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Vasectomy Reversal Alternatives

Vasectomy reversal is a more invasive surgical procedure than the original vasectomy. It has a relatively low success rate, with approximately 40 percent of men finding that they have insufficient sperm counts 12 months after the procedure. Luckily, there are alternatives to vasectomy reversal that can result in successful artificial fertilization even after a failed reversal surgery.

  1. Considerations

    • Every method for fertilization without a vasectomy reversal involves some sort of surgery and a long and emotional testing period of fertility treatments and artificial fertilization attempts. Insurance companies consider these surgeries elective, which greatly increases the expense of the operations. To increase chances of fertility success, both partners who are trying to conceive should undergo fertility treatments.

    Types

    • There are viable alternatives to vasectomy reversal. In Vasoepididymostomy, a surgeon reconnects the vas to the tubule of the epididymis to allow regular sperm flow. Many microsurgeons do not offer this complex procedure, however, and it can produce complications. Before a vasectomy even occurs, sperm can be stored at a fertility bank, and then later used in artificial insemination. A sperm donor can also assist in fertilization, even in the case of a partially failed vasectomy reversal.

    Time Frame

    • A Vasoepididymostomy takes approximately 12 months to recover from. The recovery period is similar to that of a conventional vasectomy reversal. The patient will be asked to provide regular sperm samples throughout that period in order to determine whether the operation has been successful. If the sperm count proves to be sufficiently high to support fertilization, most such patients will be able to reproduce unaided at the end of the this period.

    Expert Insight

    • Sperm aspiration is another technique that can allow a male with a vasectomy to have children. Through this procedure, sperm is extracted directly from the man's testes and then used in an artificial fertilization procedure. This has a relatively low success rate of approximately 20 to 35 percent, depending on the success of the fertilization procedure. The process is very expensive, time consuming and emotionally draining. It also has a lower overall success rate than vasectomy reversal.

    Benefits

    • These alternatives, for the most part, should be used only in the case of multiple failed vasectomy reversal operations. Artificial fertilization has a low overall success rate and has significant additional expenses. In cases in which both sides of the couple are fertility impaired, rigorous treatments are required for both partners to maximize chances of successful conception. The true benefits are unquantifiable, however, as these vasectomy reversal alternatives provide new hope to many couples who would otherwise have no ability to bring children into the world.

    Benefits

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