You have two options: a vasectomy reversal or sperm aspiration prior to IVF treatment. Which procedure is better for you and your partner will base on:

• How long it has been since vasectomy
• You and your partner’s age
• How quickly you want to conceive a child, either naturally or through IVF.

Factors influence the success of the vasectomy reversal procedure include surgeon’s skill, interval of obstruction and type of procedure. Reversal procedure does become more technically challenging as the years of vasectomy increases.

Although successful return of sperm can be seen in ~ 80% of patients, pregnancy rate after procedure varies between 30% to 70%, which is also impacted by female partner’s age and fertility potential. Before you choose vasectomy reversal, we recommend that the female partner to be seen to make sure she no fertility issues that would prevent her from getting pregnant naturally.

Since it takes an average of 12 months for conception to occur after a successful vasectomy reversal, for couples who concern about female partner’s age and ovarian reserve, or female partner may have infertility issues that need to be addressed, proceed with IVF treatment and sperm aspiration from testicle or epididymis would be a better option.

This procedure is usually performed under local anesthesia in the office. A tiny needle is used to remove sperm directly from each vas deferens close to the testicle, or directly from each testicle. Most men have some discomfort or minor pain after this procedure, which typically last several few days and can be well controlled by oral pain pills.

The sperm is then used to fertilize partner’s eggs in the IVF laboratory. The sperm can be aspirated either on the day of the egg retrieval or in advance and frozen for a future IVF cycle.

IVF treatment with sperm aspiration is highly successful. It will take less time for the female partner to get pregnant. It is also a less invasive procedure for the male partner. The female partner will undergo IVF treatment, which means more than one embryo could be created if you want to have more than one child for your family.

Call us (XXX) to talk to the doctor if you have any questions.