Vasectomy Reversal vs IVF

vasectomy reversal vs IVFThanks to the many advances of modern medicine, couples who are unable to conceive naturally have a wide variety of choices available to help them conceive. If you and your partner are thinking about having more children after you’ve already had a vasectomy procedure, there are several things to consider before making your final choice.

When you first had your vasectomy, chances are you had some of your sperm set aside to be frozen in the case that you may want children again in the future. If not, there are ways to cultivate sperm which is obviously absent from the ejaculate. This often requires the specialist to insert a needle into the scrotum to extract sperm.

If you do decide to go the route of IVF, the female partner will also need to undergo extensive procedures to achieve pregnancy. This involves egg extraction and test tube fertilization that leads to the growth of the embryos which will eventually be implanted in the woman’s uterus. The whole process is often extremely costly, emotionally draining for both parties involved, with a low success rate of approximately 20% to 25% for a 35 year old woman … and even lower for women who are older.

Conversely, if your initial vasectomy has been performed well, making both sides of the tubes repairable, your chances of regaining fertility are extremely high. How will this affect you and your future partner should you decide to have children? It would allow you to forgo the difficult process involved with IVF and become pregnant naturally.

The vasectomy reversal itself is much less costly and time consuming than the IVF process. There are only three factors that are called upon to determine if your reversal is successful:

  • the presence of repairable vas
  • the presence of sperm in the vas
  • experienced vasectomy reversal microsurgery

Whether you choose to have a reversal in order to feel more like your usual virile self, or you decide to wait until you find your life partner, we’re here and happy to answer any questions you may have regarding vasectomy reversals and to guide you in the decision making process.