Why Does The Success Rate Of Vasectomy Reversal Decrease Over Time?

When considering a vasectomy reversal, the most important factor in determine the success of the procedure is the amount of time that has passed since the original vasectomy surgery. Since the chance for a successful vasectomy reversal decreases over time, this is the first question a doctor will ask a prospective patient.

Let’s take a look at how the success rate is determined and what affects this rate.

The Breakdown: Years Since Vasectomy And The Success Rate of Vasectomy Reversal Surgery

The rate of success for vasectomy reversal surgery has been extensively studied and a correlation has been developed between that success rate and the amount of years since the original surgery. The best category of patient is those who have had a vasectomy within the previous three years. In this case, there is a 97% chance of return of live sperm, which translates into a pregnancy rate of over 80% in my practice.

For patients with more than 3 years but less than 9 years from their vasectomy, the chance for a return of live sperm is still 91%. This rate correlates to a 74% chance of pregnancy. For those men who have gone more than 9 years before reversing their vasectomy, there is a 72% chance of return of live sperm and a 42% pregnancy rate in my experience.

Why Does The Success Rate for Vasectomy Reversal Surgery Drop Over Time?

A vasectomy works by preventing sperm flow out of the testicles by creating an obstruction in the vas deferens. However, this does not stop sperm production. This results in an increase in pressure on the vas deferens which can cause a second obstruction in addition to the surgery site. This second obstruction occurs more commonly with increasing time because of the cumulative effects of high pressure in the system.

This prolonged high pressure can result in breakdown of the thin walled tube in the epididymis, a  small sac resting on the testicle that contains the tubes where sperm mature and are stored. This breakdown or “blowout” of the wall causes scarring and blockage of the system. This is more common after 9 years from vasectomy.

Another reason success rates drop over time is effects of prolonged increased pressure on the testicle itself. This is not nearly as important as the second blockage, but there are changes that occur.

There is a myth that reversals do not work because of anti-sperm antibodies. These antibodies, like the ones produced to fight viruses, are produced by the body as a protective measure. After a reversal, antibody production ceases. While it is estimated that less than 5% of vasectomy reversals may suffer from anti-sperm antibodies, it is not a major factor.

Is it worthwhile to travel for your vasectomy reversal?

Yesterday I got a phone call from a nice lady in New York.
She wanted to know where the practice was located. This is a lot like
when someone calls me up to ask the cost of the surgery. It is
obvious from the website that the cost is $1,700, but they like to
hear it over the phone to believe it more.

Well, this is a little different because while the person with
the cost question is hoping the actual price is the same as on the
site, the caller from New York was most likely hoping that the
location was different than on the site because, after all, she saw
the ad in New York.

She didn’t seem surprised when I told her I was in Oklahoma.
She merely said she was looking to have it done in New York and
with the usual pleasantries, the conversation ended.

Now, I have had similar conversations a number of times over the
years and often when the person sadly says, “Well, I am in  Georgia
(or Alaska or Pennsylvania)…”I will often respond, “We have had a
number of people come from Georgia (or Alaska or Pennsylvania…)”.
Then comes the light bulb, “Oh, really!”.

I didn’t respond to my friend in New York in that way, although I
could have because one of my first patients was from The Big Apple
and several have come through since.

There are different reasons why patients want the surgery close to
home, and one of them is that traveling to Oklahoma adds expenses
they would not have if they were operated on in their home state.
Let’s take a look at them:

YOUR TRAVEL EXPENSES: Chances are you do not live in Muskogee, Oklahoma.
Men from all 50 states of the Union have come to my office to have the
procedure, however, we all know travel is not free. Whether you decide
to drive or fly, the cost of coming to my office is more expensive
than visiting a doctor in your neighborhood. Add roundtrip airfare,
rental car and/or gas expense to my fee.

YOUR HOTEL ACCOMODATIONS: I recommend a 2 night stay, but most of my
clients return home the day after the procedure. Add the cost of a 2
or 3 night hotel stay to my fee.  (But, keep in mind, if you are from
NY or Boston or Chicago or some very large metro area...you might be
pleasantly surprised by the hotel rates in Muskogee, Oklahoma.)

YOUR MISC EXPENSES: Travel always comes with both expected and
unforeseen expenses. Meals, forgotten personal items that need to be
purchased, etc. Add some additional “buffer” costs to my fee.

So, as you can see, there ARE additional costs to having me perform
your procedure, but I think you’ll find that even after adding these
expenses to my fee, I’m still more affordable than all the
alternatives available to you...

$1,700 surgery cost
$300 for 3-night hotel stay in Muskogee
$200 Misc expenses
$800 Round trip air fare to Tulsa (example is from LA)
$120 3-day rental car
$50 gas for rental car

TOTAL: $3,170.00

Compare the total cost above to the average of $7,000 to $10,000 for
most procedures and you’re still saving from $3,000 to nearly $7,000!

And, of course, I offer a satisfaction guarantee and I
have hundreds of satisfied clients that I can put you in touch with.

The Pain of Vasectomy vs. The Pain of Reversal

One of the questions I get about my procedure is, “Doctor, how much will it hurt?” .

Well, actually, it won’t hurt much at all. The physical pain is usually nothing more than a few pricks of the needle for the local anesthetic and some mild discomfort after the surgery.

I do administer mild sedation pills, but those are really just to help you through the discomfort of holding still for a couple of hours while I do the procedure.

In fact, there is a 95% chance you’ll actually fall asleep during the procedure!

Bottom line is that the physical pain is no where near as great as the emotional pain that most couples feel about not being able to conceive after a “pre-mature” vasectomy.

I know. Because I experienced that emotional pain after I had my vasectomy. In contrast to my patients, who often doze during the procedure, many couples stay up nights worrying…wishing they had not gone through with the vasectomy. Wishing they had waited. Wishing for an affordable way to make that pain go away.

Now that is real pain.

But it’s pain I can help alleviate. And there’s nothing more satisfying as a doctor – not only to be able to heal someone physically, but to also help bring joy and emotional health.

Why Pay for a Stranger’s Vasectomy Reversal?

Why are most vasectomy reversals so expensive?

Well, I can give you a host of reasons why…most are performed in facilities or large hospitals with huge overhead costs, most are performed in major metropolitan areas with higher costs of living…but the main reason that most vasectomy reversals are so expensive is because a small number of patients require what is called a “bypass” vasectomy reversal.

This bypass procedure is much more complicated and expensive than the simple reconnection that most patients require. And there are situations where it is required. This is the case about half the time on the rare occasion that a first reversal fails, and also not uncommonly if the time from vasectomy is more than 9 years. Then a complicated bypass is often required.

But this procedure is rarely required for a first vasectomy reversal within 9 years of the vasectomy.

ARE YOU PAYING FOR SOMEONE ELSE’S VASECTOMY REVERSAL?

But, in order to offer the complicated and expensive procedure to the patients who DO need it, the doctors who perform them charge more for the simpler reconnection procedure. This explains the much higher fee for the simple procedure in this setting.

In essence, the patients who DO NOT need the expensive procedure, help pay for the ones who do.

SO HOW CAN I CHARGE SO MUCH LESS FOR THE SIMPLE PROCEDURE THAN MOST SURGEONS?

Because I NEVER perform the more complicated procedure. I refer patients who may need the bypass surgery to other providers.

That way, you only pay for what you need.