Factors which effect success of vasectomy reversal
There is no doubt that the most important issue that you should take into consideration is the skill and experience of the surgeon who performs your vasectomy reversal. Dr Woolcott is a full time fertility specialist who concentrates on reproductive microsurgery. He is continually performing vasectomy reversal procedures. He has a dedicated surgical team who exclusively assist him in performing vasectomy reversals - the same staff doing the same procedures, all of the time, means maximum expertise and experience available to you.
Reasons for vasectomy reversal
Achieving a pregnancy is obviously by far the most common reason for wishing to have a vasectomy reversal - but it is not the only one. Long-term pain following prior vasectomy, while uncommon, does occur (so called Post-Vasectomy Syndrome). Vasectomy reversal has a greater than 50% chance or relieving or reducing such pain and is a worthwhile indication. On the other hand there is no evidence that physical sexual dysfunction is caused by vasectomy - so reversal will have no beneficial effect.
There is little doubt that the length of time since your vasectomy is an important factor influencing the ultimate success of your vasectomy reversal. The longer the duration of time since vasectomy the lower the overall chance of achieving a pregnancy. Scientific studies vary in their reported effect on outcome. While trained Reproductive Microsurgeons such as Dr Woolcott achieve patency rates of the Vas Deferens in excess of 98% (as measured by sperm being present in semen), there is however an obvious decline in pregnancy rates when the vasectomy was performed more than 12 years prior to the reversal. This effect becomes quite marked beyond 20 years.
Sperm antibodies are produced after exposure of sperm to the immune system. This not uncommonly occurs following vasectomy. The presence of high level sperm antibodies may reduce pregnancy rates following vasectomy reversal. In general however their presence is of less significance than other factors listed here.
It is important to be aware of your general state of health prior to any surgical procedure. There are a variety of conditions which may effect the outcome of your operation. In particular any trauma, infection or disease involving the scrotum, penis, prostate gland or pelvic organs. Cardiovascular, respiratory and neurological disease may also be of major significance for your anaesthetic. Smoking has been shown to reduce fertility by affecting sperm function as a result of toxins. Please ensure that Dr Woolcott is made fully aware of your past medical history at the time of your pre-operative consultation.
Obviously the older you are the more likelihood that you may have some additional medical problem which may influence that safety of surgery or the chance of complications. In addition many people will think about the difference in age between parent and child as you get older.
The single most important factor influencing the prospect of successful pregnancy following vasectomy reversal has nothing to do with the surgery itself or for that matter the man undergoing vasectomy reversal. It is the your partner's age.
The prospect of successful pregnancy dramatically declines with female age. For healthy previously fertile women over the age of 40 years the total probability of successful pregnancy is not greater than 40%. Indeed miscarriage rates at age 40 are 40% per pregnancy.