Vasectomy reversal experience, anyone?

[Christine Thron]

Hello, I just joined this fabulous site today

My husband and I are dual military, and we have decided to have a child (my first; his fifth). I am 24 and he is 35. He had a vasectomy roughly 5 1/2 years ago and is going in for a vasectomy reversal in Fort Bliss, TX, in 2 weeks. We are looking forward to our fertility adventure as of right now, but I must admit that I am anxious about the whole process... I have read online that the success rate for a vasectomy reversal 3-8yrs after the vasectomy is 88% for sperm count and 53% for pregnancy (if everything goes well). Knowing this, I am wondering if Fort Bliss would be willing to retrieve sperm when they do the reversal procedure, so that we may ship it to a clinic for freezing--just in case we cannot conceive naturally...

Is there anyone out there who has experience with the vasectomy reversal experience? Good or bad...? Fort Bliss, TX, or elsewhere..? I would love to hear about your experience, and would especially enjoy hearing from someone who has had success by way of this procedure.

Looking forward to knowing you!

[CBeck]

Hi Christine,
I'm afraid I won't be too much help. My husband had a vasectomy done as well a long time before our marriage. His was past the 10 year mark, when we decided to have a child together. His urologist at Walter Reed suggested right away to go w/ IVF w/ ICSI which we did successfully. A friend of ours however decided to reverse his vasectomy after, I believe 6 years, and they were able to conceive pretty soon after that. That's all I have to add. Unfortunately I am not sure about being able to freeze sperm retrieved during a reversal. Good luck!

[Christine Thron]

Thank you for the information, and for sharing your experience (and your friend's experience). It is encouraging to me to know that someone else has gone through the same thing and been successful! We would have gone with some form of AI as well, except that we aren't sure we want just one child, or two at this point, so we thought that in the end at least trying a reversal would be the easiest avenue... for now.

I am thinking that if the reversal does not go as planned for us, we will look at AI options, and then if those don't work out, we will begin our search for a donor... Either way, it should be a fun journey!

[Christine Thron]

My husband goes in for surgery TODAY in 5hrs. Wish us luck!!

[CBeck]

Good luck! I hope all goes well! Keep us posted. I am praying that this procedure will be it for you guys!!!!

[Christine Thron]

CBeck, that is SO sweet of you! Thank you for the thoughts and prayers. I am praying for the same thing!

[Christine Thron]

I am so angry right now... My husband just called to say that the appointment today was just a "referral step." .....seething...... Those liars assured us that today was THE day.

More to follow when something actually happens, of course.

[kat2012]

Christine- wondering how things turned out?

My DH & I have 3 children together. He had a vas after our 3rd child, 8 years ago now. decided a couple yrs ago I wanted one or two more before I got too old. RE recommended IVF as best outcome for pregnancy. Well, here we are 3 failed IVF cycles later. Wondering if we should have gone the reversal route?

I never had a problem conceiving naturally so I didn't expect IVF to fail so many times.

[vwjettagurl2002]

I know this thread is older. But my husband just went in for the consultation. We are stationed at bliss. He went in, and all the doctor told him was, he put in a referral to tri-care to see whether or not the will approve it. I have to admit, I'm a bit bummed. As I have a bad feeling they will say no. Any advice on wether or not there reversal went through from a referral at bliss? Thanks!

[ojthomas]

Christine,

My husband also had a vasectomy reversal in 2007, in regards to the doctors, it worked he does produce sperm but not enough to achieve pregnancy, so we did IVF with ICSI. I still have hopes though that we will get pregnant naturally it only takes one! Good luck to you and your husband!

VWJettaGurl,

I don't see why it would not go through, we used tricare prime also, and he is the dependent. He asked for a referral to see the urologist, got referral and had the surgery scheduled and performed, hmmmmm that is odd that they might say no! Praying that they say yes! Even tubal reversals are paid for, I would double check and research, if i were you call the regional office for your location and ask! I quit going straight to my local tricare office is as if they don't know so I call the regional office if I have questions!