Vasectomy Reversal Success Rates

Vasectomy reversal is a complex procedure that requires a great deal of technical expertise on the part of the microsurgeon. Generally, going to a specialist for this kind of procedure helps to increase the chances of success substantially. Going to an expert surgeon for the original vasectomy also helps to increase the success chances of a reversal later on.

Significance

• One significant factor affecting the success rates of a vasectomy reversal is the skill of the surgeon. It may not be politically correct--and in some countries, it is illegal--to discuss the comparative successes of surgeons, but there are marked differences in success. Surgeons are not all of uniform expertise, just as with any other field. It's worthwhile to conduct research and to inquire about success rates when trying to find a surgeon to conduct the procedure. Be aware of the alternatives to vasectomy reversal as well.

Function

• The longer the gap between the original vasectomy procedure and the reversal, the lower the chances of success. For vasectomy reversals that occur 3 years or less after the original vasectomy, the average amount of sperm return is close to 100 percent. Pregnancy rates for that gap are over 75 percent. As the gap increases, however, the sperm return and pregnancy rate markedly decrease. If it has been more than 15 years since the original vasectomy, there is an approximately 70 percent sperm return and a 30 percent pregnancy rate.

Features

• These statistics are significantly affected by the female fertility rates, however. Generally speaking, the longer the elapsed time after the vasectomy, the older the female partner in the coupling and the lower overall fertility rate. There are a number of unpredictable factors that affect pregnancy rates after vasectomies, one of the most important being how long the couple continue to attempt to have children and how many additional fertility treatments they seek to maximize their chances of a successful pregnancy.

Considerations

• The sperm patency success rate is the important statistic to look at when evaluating potential surgeons. This amount is measured for a 12-month recovery period after the original vasectomy reversal. That is approximately how long it takes for the sperm flow to recover after going through a vasectomy procedure. This can be measured regularly by a urologist or other reproductive health center.

Potential

• Vasectomy reversal failure is rarely complete. Generally, at least some healthy sperm are able to be transmitted, but in cases of failure, there are not enough healthy sperm to support a fertilization within reasonable bounds of probability. Even in such cases of partial failure, it opens the possibility of donor-assisted fertilization in which the reversal patient can have his sperm mixed with that of a donor. Even in the case of vasectomy reversal failure, it is possible to go through additional reversal procedures that can end in successful reproductive recovery.