My husband had a vasectomy about 3-4 years ago. I would like him to have it reversed. What are my chances of been able to have baby? I am 48.

Hi, there are two different issues here, as I think you are hinting at.

The first is the easy one. The rates of successfully putting sperm back in the ejaculate after having a vasectomy reversal performed by an expert are excellent (95%).

The second is the more difficult one. At the age of 48, your chances of achieving a healthy pregnancy are, unfortunately, extremely unlikely, if not absent. If you choose to use donated eggs (an in vitro fertilization process), your husband would more simply just need a sperm retrieval to provide a source of sperm for the eggs.

Sorry for the disappointing news,

Dr. Robert Oates

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Vasectomy reversal can be successful when done under microsurgery with a very diligent doctor who just does vasectomy reversals with a good success rate. A general urologist who only does few a year and does other urology procedures will have a low success rate. At your age you need to see an infertility specialist to do your evaluation, see if it is possible for you to get pregnant, and go over the risks. Only after that can you consider your husband for reversal surgery.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Hello,
A woman's natural ability to conceive decreases around age 40, even more significantly around age 42. So pregnancy at age 48 is not very likely, but could still be possible. Please see the link below for information on vasectomy reversal.
www.bestvasectomy.com

Published on Jul 11, 2012

The likelihood of a reversal being successful in your husband, that is, seeing sperm in the ejaculate, is about 80-85%. The issue for you two, however, is your age, and if you were fortunate enough to get pregnant—the health of the child. So on two fronts you have an uphill battle, but if you are still ovulating and you have doctors training in high risk pregnancy, there is still a chance success—albeit much lower than if you were thirty.

Published on Jul 11, 2012