Sterilization Reversal

What Are The Vasectomy Reversal Success Rates?

If you are here looking for vasectomy reversal success rates, then that means you are interested in reversing your vasectomy to have another child or even more. What you need to understand is what the vasectomy reversal statistics quoted to you by your doctor actually mean.

While your urologist or surgeon could say you have a 97% chance of vasectomy reversal success, you need to know if that is what you are really looking for. Most such quotes from your doctor mean that it is highly likely when undergoing this procedure that you will end up with semen in your fluid again. In this case we are talking about a sperm count that is high enough to be viable and that you are again fertile.

However, most likely what you are wanting to know is what the pregnancy rates following a vasectomy reversal are. In this case there are many factors that come into play.

First you need to know that it can take 3-8 months, or even a bit longer, for sperm counts to return to normal. This is due to the recovery time needed for everything to heal after the reversal and to start the sperm transport functioning again. Much of this relies on a successful reconnection without obstructions and too much scarring in the first place. It is not unheard of for a man to undergo more than one vasectomy reversal surgery especially if he gets the wrong surgeon.

The average time to a successful pregnancy after a reversal is one year. Again there are many factors that play into this but this is probably what you are really wanting to know...what are the chances of your spouse getting pregnant after you undergo the reversal procedure?

One source quotes a general 75% pregnancy rate if the original surgery was done less than three years before the reversal. The same source quotes a pregnancy rate of 30% when done after 15 years with good sperm count being achieved in only 71% of men. These seem to be the generally quoted figures in the industry.

However, you will find some doctors actually keep track of their patients and can quote their own vasectomy reversal success rates. While more expensive, you may decide to have such a surgeon perform your operation as this indicates an attention to detail and care for the end result for the patient.

One such doctor quotes a normal sperm count and motility in 98% of his patients that had no epididymal obstruction with 88% achieving pregnancy. He has results for all 6000+ of his patients over the years. Furthermore, his results indicate to him that the length of time since the original vasectomy does not affect vasectomy reversal odds of success. Of course, you would want to know just how many men are found to have an epididymal obstruction and how this affects the figures.

One last thing to point out here is that although the vasectomy reversal success rates are good, there are other factors that affect a successful pregnancy. Even the quoted figures of pregnancy above do not take into account that not all pregnancies go full term. There are also factors on the female side of the equation that affect the success. This is a good reason why your spouse should undergo a complete examination prior to spending the money required to get a vasectomy reversal.

Copyright 2007, Sandra Wilson