Fertility

March 17, 2009

Vasectomy Reversal Information

A vasectomy is a surgical procedure that makes a man infertile and once thought to be irreversible. Half a million men a year in the U.S. choose this option either to stop from having any more children or to keep from having any children at all. With the right amount of skill, however, the procedure can sometimes be reversed.

A vasectomy reversal option should only be considered after doing extensive research. You may find the vasectomy reversal option is a good, albeit expensive, option for any man who has had a vasectomy and now wishes to have children. You should know, however, that the procedure is not guaranteed, is very expensive and often contains more pain and down time than the original procedure.

The Two Types of Vasectomy Reversal
There are two types of vasectomy reversal: vasovasostomy and vasoepididymostomy. Vasovasostomy is when the surgeon sews the cut ends of the vas deferens back together. This is the most common type of vasectomy reversal. Vasoepididymostomy is more complicated, but is performed when there is blockage in the epididymis. It is done by attaching the vas deferens to the epididymis.

Length of Time
There is a correlation between the time your vasectomy was performed, and the time you want to have a vasectomy reversal. A vasectomy reversal is something that is done at least a year or so after the vasectomy itself. Research shows that almost five percent of the 500,000 men who opt for vasectomy every year later opt for the vasectomy reversal procedure.

The longer you wait to have the vasectomy reversal done the more your chances decrease of being able to regain your fertility. Within three years after your vasectomy your chances are higher to get your fertility back. After three years your chances begin decreasing slowly the longer you wait. While there is no period of time considered too long to perform a vasectomy reversal, the sooner you do so after your vasectomy the better the chances are that you will be able to father a child.

Talk to Your Doctor
Before even you even think of reversing the vasectomy, you should consider very hard the necessity of doing so, and the benefits of it. Besides that, consult with your doctor or your personal physician who will guide you through all the tests to determine whether you are fit to take on another surgery.

The subsequent procedures are more complicated, compared to the vasectomy itself. And that is why the doctor needs to see whether you fit the requirements to undergo another surgery.

When seeking someone to perform a vasectomy reversal it’s a good idea to seek out a vasectomy reversal specialist to consult with. The reason for this is because you want the person performing the procedure to be very familiar and proficient with the techniques involved. It is critical that you choose a surgeon who is well versed in microsurgical techniques if you want the procedure to be successful. It is also important to ask your surgeon of choice if he/she can do a vasoepididymostomy with an operating microscope. The surgeon also needs to have experience in checking out the quality of the vas fluid, figuring out the best location to do the vasoepididymostomy, as well as, assessing the signs of epididymal blockage.

What Medical Breakthrough Makes Vasectomy Reversal Possible
The medical breakthrough which makes vasectomy reversal possible is the relatively new development of microsurgical techniques. Prior to the discovery of these techniques vasectomy reversal was thought to be too complicated, as well as unlikely to help men who had a vasectomy regain their fertility. Microsurgery or the use of an operating microscope during surgery allows the surgeon to see the vas deferens in much greater detail and as such to perform the vasectomy reversal with much greater success.

Success Rate
According to recent studies after vasovasostomy sperm is present in semen in about 85-97 percent of men. About fifty percent successfully father a child after the procedure. In the case of vasoepididymostomy sperm shows up in the semen in about sixty-five percent of the men. Only about twenty percent achieve fatherhood after this procedure.

The primary mitigating factor in the vasectomy reversal success or failure of the vasectomy reversal surgery is the amount of time that has passed between when the vasectomy was first performed and the date of the vasectomy reversal surgery.

In general, a vasectomy reversal surgery will have a vasectomy reversal success rate of less than fifty percent. The further amount of time that passes will reduce the rate of success to less than that. So, if a significant amount of time has passed, men considering such a surgery must realize the possibility of the procedure failing and seriously weigh their decision to continue.

These are some of the issues you should consider should you choose to have a vasectomy reversal. The procedure is not guaranteed to restore your fertility, but should you decide the have the procedure done by a reputable surgeon versed in microsurgical techniques, your chances are good.

Filed under Fertility by Vic

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February 24, 2009

Low Cost Vasectomy Reversal Options

A vasectomy is a surgical procedure that offers a permanent solution to birth control. It works by removing all or part of the vas deferens, the tubes that deliver sperm into a man’s ejaculation, thus making the man infertile. In the U.S. alone, over 500,000 men opt to have a vasectomy each year. Of these men, it’s estimated that five percent, for whatever reason, want the procedure reversed.

However, not everyone that wants a vasectomy reversal can afford the cost of the surgery, which is basically so expensive because the procedure is much more intricate than the vasectomy procedure itself. Usually, a vasectomy reversal surgery can cost from $3,000 up to $20,000. That’s a hefty price even for the most well-to-do of families. The amount will depend on the skills needed for the particular case, the time involved, the procedures, the tests and check-ups, and other factors.

The reason why a vasectomy reversal option is so expensive is because of the required hospital stay, surgeon fees, anaesthetic fees, equipment costs as well as medication costs. A vasectomy reversal option can be financed and for many that is the most realistic alternative. However, financing such an operation is often even more expensive when finance charges are taken into consideration.

To make matters worse, insurance often does not cover such operations as the vasectomy reversal option. The reason is because it isn’t a necessary medical procedure. Vasectomies are supposed to be permanent procedures. They are not intended to be performed when the man changes his mind a few years down the road.

As a result, many who want a vasectomy reversal fear the costs that this procedure involves. However, there are some doctors who can perform the reverse vasectomy right in their offices; thereby cutting the expenses to almost one-third. There are also many clinics around the country performing low cost vasectomy reversal. Professional doctors who are willing to help those who are financially troubled run these clinics. The surgery takes place in a normal operating room, with all the common reversal surgery equipment and preparations, only without the extra charges charged by traditional hospitals. Anaesthesiologists involved are experts in their particular field and will make sure of your safety throughout the whole process, despite the fact that it is a low cost vasectomy reversal surgery.

The operation is the same and it costs the same; however, you do not pay for the hospital room and other associated fees that you would have to pay if you were hospitalized. Usually the low cost vasectomy reversal would involve the traditional method of vasectomy reversal, and the procedures involved are the same. Similar to ICSI, this vasectomy reversal is very affordable nowadays, with many doctors who are willing to perform this complicated surgery for a reduced cost.

This low cost vasectomy reversal procedure is not limited to the surgery itself. Free consultation is given besides the surgery, and they have special packages to cater to everyone’s needs.

In short, the low cost vasectomy reversal is very much same as the common vasectomy reversal surgery that you can find in many private clinics and hospitals. It only differs in the price you pay, which only is limited to the surgeon fees, anaesthesia, and the facility charges.

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February 20, 2009

Financing Options for a Vasectomy Reversal

Having a vasectomy is a big decision. By having the procedure done a man can ensure that he can have otherwise unprotected sex without the fear of getting a woman pregnant. The choice not to have children was once thought of to be a permanent one. However, today there is a new option available to men who have had a vasectomy who now want to have children. For them, a vasectomy reversal seems to be a viable choice. However, vasectomy reversals can be very expensive and insurance often doesn’t cover the procedure.

Vasectomy reversal can be very expensive. After surgeon fees, equipment costs, a short hospital stay, and medication costs, the patient may be looking at a price tag of anywhere from $4,000 to $20,000 or more. That’s no small chunk of change for any family. That’s why many families considering the procedure may need to look into financing a vasectomy reversal.

Why does a vasectomy reversal cost so much?

Vasectomy reversals carry such a hefty price tag due to the complexity of the reversal process. Vasectomy reversals require more intricate surgeries than the original vasectomy procedure. For this reason, vasectomy reversals require specialized surgeon fees, which range from $1,000 to sometimes $3,000. Then there are the anesthetic fees that can cost as much as $5,000, not to mention the medication required or the possible hospital stay and lab testing. At the end of the reversal procedure you could be looking at a very expensive medical bill.

Financing a vasectomy reversal

Now, however, financing a vasectomy reversal is possible. Financing a vasectomy reversal can take the burden off of the family by not having to come up with the money right up front. Your doctor may know a few lending agencies that specialize in financing noninsured medical procedures. However, many other things need to be taken into consideration before a decision to finance such a procedure is made. Many people don’t consider, for example, that financing a vasectomy reversal through these agencies can often be more expensive than if financed through competitive credit cards.

Loan Agencies and Vasectomy Reversals

There exist several loan agencies that specialize in medical procedures not normally covered by insurance. However, these agencies often have higher interest rates and loan terms than competitive credit card companies. For this reason, it may be smarter to charge the procedure to your credit card rather than go with a loan agency when financing a vasectomy reversal.

Of course, always check with your insurance company to make sure that the procedure isn’t covered. Your insurance company may cover part or all of a vasectomy reversal. If the procedure isn’t covered, then financing a vasectomy reversal may be for you.

If a couple is interested in financing a vasectomy reversal, they should research all the available options and make sure that they’re aware of the interest rate and the loan terms. They should decide which option will be the most cost effective for their particular situation, which will save them the most money and which will best help them reach their long term goals.

When considering financing a vasectomy reversal, a couple needs to be especially concerned with the costs involved in having another, or their first, baby. Having a child is an expensive event in itself and needs to be considered by any family before deciding how they are going to be financing a vasectomy reversal.

Financing a vasectomy reversal can be costly and the terms of the loan could take years to pay off. For such an expensive procedure, it must be said that vasectomy reversals are not guaranteed. Sometimes, the man’s fertility cannot be restored.

With luck, the family will choose the right option and, with their new baby, or babies, will live happily ever after, or at least with little debt, and worry-free.

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February 9, 2009

Vasectomy Recovery Time

Birth Control Surgery with Little Downtime

Vasectomies have a near one hundred percent success rate and since the vasectomy recovery time is almost immediate, it is a very popular form of surgery for many men. It’s chosen by men who either don’t want any more children or who don’t want to birth children at all.

A vasectomy is a permanent birth control option chosen by many men each year. It’s estimated that 500,000 men choose this procedure each year in the U.S. alone. It is a basically simple operation to make a man physically unable to biologically father a child. It is an operation that blocks the tubes that the sperm pass through into the semen. Vasectomies are a great option for men who don’t want to birth children and who don’t want to worry about other conventional forms of contraception.

A vasectomy generally takes less than thirty minutes and is performed using a local anesthetic. It is performed in an outpatient capacity and is much less complex than female infertility methods. Because of the simplicity of the procedure, the vasectomy recovery time, while varied from man to man, is much shorter than other surgical procedures. This is one of the major reasons this is a preferred method of permanent birth control for a couple.

What the Recovery Time Depends On

The vasectomy recovery time depends on the individual patient and how the surgery is performed. A vasectomy works by severing the vas deferens, the tube that carries sperm into the ejaculate, thus making the man infertile. One of the common ways this is performed is by making a small incision through which the vas deferens is pulled through and sealed with a clamp, suture or laser. This usually leaves a small scar and a wound that needs to heal, thus lengthening vasectomy recovery time.

Another method of the procedure does not use a scalpel. In this version of the surgery, pointed hemostats that resemble a pair of tweezers are used to make a small hole through which to pull the vas deferens through. Since there is no cutting there is no wound that takes time to heal. The vasectomy recovery time for this type of procedure is generally much shorter than the scalpel procedure.

Whichever method a man chooses, the vasectomy recovery time should include some swelling for a few days. He may also experience some pain that lasts anywhere from a few days to a week. However, the vasectomy recovery time that includes doing day to day activities is almost immediate. Therefore, given that he doesn’t have too demanding of a job, a man may be able to return to work almost immediately.

It is important to note, though, that even though the vasectomy recovery time is so short, sperm may remain in a man’s ejaculate following a vasectomy for up to three months. He should have his semen tested to determine the levels of sperm to prevent from getting his partner pregnant during this vasectomy recovery time.

If you’re inclined to adopt vasectomy as a contraceptive measure you should first gather all of the relevant information from a certified urologist who is in the position of explaining all the pros and cons of the procedure. You are also advised to make a list of the fears or concerns you have so that you can get accurate and complete vasectomy information from your doctor.

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