Vasectomy Reversal Options
I've had a vasectomy. What are my options for starting a family?
Your options for having your own biological children are vasectomy reversal or in vitro fertilization. Your options for having children that are not biologically yours are adoption or inseminating your partner/wife with donor sperm. Additionally, there is always the option of staying as you are. During your visit, I look forward to touching upon all these options so that you can make the very best decision for you and the ones you love.
| Options | Biological |
| Vasectomy Reversal | Yes |
| In Vitro Fertilization | Yes |
| Adoptions | No |
| Donor Insemination | No |
| Staying As You Are | --- |
Should I cryopreserve or “freeze” sperm at the time of vasectomy reversal?
The bottom line is that not every vasectomy reversal is going to be successful. For men who never get sperm back in their ejaculate, their options for having their own biologic children are (1) repeating the vasectomy reversal or (2) sperm retrieval with in vitro fertilization (IVF).
To pursue IVF after vasectomy reversal, sperm can be retrieved either (1) at the time of vasectomy reversal, frozen (“cryopreserved”) and then stored away just in case you need it later for IVF or (2) at the time of IVF only if the vasectomy reversal is not successful.
Which option is better? There really is not a good answer. A recent study showed that sperm retrieval with cryopreservation at the time of vasectomy reversal was not cost-effective overall. But the key word in that sentence is “overall”. Just because it is good “overall”, does not mean it is not good for you.
It is a personal choice, not a group decision. If you are a believer in having back-up plans and have the financial ability to pursue cryopreservation, then it may be a good decision for you. If you don't have time to pursue repeating a vasectomy reversal (i.e. a woman in the latter years of her reproductive window) or the man cannot bear the thought of another procedure on his scrotum, then cryopreservation may once again be good for you.
There is not an answer that is "one size fits all", but we will be happy to sit down with you and help you consider all the factors so that you can make a decision that is good for you.
Reference: Fertility and Sterility 85(4): 961-964, April 2006