Vasectomy Reversal or IVF: What is best after a vasectomy?
May 13, 2015
If you had a vasectomy and want more children you probably asked yourself what is your best option to have another kid?
Vasectomy reversal or IVF? Which is the better choice if you want more children after vasectomy.
After searching you will quickly realize vasectomy reversal and in vitro fertilization are the top two treatments for having children after a vasectomy.
Vasectomy reversal is often the better choice over in vitro fertilization (IVF). Reversing vasectomy is more affordable and more successful than in vitro fertilization.
Is vasectomy permanent?
Vasectomy is intended to be permanent but vasectomy does not have to be permanent. It is possible to have more children after a vasectomy procedure.
Although there are many different variations of vasectomy, all vasectomy procedures cause blockage of the vas deferens. This prevents sperm from being ejaculated during sex and reaching an egg waiting to be fertilized. To become pregnant after vasectomy the blockage needs to be removed or bypassed.
Vas deferens blockage can be removed with vasectomy reversal surgery or can be bypassed with IVF.
Vasectomy reversals: Removing vasectomy blockage
Vasectomy reversals provide men an opportunity to restore natural anatomy and function.
A vasectomy reversal surgery is a procedure to remove the vas deferens blockage and rejoin the disconnected tubes. Vasectomy reversal surgery can be performed as a same day surgery without needing an overnight hospital stay. The surgery can cost between $6,000 to $15,ooo. Approximately 80% to 90% of men who have vasectomy reversal surgery will have a successful procedure.
Although vasectomy reversals are surgical procedures, the risks are low. The main advantage of vasectomy reversal surgery is you can cause pregnant more than once, without medications or a doctor’s treatment, and avoid the more expense treatment of IVF. Vasectomy reversal can also allow you to produce enough sperm to have intrauterine insemination (IUI). IUI is far cheaper and easier to perform compared to IVF.
In vitro fertilization: An alternative to vasectomy reversal
In vitro fertilization is an alternative to vasectomy reversal. IVF is a medical treatment that can bypasses blockage of the vas deferens if you have retrieval of sperm from the testicles with needle aspiration.
IVF treatment requires the woman receive injections of hormonal medications. The hormonal medications cause her ovaries to produce eggs, which are removed from the her body during an egg retrieval procedure. Once eggs are removed from the woman the male partner will provide a semen sample to fertilize the eggs.
Since the male has had a vasectomy sperm will need to be retrieved from the epididymis (the sperm producing structure on top of the testicle) with a needle aspiration procedure. This is an office procedure where the sperm are retrieved from the epididymis. If healthy sperm are retrieved, the eggs are fertilized outside the woman’s body and, if they grow, they are inserted inside the woman’s uterus in the office.
IVF with percutaneous sperm aspiration costs approximately $16,000 to $20,000 for each treatment and about 1 out 3 women will become pregnant with each treatment.
Which is better vasectomy reversal or IVF?
The best treatment will often depend on many factors. Both treatments can provide success.
In general, a vasectomy reversal procedure can be more affordable and more successful over time. Vasectomy reversal surgery allows you to have multiple attempts at pregnancy and can provide you the opportunity to have more than one baby. IVF can often provide quicker pregnancy results but will be more costly and may require more than one treatment.
Dr. Monteith is a tubal reversal specialist in Raleigh North Carolina. Dr. Monteith provides outpatient vasectomy reversal surgery in his office operating suite and has helped many couples become pregnant after tubal ligation and vasectomy.
For more information visit: Benefits of vasectomy reversal
For more information about the costs of vasectomy reversal: Vasectomy reversal costs
If you would like to email Dr. Monteith a medical question about having a vasectomy procedure or vasectomy reversal then visit:
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If you would like to speak with a vasectomy reversal staff person please call (919) 977-5050.
