When can we get pregnant?

The testicle takes about 60 days for process of making new sperm. Then, it takes 2-4 weeks for the sperm to make it to the ejaculate. Surgical healing makes it critical that you avoid ejaculating for the first 30 days.

Every one is a little different. We have volumes of patients who ignore our recommendations and are able to conceive within the 30 day window. However, this is not the norm and is not what we recommend. You should allow time for adequate healing before resuming sexual activity. The worst thing you can do is to get in a hurry and compromise your repair. This is very delicate surgery. Rushing the process can lead to problems we would like you to avoid if possible.

Depending on the health of the testicles and how long it has been since the vasectomy, some men will require longer for their sperm concentration and motility to return to normal. This is one reason that vasectomy reversal is more successful than IVF. With IVF, there is no period where the obstruction is relieved and the testicle can recover. It is simply the same point in time over and over.

Scar formation at the site of the reversal is the number one reason for a failure. This can occur with too much activity in the recovery period, or can occur just because your body healed that way. Some clinics will prescribe steroids after surgery with the claim that it will prevent scar formation. The problem is that steroids prevent healing. Scarring and healing are similar process, and you cannot prevent one without the other. Adding a steroid is a proven way to promote failure. You just cannot live your life like you just had surgery months later. When you stop the steroid, you start the healing, even though all other aspects of recovery are long over.