My partner had a vasectomy and lost his left testicle after complications. Is it still possible to do IVF and be successful in gaining live sperm?

We would like to have a child together.

Answers from doctors (4)


Yes, as long as sperm production is still good in the other testicle (which can be checked with the FSH blood test). If the FSH is normal, sperm can be extracted from this remaining testicle and used with IVF.

Answered by Shane T. Russell, MD - Westerville Office (View Profile)

Yes, as long as sperm production is still good in the other testicle (which can be checked with the FSH blood test). If the FSH is normal, sperm can be extracted from this remaining testicle and used with IVF.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


More About Doctor John C. McHugh, MD

Published on Jun 08, 2017

Only one testicle is necessary to achieve pregnancy in a normal setting, so harvesting sperm from one testicle is suitable. Probably the bigger issue is the length of time since the vasectomy as this can affect quality of the sperm. The specifics of this would be a good question for a reproductive clinic which perform IVF regularly.

Answered by John C. McHugh, MD (View Profile)

Only one testicle is necessary to achieve pregnancy in a normal setting, so harvesting sperm from one testicle is suitable. Probably the bigger issue is the length of time since the vasectomy as this can affect quality of the sperm. The specifics of this would be a good question for a reproductive clinic which perform IVF regularly.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Yes.He is also a candidate for a vasectomy reversal of the solitary testicle.

Answered by Mark J. Saslawsky, MD - Memphis Office (View Profile)

Yes.He is also a candidate for a vasectomy reversal of the solitary testicle.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Robert D. Oates, MD, FACS

Published on Jun 07, 2017

Absolutely, as a matter of fact, vasectomy reversal may still be a worthwhile idea, depending upon the particulars of your circumstance. The bottom line, however, is that the remaining testicle should still be making sperm and so all options would be on the table for you including: 1. reversal only; 2. reversal with a simultaneous freezing of testis tissue (contains sperm) just in case the operation is unsuccessful; 3. direct aspiration of sperm coupled with an IVF cycle (the most expensive of the options).

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Answered by Robert D. Oates, MD, FACS

Absolutely, as a matter of fact, vasectomy reversal may still be a worthwhile idea, depending upon the particulars of your circumstance. The bottom line, however, is that the remaining testicle should still be making sperm and so all options would be on the table for you including: 1. reversal only; 2. reversal with a simultaneous freezing of testis tissue (contains sperm) just in case the operation is unsuccessful; 3. direct aspiration of sperm coupled with an IVF cycle (the most expensive of the options).

Published on Jul 11, 2012


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