How does a vasectomy reversal work?
There are two methods of vasectomy reversal: a vasovasostomy
or a vasoepididymostomy. A vasovasostomy is far more common. During this type
of vasectomy
reversal, his doctor will sew the vas deferens from the
penis to the testes back together. Less common (and far more difficult) is the
vasoepididymostomy — his doctor will typically only recommend it if he doesn’t
think a vasovasostomy will work. During this, his doctor will attach the vas
deferens to the small organ at the back of each testicle that holds sperm.
Both types of vasectomy reversals are performed in a
hospital or clinic under general anesthesia (he won’t feel a thing!) and take
between 2 and 4 hours. Recovery time is about 2 weeks, depending on your
partner’s overall health.
How much does a vasectomy reversal cost?
In general, many fertility treatments are cost prohibitive. For women, there
are more affordable options but men who’ve had a vasectomy and want it reserved
will have to. Vasovasostomy costs around $4,300.00.
This fee includes the procedure, local anesthesia, and operating room. Dr. Wise
performs approximately 123 procedures a year. Of course, the
cost of a vasectomy reversal will depend on the hospital, doctor, and any
complications that happen during surgery.
Unfortunately, vasectomy reversals are not usually covered by insurance. If
your partner decides to get a vasectomy reversal, be sure to ask about
any discounts a doctor may provide if they know you’re paying out-of-pocket.
Even with such a high price tag, vasectomy reversals are often more
cost-effective than alternatives like freezing his sperm and going through
rounds of IVF.
How long does it take to get pregnant after a vasectomy reversal?
Even without the complications of a vasectomy and/or vasectomy reversal, it
can take couples without underlying fertility issues between 3 and 6 months to
get pregnant. If female of male fertility issues are present, getting pregnant
can take a lot longer. The general rule of thumb is that couples under 35
who’ve been trying to conceive for 1 year should consult a fertility
specialist. For couples over 35 or with fertility-related health issues, this
falls to 6 months.
When a vasectomy reversal is involved, these numbers become skewed. Even
when a vasectomy reversal is successful, testing must be done in order to
determine whether ejaculated semen contains sperm. If it does, his doctor will
want to make sure the sperm count and quality are both high enough to achieve
pregnancy. Typically, it takes males 90 days to replenish their sperm. For most
men, a sperm analysis will show good sperm quality within 2 of these cycles.
Some men may be able to get their partners pregnant within 3 to 4 months but
it’s usually about 6 months before this is likely.
According to the American Urological Association, the rate of pregnancy
after vasectomy reversal falls between 35 and 75% — that’s a broad range. They
also report that men who have a reversal within 3 years of the original
vasectomy have the highest success rates, while the success rate
drops to 30% for men who wait 10 or more years. Remember, there’s no guarantee
that a vasectomy reversal will allow you to become pregnant. There are a lot of
variables and it’s often a “wait and see” situation.
Improving sperm count, quality, and motility after a vasectomy reversal
Whether your partner has had a vasectomy or not, he may want to take steps
to increase the count, quality, and motility of his sperm. If he has had a
vasectomy and then a reversal, he’ll want to rest up and
allow his body time to heal properly. In addition, here are some tips for
improving sperm count, quality, and motility:
Stop smoking
Avoid or limit alcohol consumption
Eat a nutrient-rich diet
Avoid hot tubs
Exercise regularly
Lose weight
Get enough sleep
What if a vasectomy reversal doesn’t work?
If you and your partner want to get pregnant after a vasectomy, a reversal
is a great first step. Not only is it more cost effective than other types of
fertility treatments, but it’s also usually effective if there are no other
fertility concerns. That being said, not all vasectomy reversals result in a
viable pregnancy. If, after a year of trying post-reversal, you’re still not
pregnant, it may be time to speak with a specialist about other options. Thanks
to modern advancements in reproductive technology, you do have options. You can
talk to your doctor about in vitro fertilization (IVF) using sperm surgically
removed from your partner or if that’s not an option, donor sperm. This is
likely the most effective option if a vasectomy reversal doesn’t work.
As vasectomy reversal is more painful method than the vasectomy and besides this Vasectomy Expert suggest the patient's to ignore this methods as the success rate is nil and the recovery option is too long. Moreover, instead of vasectomy reversal you can try over some contraceptive methods as this is the safest methods and the recovery rate is also good as it depends on your body.
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