Q: How can we get pregnant after a vasectomy?

A: Less than 10% of men undergoing vasectomy may request a reversal at a later date. In many cases, the cut ends of the vas deferens can be surgically reattached. However, this operation, a microsurgical vasovasostomy, is expensive ($5,000-$10,000) and, for a variety of reasons, does not guarantee a return to fertility. Vasectomy reversal appears to be more successful if performed within 10 years of the vasectomy, but again, there is no guarantee that fertility will be restored. Vasectomy should therefore be considered a permanent procedure.

One alternative to a vasectomy reversal would be to surgically remove a sperm and then perform in-vitro fertilization (IVF) on the woman's egg. However, IVF is more expensive ($10-20,000) and requires that the woman undergo fertility treatments and surgery to remove the egg.