Getting Pregnant After Vasectomy
Vasectomy is the most common form of permanent birth control. It's relatively safe, very easy for a doctor to perform, and very effective. But there are some men who decide later that they'd like to have children – some men divorce and remarry, lose another child, or just realize they're not done with welcoming children. Getting pregnant after vasectomy is a possibility. This article will cover several options for a family hoping to conceive.
Sperm Retrieval
Sometimes a couple won't want to go through a vasectomy reversal, but will desire to have a child. A vasectomy prevents sperm from making their way into a man's semen, but it does not stop sperm production. Because of this it is possible to retrieve sperm. A fertility specialist will retrieve the sperm using the best procedure for the particular man. For some men it's an easy procedure, but some with need a slightly more involved procedure to obtain viable sperm.
Sperm retrieval requires IVF (In Vitro fertilization), but it's a good choice for families already planning IVF procedures.
Vasectomy Reversal
Vasectomy reversal is a good choice for men hoping to father children after a vasectomy operation. It tends to be the most cost-effective solution. It also offers a good chance of pregnancy and it's a very common procedure (over 35,000 reversals are performed every year in the United States alone).
Success Rates
If sperm is identified at the time of the vasectomy reversal procedure, the success rate for restored fertility is greater than 95%! There are times when the odds will be lowered. Absence of sperm may occur when it has been a long time since the vasectomy (15+ years) or if vasectomy was performed low on the vas deferens. Sometimes a secondary blockage occurs and requires the doctor to clear it out. Reversal success for these cases is 65-70%. The result is mostly Dependant on the type of surgery required, and in most cases, chances of restoring fertility are excellent.
Reversal procedures
There are two different types of procedures for reversing vasectomy. When sperm are present in the vas deferens, vasovasoctomy is performed. When there no sperm found in the vas deferens edidiymovasostomy is the best procedure to use.
Vasovasostomy is done using a microscope that magnifies things for the doctor to about 25 times normal size. A nylon suture is is used to sew the vas deferens back up and create a water-tight closure for sperm to travel through.
Epididymovasostomy is performed with very high powered microscope and requires the man to go under general anesthesia. An extremely fine nylon suture is used.
Considerations for Vasectomy Reversal
The procedure you will to restore your fertility depends on the presence of sperm in the vas deferens. It's generally not possible to determine if sperm are present before the surgery, so it's best to choose a doctor who specializes in both vasectomy reversal procedures.
Healing does not take a long time after vasectomy reversal. You should take it easy for 2-3 weeks to let healing take place within the scrotum, but after that normally activities can generally resume. Success rates are usually very high and let a couple conceive the child they dream of.
Get more detailed information on the vasectomy reversal procedures.
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