Vasectomy Reversal Success Rates

Vasectomy reversal success rates are reported differently on different websites. This tends to be very misleading and confusing. No clinic pays to have staff statisticians hanging around to calculate success and modify those results every time someone contacts their office to report a pregnancy or new baby. That would cost a small fortune and just is not done. Most clinics quote numbers out of thin air without even a clear meaning of success. Followup is incomplete for vasectomy reversal surgery and so are the associated statistics. Everyone does not communicate their successes, and some only communicate years later.

Success rates for IVF are more accurate because you have to return to proceed with the process, but even in the best series, that success rate is only about 25%. Vasectomy Reversal is far more effective and far less expensive.

The vasectomy reversal success is often reported quoting a very old study performed over about 17 years and only involved about 200 patients with many different surgeons in one institution. It was not accurate then and is not accurate now, but most of what you will see use those statistics.

Some consider success as having a few sperm in the ejaculate. Others define success as completing the procedure. Most quote published statistics not related to their own ability. In truth, the only parameter that matters is whether or not you are able to conceive without other assistance or whether your post vasectomy pain has been eradicated.

Factors influencing your success:

• The health of your partner and his testicles.

• How the vasectomy was performed.

• The partner's age, health, and fertility history.

• How the surgery is cared for during the recovery.

• How accurately the reversal can be performed.

• How strictly your husband follows the post operative instructions.

The pregnancy rate for 2 otherwise healthy individuals who have never had a vasectomy is about 85%. It will not improve after a vasectomy has been done. Quoted statistics of 99+% exceed even the expected fertility rate, which means they cannot be real.

Many years ago, the hospitals began suggesting that a section of the vas be removed to "prove" the vas had been divided. This allows the hospital to add a pathology charge for looking at this specimen which is often more than the cost of the vasectomy. There are no body parts that grow back together on their own. It just does not happen that way. We are not lizards. Even if we could do such a thing, the burn scar, suture, or clip on the end of the vas would prevent such from happening. Some vasectomy doctors remove large portions of the vas while others remove none. Obviously, it is easier to reunite those with as much vas as possible. This is an area where Dr. Daniel really excels. There are countless men who were told their vasectomies were not reversible only to be successfully reversed by Dr. Daniel.

All surgery requires a period of rest and restricted activity in order to properly heal. There are countless men who want to treat the reversal like the vasectomy and return to hard work immediately. However, a vasectomy destroys tissue. They really cannot make it worse. A vasectomy reversal is a very delicate repair and needs restricted activity to allow time to properly heal. For all types of surgery, this is about 30 days. Resuming core muscle activity sooner can compromise your success.

The ability of your vasectomy reversal surgeon to precisely unite the new ends of the vas is absolutely critical. This is another area where Dr. Daniel is far ahead of the pack. He trained using very high magnification and continues to prefer doing so. This allows for the most precise layered anastomosis possible and allows you to have the best opportunity for success.