Vasectomy reversal shoulders a lot of weight. The entire purpose of this outpatient procedure is to facilitate conception, and, obviously, that is no small matter to a man and his family. You understand the importance of success, so much so that you may have more questions than you even realize as you take steps to reversal an initial vasectomy. We know. Vasectomy reversals are our job, as is putting your mind at ease. Let’s take a closer look at some of the common aspects of vasectomy reversal and see if any of your questions are answered.
Sperm, it’s all about the Sperm
Conception doesn’t happen without sperm. These little guys need to be present in large numbers, and they also need to be strong and mobile to fulfill their mission. One of the common concerns that couples have is that too much time has gone by after the initial procedure and the vasectomy reversal. During this time, does the body stop producing sperm since they have nowhere to go? No. It doesn’t; even if decades have passed since vasectomy. Sperm production is associated with testicular health; so, barring a serious health condition or testicular injury, there should be no worries about having healthy, mobile sperm after vasectomy reversal.
The Measure of Success
To call a vasectomy reversal, a success may mean one thing to the patient and another thing to the urologist. In our Rancho Mirage practice, the goal of the vasectomy reversal is to restore the passageway through which sperm travel. The presence of sperm means the procedure has been successful. However, that may not coincide with the idea of success a patient has: pregnancy!
Where pregnancy after vasectomy reversal is concerned, success rates vary widely, from 26- to 76-percent. It is important to remember that there are numerous factors involved in successful conception. Sperm count is only one of them.
Success also cannot be measured by conception within a specific time frame. Some of the information that has been published may make it seem likely that pregnancy will occur within a month or two. However, sperm count normalizes more gradually than that in most cases. Patience is key in the game of pregnancy.
