IVF is the fastest way to achieve pregnancy after vasectomy
Sometimes, life is full of surprises – such as getting a vasectomy and then deciding you want children after all. People hoping for pregnancy after vasectomy have two options: vasectomy reversal and IVF. Both are reasonable options, but IVF is often faster and a better choice for many men. Our Utah IVF specialists have extensive expertise in this special type of IVF, which has high success rates.
How IVF can help achieve pregnancy after vasectomy
A vasectomy blocks sperm from reaching the ejaculate, but in most men, sperm are still being produced in the testes. To achieve pregnancy after vasectomy through IVF, sperm are extracted directly from the testis or epididymis in a quick outpatient procedure using a thin needle. These sperm are then used to fertilize eggs retrieved from a female partner or egg donor. The resulting embryos can then be transferred to the female partner’s uterus, or they can be frozen and preserved for future use.
As long as sperm are available in the testes to be extracted, your IVF success rates should be the same as any other couple undergoing IVF – or even higher if the female partner has no fertility challenges.
Factors to consider when choosing IVF vs. vasectomy reversal
- Age and other fertility factors in women. If the female partner has any fertility issues, such as egg quality or quantity issues related to advanced maternal age, IVF is almost always the best option. Fertility testing can reveal whether female infertility factors are present, so it’s important to get testing before making a decision about vasectomy reversal.
- Future birth control. If you want to add to your family now but not have to worry about birth control later, IVF is the best choice. The protection provided by your vasectomy will remain in place and continue to provide permanent birth control once your family is complete.
- Speed to pregnancy. IVF is the best solution when you want to achieve pregnancy after vasectomy quickly. That’s because it typically takes six to 18 months for sperm production to return to normal after a vasectomy reversal, depending on the type of surgery performed and other factors. In some cases, normal sperm levels are never achieved. With IVF, pregnancy can often be achieved within just a few weeks.
- When the vasectomy was done. The longer it’s been since your vasectomy, the less likely it is that a vasectomy reversal will allow you to achieve pregnancy naturally. Reversal of a more recent vasectomy is more likely to succeed than reversal of a procedure performed years or decades ago.
Explore your options
Our Utah IVF specialists have extensive experience with achieving pregnancy after vasectomy. The first step is to schedule a consultation with us to explore your options and start fertility testing for the female partner. We strongly recommend that you do not undergo a vasectomy reversal without first ensuring that the female partner has no fertility challenges that could make getting pregnant difficult or impossible without IVF. Contact us to schedule an appointment to learn more about your options.