Making the decision to receive a vasectomy is generally a very personal one and it may take a patient several months (or years) to determine if it is the right procedure for them. With that being said, there are thousands of men who find it difficult to accept the idea of a vasectomy, even if they had previously determined that it was the correct solution at that moment in time. Luckily, vasectomies can be reversed, even if it has been an extended period of time since the surgery first occurred – even after 25 years. It is important to note that although your vasectomy can be reversed, the skill of your surgeon will depend on whether you can use your sperm to procreate.
How is a Vasectomy Reversal Performed?
Unlike the majority of major surgeries in the world, a vasectomy reversal is an outpatient surgery which can help to make the process far simpler for men. Generally your surgeon will provide you with the option to choose regional, local, or general anesthesia and the process is generally 4 hours in length. Your surgeon will most likely use an operating microscope to ensure that they can reverse your previous surgery. Luckily, the recovery period is relatively short as it is between 5 and 14 days in length. Sexual activity and heavy lifting is generally avoided during the first 4 weeks after the surgery.
The Effectiveness of Getting Pregnant
The majority of men who decide to opt for a vasectomy reversal are interested in procreating with their significant other. If this is you, it is important to consider the rate of effectiveness associated with the reversal process. It is important to note that although you may have received a reversal, it does not guarantee that you will be able to get a woman pregnant. Approximately 30% to 70% of men have viable sperm that provides them with the opportunity to make a baby. Though 90% of men have sperm return to their ejaculate after the procedure has been completed.
Antibodies and Pregnancy Rates
There has been an ample amount of conversations pertaining to the relevance of antibodies and the inability to get pregnant. The majority of men (70% to 80%) will have antibodies in their sperm but in the vast majority of cases, they will not affect how the egg and the sperm are fertilized. With that being said, a vasectomy reversal often does not have a negative impact on fertility rates.
Vasectomy Reversals and Side Effects
One of the most important side effects that men consider before they receive a vasectomy reversal is scarring. There will be scarring on your genital area but it is important that you keep an eye on the scarring to ensure that it is healing properly. Your surgeon will generally encourage you to check on your scars every 3 months and it is important that you consider banking your sperm so that your doctors can keep track of the quality of your sperm. A small amount of men (7% to 10%) experience scarring for the first couple of years after the surgery.
Enhancing Pregnancy Success Rates
As previously mentioned, it can be difficult to accurately gauge whether a man will be able to get his significant other pregnant – even if he does receive a vasectomy reversal. With that being said, the vast majority of men (80% to 95%) decide to freeze their sperm. The reason for this is because once the reversal process has been completed, it can take up to 2 years for your partner to become pregnant. Instead of waiting this lengthy period of time, your surgeon can inject your sperm directly into your partner’s egg and force the fertilization process. This can generally be the best option as your doctor will be able to find a healthy sperm by simply looking through a microscope rather than you and your partner trying to get pregnant for a long period of time. It is important that you speak to your doctor about your options prior to undergoing the surgery to ensure that you will be able to get your significant other pregnant either by injection or by having sex naturally.
Things to Consider
There are dozens of things that you will want to consider prior to undergoing a vasectomy reversal and price is one of them. Depending on your personal insurance, it may be covered by your insurance policy so that you don’t have to pay out of pocket. With that being said, in the event of you not having any coverage you should always ensure that you have the finances for both the surgery and the recovery process. The majority of men looking for a vasectomy reversal are required to pay anywhere between $2000 and $12000 for the entire process from a reputable and reliable surgeon.