My husband and I would like to have a baby but my husband had a vasectomy about 11 years ago. Is there anything we can do about this?
Advances in microsurgery techniques have allowed ever-increasing numbers of men to have their vasectomies reversed.
In a vasectomy, the surgeon severs the vas deferens, the pathway that sperm normally take to get from the testicles into the penis. After the vas deferens is cut, both ends are sealed.
A vasectomy reversal is a difficult procedure in which the two ends of the vas deferens are reattached, so that sperm may once again travel into the ejaculate and out the penis.
There are two basic procedures for vasectomy reversal. By far the most common is called a vasovasostomy, a straightforward restoration of the vas deferens.
Success rates for the surgery itself are very high, but that doesn’t guarantee a pregnancy. The other type of surgery is used when there is scarring or other problems that prohibit reattachment of the vas deferens.
If you are interested in pursuing a vasectomy reversal, find out if your health insurer covers it or whether you will have to pay out-of-pocket. Then talk with your family doctor, who may refer you to a urologist or a clinic that specializes in vasectomy reversals. Good luck!