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Vasectomy Reversal Alternative

Reversal surgery isn't the only alternative for men who want more children after a vasectomy. Several non-surgical techniques allow men to father children without the risk and discomfort of vasectomy reversal surgery.

  1. Science to the Rescue

    • Though a man no longer ejaculates sperm following a vasectomy, he continues to manufacture sperm. This sperm can be collected and used to fertilize an egg from the man's partner, allowing the couple to conceive.

      Two non-surgical techniques may result in conception after a vasectomy. In vitro fertilization (IVF) uses sperm extracted from the man's testes to fertilize a female egg in a culture dish. The fertilized egg is then implanted in the woman's womb for gestation and eventual delivery.

      Introcytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) increases the success rate of IVF by injecting a single sperm into the egg in the culture dish.

      Sperm for these procedures is collected in one of two ways--Percutaneous Epididymal Sperm Aspiration (PESA) uses a fine needle to withdraw sperm-containing fluid from the epididymas, located just above the vas deferens. In Testicular Sperm Extraction (TESE), very small pieces of the testes are removed with a biopsy needle. The pieces contain sperm and may be used in IVF.

    Reversal or IVF?

    • According to the Center for Male Reproductive Medicine, IVF in conjunction with ICSI has a 40 percent success rate, compared to surgical vasectomy reversal, which has a 43percent success rate--success meaning the surgery eventually resulted in a pregnancy.

      When choosing between surgical vasectomy reversal and IVF, both partners should consider the costs and risks involved. Reversal is major surgery, requiring anesthesia. Most men must wait four weeks before having sex after the surgery, and six weeks before returning to full pre-surgery activity. Not every man is a candidate for vasectomy reversal and not all reversals are successful. According to the Mayo Clinic, about half of reversals are successful. The mean time to conceive following vasectomy reversal, according to the Center for Male Reproductive Medicine, is 12 months.

      IVF requires the woman to undergo a series of hormone injections and harvesting of the eggs. IVF is not always successful the first time and may have to be repeated. There is a 25 to 30 percent chance of multiple births (twins or triplets) with IVF.

      A study by Peter Schlegel MD, published in the September 2008 issue of Human Reproduction found that in 2005, vasectomy reversal and the resultant pregnancy cost $20,903 versus $54,797 for IVF/ICSI resulting in pregnancy.

      Discuss your concerns and risk factors with your doctor and choose the option that's right for you.

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