who have had a vasectomy to become fertile again. The vans deferens is surgically reconnected and the epididymal blowouts are surgically bypassed, allowing sperm to travel out of the epididymis and into the ejaculate as prior to the vasectomy.
Basically, the school of thought among the medical profession seems to be that microsurgical vasectomy reversal is more effective and has a higher success rate than ordinary surgical procedures.
In microsurgical vasectomy reversal, the procedure is performed under a microscope with very high magnification, using delicate instruments and sutures.
Now, vasectomy reversal is not strictly required in order for a man to impregnate his partner, provided of course that she is fertile.
A vasectomy does not significantly alter a man’s ability to produce sperm. Almost 100% of men who have fathered children in the past will have sperm present in the testis and epididymis following vasectomy. These sperm may be harvested and subsequently used in in vitro fertilization.
Pregnancy rates using this IVF technique average around 35% or higher per attempt, which is pretty good odds.
Many factors might influence which route is best for the couple dealing with a vasectomy. Vasectomy reversal might be the best choice for some, while in vitro fertilization with harvested sperm might be more suitable for others.
Either way, if vasectomy is preventing you as a couple from having a baby, there is help available that offers a good chance of success!
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