Vasectomy Reversal - Alternatives

IHR.com directory of vasectomy reversal doctors


This page provides educational information about vasectomy reversal alternatives

Alternatives to Vasectomy Reversal

  • Sperm Banking - This involves some advance planning. Prior to having a vasectomy, man's sperm can be collected and stored for use later in the event a baby is desired in the future.
  • Donor Insemination - involves using a sperm donor, and artificial insemination (IUI) for the woman.
  • Sperm Aspiration - The retrieved sperm can be used with IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
    • Non-surgical
      • PESA (Percutaneous Epididymal Sperm Aspiration) - doctor retrieves sperm from the epididymis
      • TESE (Testicular Sperm Extraction) - doctor uses a biopsy needle to remove small pieces of tissue from the testes. This tissue contains small amounts of sperm, which can be extracted.
    • Surgical
      • MESA (Microsurgical Epididymal Sperm Aspiration) - involves surgery of the scrotum and is more expensive than PESA or TESE.

    Note that in cases in which there is no female infertility factor and the time since vasectomy is less than 15 years, vasectomy reversal is recommended over sperm retrieval with IVF/ICSI by both the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and the American Urological Association.

  • Adoption is another way to build a family. It can be as expensive as IVF-ICSI with sperm retrieval, and it can be a lengthy process. Still, it is a valuable way for some to achieve their goal of building a family.