Success rates after Vasectomy Reversal
What is the success rate of vasectomy reversal?
To some extent this does depend on how long ago the vasectomy was done. This relates to sperm congestion in the fine tubules which can cause inflammation and blockage.
In the first few years after vasectomy, our results show that 97% of men have positive post-op sperm tests. Longer than 10 years from vasectomy the success rate is less (around 50%) but even at 20 years there is a chance that full fertility can be restored.
To see if your vasectomy reversal has worked you need to have a semen sample analysed no earlier than 8 weeks after the operation. Normal fertility would be defined as having a sperm count of more than 20 million per ml of semen with normal motility. There is a spectrum from no sperm present at all to small numbers with normal function or large numbers where the sperm seems to function less well.
Things that can affect the success of your vasectomy reversal include:
- the length of time since your vasectomy
- the age of your partner
- other fertility problems not directly related to vasectomy (eg antibodies against your sperm)
Does the way my vasectomy was done alter the result?
There are many different ways of doing a vasectomy. There is no evidence that some methods lead to a poorer reversal outcome. Even if quite a long length of vas tube has been removed it always seems possible to restore continuity.
Sperm harvesting at the time of your vasectomy reversal
Almost invariably the testis is still making sperm. At the time of surgery sperm can be extracted either by milking the sperm sac or by taking a tiny little sample of the testis itself. This is checked immediately by an Embryologist in the operating theatre and can then be frozen in a sperm bank. If you want this to be done, we need to know well in advance to make arrangements and you will need to have blood tests for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV. Although we may be able to retrieve up to several hundred thousand sperm it is not enough to be injected into your partner naturally. However, it is perfect to be used with an In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) technique. Our partners in this are CARE, whose Embryologists we work closely with. They have an excellent success rate with IVF.
Is my wife’s age and fertility important?
The ability to get pregnant declines beyond the age of 40. If your partner has irregular periods or has had any gynaecological symptoms or infections, she ought to be checked by her GP.