Embarking on a vasectomy reversal journey is no small decision. For one, vasectomy reversals are costly and typically not covered by insurance (unlike the original vasectomy); second, the microsurgical surgical process is intricate and takes quite some time – three to four hours. Lastly, there are no guarantees that a vasectomy reversal will work, though over 90% of vasectomy reversals within ten years of the original vasectomy produce sperm in the ejaculate. This, of course, doesn’t guarantee pregnancy. With all that said, when a man decides to have the vasectomy reversal, he is typically very motivated. One of the top-of-mind questions is “When can we start to try for a pregnancy,” and “How long will it take to get pregnant?”
Of course, these two questions are quite different in that the former relies on the recovery time from surgery while the latter is based on good timing, a bit of luck, and the couple’s fertility status. Let’s dive in.
Recovery
As it relates to the recovery from a vasectomy reversal, this is typically very straightforward. The week after the procedure will be the most uncomfortable as there will be some scrotal swelling as the body heals from surgery. This is to be expected, but it also makes sexual intercourse unappealing, and frankly, it is inadvisable at this time anyway. We typically like to discuss when to start trying after the follow-up appointment, about two weeks after the procedure. This gives Dr. Kapadia time to see how the patient is healing and decide based on that.
That said, there are very few limitations after a vasectomy reversal, and while vigorous exercise and activity, as well as sexual intercourse, are not recommended within two to three weeks, we want you to want our patients to be active after that to help with the healing process. Remember, the testicles are not affected by the vasectomy or its reversal and, as such, will not be compromised structurally or otherwise. We’re simply waiting for some healing of the vas deferens – the tube that delivers sperm.
Getting Pregnant
There are, however, several considerations around how quickly patients will get their partner pregnant. We had a very gratifying case of our patient, Rogier, who, within a month of surgery, found out that his wife was pregnant with their fifth child.
However, this is not typical, and most patients will require some time to get pregnant, just as they most likely did before vasectomy. Several factors come into play in this regard, some of which include;
- Timing a partner’s ovulation
- The fertility status of each partner
- Hormonal concerns, especially stress levels
- Excess weight and obesity
- The age of the patient and their partner
- The frequency of sexual intercourse
- And more.
It’s not unusual for some patients to require up to several months or even a year of trying before we start to investigate the possibility that the vasectomy reversal was unsuccessful or the inability of one or both partners to have children. At this point, if the pregnancy cannot be had naturally, we can work with the couple to analyze the man’s sperm and ultimately perform an extraction that can lead to in vitro fertilization.
Fortunately, most couples that qualify for a vasectomy reversal will become pregnant. This is where, however, the experience of a vas reversal specialist like Dr. Kapadia needs to be taken advantage of. Patient selection is crucial to good outcomes in this and any surgery.
The Next Steps
We encourage you to visit our office and schedule a consultation with Dr. Kapadia, where you can talk about the viability of vasectomy reversal or any other fertility treatments that we offer. I look forward to helping you grow your family.