Hello girls. Can I introduce myself? I’m new to your board but it looks like a site I’ll be visiting frequently from now on – there is so much info & advice around and it’s great to feel that there are people out there that you can talk to – thanks for sharing your experiences. I should be working, but I’m distracted….I’ve spent 3 days researching the internet, trying to find out everything I can before our first consultation visit at IVF clinic in June.
My DH had a vasectomy after having 2 kids. He’s 51 yrs old and I’m 39 yrs. We’ve been together for about 6 years now and were so naïve! We thought that we’d get his vasectomy reversed, make love a few times and hey presto. But after researching everything this week it doesn’t appear to work like that and so now I’m really sad and pretty despondent. I feel so cross that I didn’t work this out a few years ago and give myself more time.
We have a vasectomy reversal booked for February 2006 (long waiting list) and hope to be picked up for a cancellation sooner (maybe Oct/Nov time). My GP said, why not go for IVF – something I simply hadn’t considered. So here I am, gemming up on ICSI (I guess that is what they will recommend at the clinic). Question is, should we go for IVF AND get a vasectomy reversal? What are the advantages of a two pronged approach? (Disadvantages include cost…….ahhhh).
Has anyone had the same experience or got any advice for a naïve novice?
What web sites have given you the best info (other than this one of course!?)
Vasectomy Reversal & IVF ???
Esor
Firstly - welcome to the boards, I am sure you will get many answers and some real help.
I'm afraid I can't help with your question, but just wondered whether you had tried to Google for information about reversing a vasectomy to see what answers come up.
I know there are one or two girls here who have been through the same situation you are in and will reply to you.
Good luck to you and DH and tons of PMA to you both.
Little P
Firstly - welcome to the boards, I am sure you will get many answers and some real help.
I'm afraid I can't help with your question, but just wondered whether you had tried to Google for information about reversing a vasectomy to see what answers come up.
I know there are one or two girls here who have been through the same situation you are in and will reply to you.
Good luck to you and DH and tons of PMA to you both.
Little P
[img]http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/2;54;53/st/20060312/n/Amelia/dt/5/k/f209/age.png[/img]
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taylorjools
- Valued Contributor
- Posts: 1341
- Joined: Thu Mar 03, 2005 4:54 pm
- Location: continental Europe
Hey Esor
welcome to the boards
I am 42 and dh is 48, he had 2 kids (now 16) and had his vasectomy reversal in 2002. We thought the same, but then found I had POF but maybe a chance at IVF. We had the reversal anyway, and I am glad we did as we have had a long haul, but at least getting sperm from dh is easy and doesn't cost anything now. he has antibodies, which I expect your dh has/would have too??? For ICSI that's not a problem as long as the sperm are OK. We had 12 donor eggs (so from a real young woman which is why we are doing it in Spain where they can pay donors), but only 3 made it to embryos and I had all 3 transferred. We don't know yet if the low fertilisation rate is due to another problem with the sperm or just bad luck.
What I would say though, having been through early fertility loss, considering you are 39 is don't take chances and wait. If dh has a reversal we had to wait 6 months before we could do the next step, so that would delay you. My sis is pg with nr 2 at nearly 40, and no problems atall, but I was infertile since probably 35 ish without knowing it, and it can also happen very fast (my fsh went from 15 to 90 in one year, the year we were waiting for thre reversal etc) so don't make the mistake I did
hope that helps
love bigJ
welcome to the boards
I am 42 and dh is 48, he had 2 kids (now 16) and had his vasectomy reversal in 2002. We thought the same, but then found I had POF but maybe a chance at IVF. We had the reversal anyway, and I am glad we did as we have had a long haul, but at least getting sperm from dh is easy and doesn't cost anything now. he has antibodies, which I expect your dh has/would have too??? For ICSI that's not a problem as long as the sperm are OK. We had 12 donor eggs (so from a real young woman which is why we are doing it in Spain where they can pay donors), but only 3 made it to embryos and I had all 3 transferred. We don't know yet if the low fertilisation rate is due to another problem with the sperm or just bad luck.
What I would say though, having been through early fertility loss, considering you are 39 is don't take chances and wait. If dh has a reversal we had to wait 6 months before we could do the next step, so that would delay you. My sis is pg with nr 2 at nearly 40, and no problems atall, but I was infertile since probably 35 ish without knowing it, and it can also happen very fast (my fsh went from 15 to 90 in one year, the year we were waiting for thre reversal etc) so don't make the mistake I did
hope that helps
love bigJ
POF+autoimmune+dh antibodies,5.05 DIVF IM M/c 7.5 wks, DIVF+TESE at ISIDA - son 08/06
FET ISIDA: 12.07.07 m/c 8 wks b.ovum, 17 Dec 2007- BFP triplets OMG!!!
[img]http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/1;20726;0/st/20080905/dt/6/k/7529/preg.png[/img]
FET ISIDA: 12.07.07 m/c 8 wks b.ovum, 17 Dec 2007- BFP triplets OMG!!!
[img]http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/1;20726;0/st/20080905/dt/6/k/7529/preg.png[/img]
Welcome to the boards
My DH had a vasectomy reversal too, and as a result got 'anti-sperm antibodies' which kill the sperm and is very common after a reversal. the reversal cost us 5 years ago, about £1000 and we had to have ICSI as any sperm problems and you cant have IVF. IF you dont have the vasectomy reversed I think they get the sperm straight out of his testicles which I dont think is too pleasent! The sperm extraction costs extra too, so I think it would probably be the same cost in the long run but easier to have the reversal.
I guess whatever you decide I'd go private and get it all done as quick as poss.
Your best bet is to talk to the IVF clinic and see what they say.
My DH had a vasectomy reversal too, and as a result got 'anti-sperm antibodies' which kill the sperm and is very common after a reversal. the reversal cost us 5 years ago, about £1000 and we had to have ICSI as any sperm problems and you cant have IVF. IF you dont have the vasectomy reversed I think they get the sperm straight out of his testicles which I dont think is too pleasent! The sperm extraction costs extra too, so I think it would probably be the same cost in the long run but easier to have the reversal.
I guess whatever you decide I'd go private and get it all done as quick as poss.
Your best bet is to talk to the IVF clinic and see what they say.
Me 37, DH 53 Male & female factor
1st ICSI +ve, a daughter born 2001
2nd ICSI +ve, a son born 2006
1st ICSI +ve, a daughter born 2001
2nd ICSI +ve, a son born 2006
Hi and welcome. I'd second the advice not to hang around too long. If you wait until next spring you'll then want to wait 6+ months to see if it worked and if not, assuming negative for a moment, you'll then find yourself looking at the statistics and realising that around 40 is an important age re. fertility. There are HUGE drops in our natural fertility rates around now. If at all possible, go private at least to save time.
Where are you? If in the UK, geography plays a large part in IVF waiting lists nowadays.
Have you had your FSH level looked at recently BigJ's point about how quickly the level can change around now is highly valid. You can't even start IVF if the FSH level is too high. Unfortunately another of the many hurdles we have to find the time/money/engergy/will-power to clamber over before we even begin.
I hope I've not been too gloomy but my bottom line is this: if a baby is your primary goal, don't wait another 9m for the op. Talk to an IVF clinic and gather as much info as possible about your circumstances before deciding what to do next.
Good luck,
Debra
Where are you? If in the UK, geography plays a large part in IVF waiting lists nowadays.
Have you had your FSH level looked at recently BigJ's point about how quickly the level can change around now is highly valid. You can't even start IVF if the FSH level is too high. Unfortunately another of the many hurdles we have to find the time/money/engergy/will-power to clamber over before we even begin.
I hope I've not been too gloomy but my bottom line is this: if a baby is your primary goal, don't wait another 9m for the op. Talk to an IVF clinic and gather as much info as possible about your circumstances before deciding what to do next.
Good luck,
Debra
Me: 44, DH: 31
Game Over.
Dates: Aug 02 - May 06
Tries: 5 fresh + 4 frozen.
Results: 1 daughter, 2 m/c, 1 ectopic.
Game Over.
Dates: Aug 02 - May 06
Tries: 5 fresh + 4 frozen.
Results: 1 daughter, 2 m/c, 1 ectopic.
Little P, Taylorjools, Susie & DebraP
Thanks for your welcome, your experiece & advice re not waiting for Vas reversal op. I'll take it. Waiting for FSH results; as Taylorjools points out, FSH can drop very quickly.
In terms of NHS funding, I hope to convince my GP to fund drugs, but everything else will have to be privately funded, primarily due to time constraints I guess.
Keep in touch!
Esor
Thanks for your welcome, your experiece & advice re not waiting for Vas reversal op. I'll take it. Waiting for FSH results; as Taylorjools points out, FSH can drop very quickly.
In terms of NHS funding, I hope to convince my GP to fund drugs, but everything else will have to be privately funded, primarily due to time constraints I guess.
Keep in touch!
Esor
Little P, Taylorjools, Susie & DebraP
Thanks for your welcome, your experiece & advice re not waiting for Vas reversal op. I'll take it. Waiting for FSH results; as Taylorjools points out, FSH can drop very quickly.
In terms of NHS funding, I hope to convince my GP to fund drugs, but everything else will have to be privately funded, primarily due to time constraints I guess.
Keep in touch!
Esor
Thanks for your welcome, your experiece & advice re not waiting for Vas reversal op. I'll take it. Waiting for FSH results; as Taylorjools points out, FSH can drop very quickly.
In terms of NHS funding, I hope to convince my GP to fund drugs, but everything else will have to be privately funded, primarily due to time constraints I guess.
Keep in touch!
Esor
Esor,
Welcome to this site - you will be hooked I guarantee you!!
Our story is fairly similar - I'll share our experience and you can decide what is helpful/ relevant and what is not.
DH had Vasectomy 10 years ago and due to how the did the op in the first place and also given the length of time since the op we were advised that a reversal would be unlikely to be successful.
We were advised that we should have IVF with ICSI and that DH should have a surgical sperm retrieval (SSR). To simplify, there are 2 types of SSR. Needle aspiration of sperm from the epididymis is attempted first and if no sperm found then during the same proceedure, the surgeon will take a piece of testicular tissue. The embryologist then examines the tissue for sperm and any found are prepared and frozen for use in ICSI.
Our clinic were very realistic with us about our chances of success but we were in no doubt about going ahead.
DH had SSR beginning of March 05 - loads of swimmers found (from testicular tissue biopsy)and frozen I started IVF cycle end of March and on 11th May 2005 we had a positive pregnancy test. It is obviously still very early days but we just take each day at a time.
The SSR was done as day surgery - in at 0800 and home at 1300. DH only had paracetamol for a day or so, was bruised and a bit swollen but otherwise had a day in bed and then gradually increased his activity back to normal over the following week.
It was all a bit daunting at the time and wondering what to do for the best and if we'd made the right decisions but we asked lots of questions from our clinic and felt happy with our plan of action.
I hope some of this is useful for you. Please ask me anything else you'd like info on and if I can help, I surely will.
Maci x
Welcome to this site - you will be hooked I guarantee you!!
Our story is fairly similar - I'll share our experience and you can decide what is helpful/ relevant and what is not.
DH had Vasectomy 10 years ago and due to how the did the op in the first place and also given the length of time since the op we were advised that a reversal would be unlikely to be successful.
We were advised that we should have IVF with ICSI and that DH should have a surgical sperm retrieval (SSR). To simplify, there are 2 types of SSR. Needle aspiration of sperm from the epididymis is attempted first and if no sperm found then during the same proceedure, the surgeon will take a piece of testicular tissue. The embryologist then examines the tissue for sperm and any found are prepared and frozen for use in ICSI.
Our clinic were very realistic with us about our chances of success but we were in no doubt about going ahead.
DH had SSR beginning of March 05 - loads of swimmers found (from testicular tissue biopsy)and frozen I started IVF cycle end of March and on 11th May 2005 we had a positive pregnancy test. It is obviously still very early days but we just take each day at a time.
The SSR was done as day surgery - in at 0800 and home at 1300. DH only had paracetamol for a day or so, was bruised and a bit swollen but otherwise had a day in bed and then gradually increased his activity back to normal over the following week.
It was all a bit daunting at the time and wondering what to do for the best and if we'd made the right decisions but we asked lots of questions from our clinic and felt happy with our plan of action.
I hope some of this is useful for you. Please ask me anything else you'd like info on and if I can help, I surely will.
Maci x
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Emily Rose
- Member
- Posts: 97
- Joined: Mon May 09, 2005 1:46 pm
- Location: France
Hi Esor,
My sister's husband had a vasectomy reversal, and I'm not sure but I believe the doctor told them to try naturally after that, which is what they did. But when it didn't work they went to normal IVF. She was 37 at the time and they got twins, a boy and a girl. From what others are saying, it seems like ICSI has to be done following, but I could swear that's not what my sister and her hubby did. I could find out for you if you like.
Emily
My sister's husband had a vasectomy reversal, and I'm not sure but I believe the doctor told them to try naturally after that, which is what they did. But when it didn't work they went to normal IVF. She was 37 at the time and they got twins, a boy and a girl. From what others are saying, it seems like ICSI has to be done following, but I could swear that's not what my sister and her hubby did. I could find out for you if you like.
Emily
Age 42
First IVF - test 5/17/05, -ve
First IVF - test 5/17/05, -ve
Hi everyone,
Some really interesting and helpful replies - thank you to all those who have contributed to this string.
We have an appt with the Vas Reversal specialist on 10 June and I feel that we now have lots of questions to ask of him. He carries out approx 7 vas reversals a week (earning megga bucks I suspect); one of the leaders in his field in the UK. I guess my dh will be in the best possible hands, however his vasectomy was 14 yrs ago, which reduces success rate considerably.
Had a chat with the Vas Reversal's nurse today, who advised that, in the past the Dr has found that the ICSI treatment can irreparably damage the tubes, making subsequent reversal operation a waste of money. He has, in the past, counselled against reversal if ICSI has previously been carried out. Has anyone else come across this?
Operation has now been brought forward (due to cancellation) from Feb 06 to October 05 - but I am still ancious about waiting for op, then waiting for sperm (if successful) to reach peak motility, then waiting for natural conception - by which time I'll be > 40. My FSH is 5.3 at the moment.
Appreciate any advice you have - it's great to hear from you.
(Emily - I share the same surname (ESOR is Rose backwards!)
Esor
Some really interesting and helpful replies - thank you to all those who have contributed to this string.
We have an appt with the Vas Reversal specialist on 10 June and I feel that we now have lots of questions to ask of him. He carries out approx 7 vas reversals a week (earning megga bucks I suspect); one of the leaders in his field in the UK. I guess my dh will be in the best possible hands, however his vasectomy was 14 yrs ago, which reduces success rate considerably.
Had a chat with the Vas Reversal's nurse today, who advised that, in the past the Dr has found that the ICSI treatment can irreparably damage the tubes, making subsequent reversal operation a waste of money. He has, in the past, counselled against reversal if ICSI has previously been carried out. Has anyone else come across this?
Operation has now been brought forward (due to cancellation) from Feb 06 to October 05 - but I am still ancious about waiting for op, then waiting for sperm (if successful) to reach peak motility, then waiting for natural conception - by which time I'll be > 40. My FSH is 5.3 at the moment.
Appreciate any advice you have - it's great to hear from you.
(Emily - I share the same surname (ESOR is Rose backwards!)
Esor
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Emily Rose
- Member
- Posts: 97
- Joined: Mon May 09, 2005 1:46 pm
- Location: France
Hi Esor,
Sorry but I'm really confused.
We had ICSI and there is no way this can cause any damage to the man as ICSI is just the way that the egg is fertilised. With ICSI the man produces his sample the same way as any bloke and the nurses take it away then ICSI is performed on the egg meaning the egg is injected with the sperm instead of being left to fertilise naturally.
Having a vasectomy reversal makes ICSI easier as the man makes the sample on his own, but if you dont have the vasectomy reversed then the doctors would do SSR as Maci said.
If the vasectomy reversal is OK you may only need IVF as the sperm may be able to swim into the egg by themselves, but if not then its ICSI
HTH Susie
Sorry but I'm really confused.
We had ICSI and there is no way this can cause any damage to the man as ICSI is just the way that the egg is fertilised. With ICSI the man produces his sample the same way as any bloke and the nurses take it away then ICSI is performed on the egg meaning the egg is injected with the sperm instead of being left to fertilise naturally.
Having a vasectomy reversal makes ICSI easier as the man makes the sample on his own, but if you dont have the vasectomy reversed then the doctors would do SSR as Maci said.
If the vasectomy reversal is OK you may only need IVF as the sperm may be able to swim into the egg by themselves, but if not then its ICSI
HTH Susie
Me 37, DH 53 Male & female factor
1st ICSI +ve, a daughter born 2001
2nd ICSI +ve, a son born 2006
1st ICSI +ve, a daughter born 2001
2nd ICSI +ve, a son born 2006
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taylorjools
- Valued Contributor
- Posts: 1341
- Joined: Thu Mar 03, 2005 4:54 pm
- Location: continental Europe
I think what Esor meant was ICSI where they had done SSR, then that would potentially damage the bits for a reversal..we were told something similar which was why we bit the bullet and did the reversal.
I just think when I see how many of us are in this situation, second time around for dh I guess, that it's a shame that vasectomies are so easy.
bigJ
I just think when I see how many of us are in this situation, second time around for dh I guess, that it's a shame that vasectomies are so easy.
bigJ
POF+autoimmune+dh antibodies,5.05 DIVF IM M/c 7.5 wks, DIVF+TESE at ISIDA - son 08/06
FET ISIDA: 12.07.07 m/c 8 wks b.ovum, 17 Dec 2007- BFP triplets OMG!!!
[img]http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/1;20726;0/st/20080905/dt/6/k/7529/preg.png[/img]
FET ISIDA: 12.07.07 m/c 8 wks b.ovum, 17 Dec 2007- BFP triplets OMG!!!
[img]http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/1;20726;0/st/20080905/dt/6/k/7529/preg.png[/img]
i dont have anything to add but i wanted to say that i am glad that you have found this forum..
it has been a life line for me..
there are e alot of loving and caring women here..
it looks like you have already found friends..
isnt it great
good luck to you
it has been a life line for me..
there are e alot of loving and caring women here..
it looks like you have already found friends..
isnt it great
good luck to you
we werent blessed with our babies to raise here but we our blessed with our grandaughter
and all of our many adopted and foster children that touch our lives
and i am glad to add that our 6th grandchild will be born this spring!!!!
and all of our many adopted and foster children that touch our lives
and i am glad to add that our 6th grandchild will be born this spring!!!!