Wednesday, April 12th, 2006...7:26 pm
Vasectomy reversal in the news
Newsday.com carried a story yesterday on vasectomy reversal, in which they gave some interesting statistics. They actually contradict themselves in one case where they give two different numbers. In one place they say 5% of men with vasectomies will ultimately undergo a reversal; in another place they say 7%. Part of the article deals with how the interval between vasectomy and vasectomy reversal impacts the success rate of the surgery:
- If its been less than three years, the patency rate (sperm in the ejaculate) is 97%; the pregnancy rate is 76%.
- If its been three to eight years, the patency rate drops to 88% and the pregnancy rate to 53%.
- If 9 to 14 years have elapsed since the vasectomy, the rate drops to 79% patency and 44% pregnancy.
- More than 15 years? There is a 71% patency rate and only a 30% chance of pregnancy.
Now before others of you in that last category (like me) become discouraged, let me remind you that there are lots of other factors. Have you sired a child before? Has your wife previously gotten pregnant? How old is your wife? All of these factor into the odds of success.
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Technorati tags: Vasectomy reversal
8 Comments
April 13th, 2006 at 7:08 am
And, let us put God into the equation too! He is miraculous and can do anything! Godspeed! We are believing for a miracle!
April 13th, 2006 at 7:44 am
Thanks for the well wishes. We are certainly hoping for success.
August 10th, 2007 at 1:04 am
MY hubby has produced antibodies against his reversal done 2 years ago.Is there medication he can take to sort this out ?
taniag@orion-hotels.co.za
August 10th, 2007 at 8:13 am
Tania,
They used to use corticosteroids, but I don’t think this is done anymore due to severe side effects (hip degeneration). Couples with this problem on the male side typically turn to IVF to conceive. Here’s more info…
http://www.sharedjourney.com/articles/asperm.html
I think your doctor is the best person to discuss this with.
January 22nd, 2008 at 6:45 am
HI….Love your site. My partner and I are going through the same experience and im booked in for reversal on monday 28th jan. its been only 18months since my original vasectomy but my doctor has quoted a 30% chance of pregnancy. is he just playing safe…your figures look much more promising.
cheers
Rufus
January 22nd, 2008 at 6:58 am
Thanks Rufus. Your doc certainly sounds conservative. I think I’d rather have that than someone who quotes a 98% success rate without telling you that it’s not the pregnancy rate they are referring to.
BTW, remember that the average time to conception following VR is one year.
August 6th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
my husband had a vasectomy 22 yrs ago. Is it even worth attempting a reversal? I am 15 yrs younger and in good health.
August 6th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Jill,
If you can afford it, I’d say go for it. It worked for us after 15 years. One consideration is proven fertility. Has he fathered children before and have you successfully gotten pregnant before? A yes to either (better yet, both) increases your odds.
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