What If We Have a Change of Heart?
Things can change. Is a vasectomy permanent?
Even the most carefully considered decisions are
sometimes revisited in the future. Although it’s best to consider
a vasectomy to be permanent, the circumstances of life may later cause
people to wonder just how permanent is a "permanent" vasectomy.
Certainly, things can change. Men who have remarried
may wonder about a reversal if the new couple wants to add children to
their family, but the vasectomy is an obstacle. Perhaps the vasectomy
was done at a relatively early age, or that the family or financial situation
has changed significantly.
For whatever the reasons, as many as 30,000 to 50,000
men have a vasectomy reversal each year. (And it’s likely that many
others consider a reversal, but do not have the procedure.)
The best and the worst.
In addition to being nearly 100 percent effective,
perhaps the best thing about a vasectomy is that it is permanent. On the
other hand, maybe the worse thing about a vasectomy is… that it is
permanent. Although significant advances in microsurgery have made the
vasectomy reversal far more common in recent decades, it is still best
for someone who is thinking about having a vasectomy to regard "permanent"
as completely permanent.
Vasectomy reversals have a high likelihood of success
for many men, especially if the time between the vasectomy and the reversal
is only a few years. While success factors for restoring fertility are
good in many situations, it is never a "sure bet," especially
if a number of years have passed.
The "success" of a reversal is measured
in two categories; the ability to re-open a vas channel for sperm to return
to the ejaculatory fluid; and secondly, the chance of pregnancy. If it
has been less than three years since the vasectomy, the likelihood of
rebuilding the vas channel is 97 percent; and the chance of pregnancy
is 76 percent.
However, these rates of success are lower as more
time passes from the date of the original vasectomy. For those individuals
who had a vasectomy over 15 years previously, these chances fall to 71
percent likelihood of restoring the vas channel, and 30 percent likelihood
of a subsequent pregnancy.
Informed and confident decision.
It is best not to have a vasectomy with the expectation
that fertility can be easily restored later. In fact, if you think you
might have a change of heart, it may be better to consider less permanent
contraception methods until you are clear and confident about your decision.
[See VASECTOMY REVERSAL main page]
It’s always a good idea to consider important
decisions carefully and to fully research your options. If you have medical
questions, talk to your doctor.
In Summary:
- Remarriage and other significant reasons
cause people to consider a vasectomy reversal.
- As many as 50,000 men have a vasectomy reversal
each year.
- A reversal can be successful, especially
if the vasectomy was recently.
- If you think you might have a change of
heart, it may be better to use less permanent contraception methods
until you are confident in your decision.
Check out related pages from vasectomy.com…
|
Email this Article to a Friend.
Print this Article.
