What are the chances of getting pregnant after a vasectomy reversal procedure? Vasectomy is an effective contraception that restricts the combination of healthy sperm in the semen that forms the ejaculate. Although it can prevent pregnancies and let you enjoy a romantic life with your partner, you may change your mind.
Often, after a man has had a vasectomy, he gets into a new relationship and changes his mind about having children and starting a family. The vasectomy reversal procedure, which involves the reattachment of the vas deferens of the male reproductive organs that produce fertile sperm, makes this possible.
However, the procedure itself is complicated, and depending on various factors, the success rates of a vasectomy reversal, that is, the chances of pregnancy, may vary from one case to another.
What Happens During a Vasectomy Reversal Procedure?
The procedure is complex and involves using precise instruments, including scalpels, incision equipment, microscopes, etc. Your surgeon will sedate you and apply a numbing agent near the scrotum to prevent any sudden pain or procedure implications.
After that, the surgeon will make precise incisions on your scrotum through which they will expose the vas deferens. These tubes carry the sperm from the epididymis (tissues at the back of the testicles that produce sperm) to the male ejaculatory tube.
The surgeon will separate the vas deferens on both sides from the nearby tissues, which will help reattach them. The main step in determining which reattachment procedure takes place is checking if the fluid is present in the vas on both sides. In case the fluid (i.e., sperm) is present in the tubes, the surgeon will reattach the severed ends.
On the other hand, if sperm is not present and the tube appears to be dry inside, it may have something to do with scar tissue blocking the sperm from entering the tube. Therefore, the surgeon may have to find another end of the vas to attach to the epididymis.
Pregnancies- Are Vasectomy Reversals Successful?
Vasectomies and reversals are expensive medical surgical procedures that often general health insurances don’t cover. However, make sure you consult a surgeon who performs such procedures regularly, as they can help you out.
A surgeon who has the experience and knowledge of vasectomy reversal should be your first and only choice. Moreover, vasectomy reversals are successful when the surgeon knows and is proficient in using precise instruments with the help of micro-surgical equipment. This ensures that the procedure will go without any complications, and there will be high chances of success.
Once the reversal occurs and the vas deferens connect with the sperm-producing male reproductive glands, the sperm starts to move into the tubes. However, the doctor and surgeons might suggest going through a few tests and analyses to ensure that the sperm is still healthy and fertile to cause pregnancies.
It might take time and a few ejaculations to make sure that healthy sperm are forming and combining with semen inside the tubes.
What are the Success Rates of Pregnancies Post-Vasectomy Reversal?
Your doctor will take regular or scheduled ejaculate samples to ensure that there are sperm present in the semen. Nonetheless, it is worth knowing that this process can take up to 4 to 6 months and even 12 months in some cases.
The sperm may take time to mix into the semen before forming a healthy ejaculate. Depending on the vasectomy procedure you had previously, the fertilization level of the female, the health of sperm, and the type of procedure in the reversal process, the rate of pregnancy can vary.
Overall, research shows that the rate after reversals can be as high as 85 percent and as low as 67 percent. Therefore, it is highly possible to get pregnant after a reversal of the vasectomy. Additionally, it is better to undergo different tests to ensure that your sperm is fertile and healthy. Further, having a low sperm count reduces your chances of making your female partner pregnant. Hence, there are many considerations, but overall, there are high chances of getting pregnant after vasectomy reversal.
Pregnant After a Vasectomy Reversal: Conclusion
Do you wish to begin a family by getting a vasectomy reversal? Such high hopes and great decisions should not go in vain. Getting in touch with the right urologist, skilled in microsurgery, will help to achieve a successful vasectomy reversal.
Dr. Yaniv Larish has years of experience performing vasectomy reversals. Give us a call to schedule an appointment and discuss your options. All information is personal and confidential.
Call Today:
Yaniv Larish, MD
4 East 76th Street
New York, NY 10021
646-862-5500
Reference Links:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/vasectomy-reversal/about/pac-20384537
https://www.healthline.com/health/vasectomy-reversal
https://www.webmd.com/infertility-and-reproduction/guide/reversing-a-vasectomy
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/292177460_Vasectomy_reversal_A_clinical_update
