post vasectomy

[mandiek]

One of my friends said that even after a vasectomy has been performed the sperm can be clinically removed and used for insemmination. Does anyone know if this is true? And if so, where can I find more info on it? Thanks so much!!

[souris]

Hi Mandiek!

Yes it is true. The operation is called TESE or MESE. A urologist can perform this quick procedure.

My husband had TESE done last xmas. Short general anestethic (sorry for the spelling!), a little incision on one testis, and we got enough swimmers now for IVF!
We did it because the vasectomy reversal was too expansive and sometimes it can take up to 1 year for the sperm to come back if the reversal is successful. That is why we opted for sperm retrieval.

You have to think twice though, because ( if I am correct) you cannot go back to a reversal after a retrieval (as the retrieval damages the seminal tubes), make sure you discuss all the issue with your doctor.

Also I dont know about insemination... We use the sperm with IVF ICSI...

Hope it helps!
Take care
souris
xxx
By the way, on this website on the left you will find some info in "IVF and ICSI" Surgical Sperm Retrieval

[Natalie Anne]

Hi

you can't have insemination or even normal ivf - it has to be ICSI (where they inject each egg with a single sperm) because although the sperm "twitch", they can't swim. we got enough for 10 cycles in one operation.

vasec reversals are expensive and have a poor sucess rate, especially if it's been a while since the vasec was done.

Natalie

[taylorjools]

Hi

Mandiek

we have experience of both - dh had vasectomy reversal after 10 years. It cost £2000 and was done at the Nuffield in Tunbridge wells who have a very good success rate (70%). Normal insemination through sex was not possible because of the antibodies causing clumping, IUI was not successful because of my poor egss. Downside - we found out after a poor IVF cycle with ICSI where only 3/12 eggs fertilised that there were not only antibodies in the sperm (not a porblem for ICSI or inseminatio as they can be washed) but that the ejaculate sperm had only 2% normal morphology (not visible under a normal spermiogram test). We then re-tested with TESE sperm, and they were fine.

We just did a cycle with TESE sperm and got 8/10 eggs fertilised and I just tested BFP.

If we had the chance to start again I'd do TESE every time (or mESE) and just get on with it. The waiting just risks your own fertility.

LOve bigJ

[Hope644]

My husband's vasectomy was 11 years before we decided to try IVF for a baby. We did the PESA/ICSI and had our son with our 3rd cycle of IVF. The number and quality of my eggs have always been good, but we have only had about a 50% fert rate due to the sperm - even with ICSI. We were told that after 10 years, the reversals are nearly impossible and this would be our only viable option - plus, with no insurance paying for any of the treatments, we decided to go with the most direct route, rather than waiting to see if the reversal might work - as I was 34 at the beginning of our journey.

We are now almost 28 wks pregnant with a little girl. We had enough for 1 more round, but decided to start fresh so we threw out the last vial and my brave, devoted and wonderful husband went through the procedure a 2nd time for another child. This time, we conceived right away and now have 5 snowbabies on ice (never had any good enough quality to freeze in the first 3 cycles).

Good luck to all of you who are trying to conceive via ICSI/IVF after vasectomy. The road might be long and difficult, but be patient. I really believe that attitude and stress have so much to do with it. I mistakenly thought IVF would be a breeze for us, since I had no IF issues - but I experienced both BFN and miscarriage. I think this cycle (my 4th and final) was the best and easiest because I'd already had my son and was of the mindset that if it worked, great, if not, ok. Just RELAX and let your body rest and do it's thing. DON'T STRESS. Best wishes!!!

[rebeccajm]

My husband had a vasectomy about 10 years before we were married and decided to try to have children. He had to undergo a vasectomy reversal which we had to pay for out of pocket (although insurance ended up paying for some of it) if we wanted insurance to cover IVF. He had the reversal done 1 1/2 years ago and it was unsuccessful. He had TESA done and sperm is frozen and we are now in the process of our first IVF cycle.

[Susie]

My DH had a vesectomy reversal 15 years after vasectomy and it was successful but the sperm was damaged, so a normal ICSI cycle worked for us with sperm retrieved in the normal way x