A vasectomy is a procedure performed by tying the vas deferens to prevent sperm from coming out during ejaculation. Vasectomy is considered a type of permanent contraceptive. However, if in the future you and your partner decide to have children, there are several options that you can consider. Pregnancy is still possible, but the process can be very complicated, expensive, and doesn't always promise success.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Talking to Your Partner about Pregnancy
Step 1. Discuss why she has had a vasectomy in the past
Many men who decide to have a vasectomy feel confident that at that point in their life they don't want to have children.
It is important to take the time and discuss with your partner why he or she had the vasectomy, and how his or her mind has changed since then
Step 2. Discuss the reasons why you want to get pregnant
Make sure you both share your views on it, and that your partner isn't just compromising to make you happy.
- Remember that when the two of you are planning to become parents, it's important that both people involved work together and are fully committed. Otherwise, it will have a negative effect on the relationship later on, and will have a bad impact on the baby.
- If your partner is not fully committed, you will need to do some deep reflection to decide whether having a baby is really the best idea.
- It may be helpful for both of you to do couples counseling when discussing this as a vasectomy is a very important life decision and your partner obviously had good reasons for doing it in the past, or he wouldn't have had the procedure.
Step 3. Decide how far your partner wants to take part
It's important to talk about things like costs with your partner, and the effort and financial investment you're prepared to make, before taking steps to get pregnant.
Certain procedures (such as IVF) can be very expensive. Therefore, it is important to know how far you and your partner are willing to go to get pregnant
Method 2 of 3: Reverse Vasectomy
Step 1. Have your partner check with a urologist
Urologists are doctors who specialize in the field of the male reproductive system.
- The urologist can take a detailed medical history and perform a physical exam to decide what is the best course of action to help you and your partner get pregnant. Urologists can also evaluate a partner to see if he or she has certain fertility problems, in addition to a vasectomy.
- It is recommended for you, as a woman, to also consult with an obstetrician and make sure you do not have fertility problems that can be an obstacle for both of you to get pregnant.
Step 2. Clear your schedule to invite your partner to perform a vasectomy reversal (vasectomy reversal)
This procedure can be done in the doctor's office, using local freezing (anaesthesia) to numb the scrotal area, and the process is relatively quick (about 30 minutes).
- Some men find it helpful to have you there as moral support.
- It is recommended to take your partner home after the procedure as he or she is likely to experience pain and discomfort.
Step 3. Allow the doctor to perform the procedure
Sperm are produced in the testes, and then the sperm are transported to the epididymis for maturation. From the epididymis sperm flows through the vas deferens and finally reaches the urethra for ejaculation. The initial vasectomy procedure cuts the vas deferens to prevent sperm from being expelled during ejaculation.
- A vasectomy reversal can be done in two ways. First, reconnect the cut ends of the vas deferens (called a vasovasostomy). This is a more general procedure.
- The second method is to connect the vas deferens directly to the epididymis (called a vasoepididymostomy). This procedure is performed if a vasovasostomy is not possible.
Step 4. Help the couple recover from this vasectomy reversal
The healing time required after this procedure is usually no more than a few days.
- Your partner may feel pain in the scrotal area, and this can be treated with over-the-counter pain medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), or aspirin.
- Most men have no problem taking these over-the-counter pain medications and don't need stronger medications. However, you can ask your doctor for a prescription for pain medication if your partner needs it.
Step 5. Do not have sex for at least one week after the procedure
Sometimes, some couples choose not to have sex until a few weeks after the procedure because some men experience discomfort (and occasional bleeding) during ejaculation.
- If your partner experiences this, don't worry. This problem will usually go away on its own (within a few weeks).
- If the bleeding is severe or the pain and discomfort does not improve, seek additional help from your doctor.
Step 6. Make sure your partner has a post-procedure checkup
The urologist will most likely ask the partner for a post-procedure check to check the sperm count, and to assess whether the procedure was successful or not.
Note that the success rate of vasectomy reversal is in the range of 60%. One influential factor is how many years the couple has had a vasectomy. The shorter the time period, the higher the success rate
Step 7. Understand that if your partner's vasectomy is successfully reversed, you can get pregnant like any other couple
In other words, when you have sex after the vasectomy is reversed, you have the same chance as any other couple to fertilize the baby.
Note that this also means the partner is no longer “sterile” (that is, the vasectomy no longer functions as a contraceptive). Therefore, both of you should discuss other methods of contraception after the pregnancy is over
Method 3 of 3: Perform In Vitro Fertilization
Step 1. Talk to your doctor about in vitro fertilization (IVF)
This is the path many couples take if the man has had a vasectomy and the partner wants to get pregnant.
- It is important to discuss this with a doctor who is an expert in this area and can provide additional information (as well as an estimate of costs) for your case. The cost and complexity of the procedure may vary, depending on the individual partner.
- One of the reasons for choosing IVF is that a vasectomy reversal is unsuccessful, while couples still insist on having their biological child.
- The success rate of IVF procedures varies greatly, depending on the reason for doing it, as well as male and female fertility factors.
Step 2. Find out if your partner has stored frozen sperm in the past
If so, this sperm can be used for this IVF procedure.
Otherwise, another option is to collect sperm directly from the man's vas deferens (the part of the duct that is still intact and not cut by the surgeon) and use this sperm for the IVF procedure
Step 3. Ask the doctor to combine the sperm sample with one or more eggs taken from the ovaries
This procedure is carried out in a specialized medical laboratory.
Usually more than one egg is taken from the female side to maximize the chances of successful embryo formation in the laboratory
Step 4. Allow the embryo formed in the laboratory to be implanted in the uterus
Often more than one embryo is implanted to maximize the success rate of fertilization (with the expectation that at least one embryo will survive and grow once it is placed in the uterus).
For this reason, one of the complications of the IVF procedure is the risk of having more than one baby (twins, triplets, or even more). Talk to your doctor about how many embryos he or she recommends implanting in your case. This amount usually depends on several factors that are specific to each couple, including cost (because if the procedure "fails" and must be repeated it will be quite expensive), as well as other "fertility factors" that the doctor can evaluate
Step 5. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of this procedure
As with any medical procedure, IVF has its advantages and disadvantages.
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The advantages of the IVF procedure include:
- vasectomy is still considered a permanent form of contraception after the baby is fertilized
- this procedure is easier for the male side when compared to undergoing surgery to reverse the vasectomy
- fertilization can often occur more quickly (compared to a vasectomy reversal).
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Disadvantages of IVF procedures include:
- cost (quite expensive)
- this procedure is more tiring for the female side
- the procedure may have to be repeated if you want more children. But it's not always like that because sometimes extra embryos can be formed and frozen for future pregnancies
- this procedure may produce more than one child. Often more than one embryo is inserted into the uterus to increase the survival rate of one embryo. However, this step may result in more than one baby for some couples. So, it is important to consider the possibility of having more than one child.
Tips
- Show an open and honest attitude to your partner about wanting to have children.
- Be aware that if a couple is unsuccessful in the vasectomy reversal procedure, or if the IVF option is too expensive, there are other ways (such as adoption) to have children.
- Make sure you both want children.
- If you don't have the money for an IVF procedure and a vasectomy reversal is too expensive or impossible to do, consider using a sperm donor. Choose a donor with physical characteristics that are similar to your partner. This is a cheaper and more effective option if you don't hold much of the idea that your child must have a partner's DNA.
