Learn About Our Alternatives to Vasectomy Reversal
Dr. Larry Lipshultz offers alternatives to vasectomy reversal at our Houston, TX, practice so that patients have options when it comes to pursuing their dreams of parenthood. We understand that circumstances can change and many men realize they would like to have a child after they’ve undergone a vasectomy. If you’d rather not undergo vasectomy reversal surgery or do not qualify for this treatment, Dr. Lipshultz can help you and your partner achieve successful pregnancy using other methods.
To learn more about alternatives to vasectomy reversal or find out which treatments may be right for you, contact urologist Larry Lipshultz today to schedule a consultation.
Why Patients Pursue Alternatives to Vasectomy Reversal
Vasectomy reversal surgery can help patients restore their fertility after a vasectomy, but this treatment isn’t for everyone. You might decide to pursue an alternative if:
- You previously froze your sperm, making this procedure unnecessary.
- Your partner suffers from female fertility issues, meaning you must use assisted reproductive techniques (ART) regardless of your own fertility.
- Dr. Lipshultz diagnoses you with non-obstructive azoospermia, meaning that your sperm production is dysfunctional or nonexistent. Vasectomy reversal surgery will not restore fertility in men with this condition.
- Healthy fluid and sperm are not present in your vas deferens, indicating the need for an epididymovasostomy, a more labor-intensive procedure with a somewhat lower success rate.
- You simply prefer not to undergo vasectomy reversal for any reason.
If any of these reasons apply to you, we would be pleased to discuss alternatives to vasectomy reversal with you during your initial consultation. Our goal is to provide you with all of the information you need to make informed decisions regarding your reproductive health.
If You Banked Your Sperm Prior to Vasectomy
Many male reproductive specialists, including Dr. Lipshultz, offer patients a chance to bank their sperm prior to undergoing vasectomy through cryopreservation techniques. If you banked your sperm, you may be able to simply retrieve these samples for use in fertility treatments. We can use ejaculated cryopreserved during IUI (intrauterine insemination), injecting them into your partner’s uterus to attempt pregnancy without having to undo a previous vasectomy.
We may also be able to use frozen sperm with assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedures such as IVF (in vitro fertilization) and ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection). During IVF, your fertility specialist will harvest eggs from your partner’s ovaries and combine them with your banked sperm in a laboratory. ICSI is a more specialized form of this procedure, and involves a technician injecting your sperm directly into your partner’s matured eggs.
Sperm Retrieval Techniques
If you did not bank your sperm, we will need to harvest sperm from your testicles for use in ART procedures. We offer two methods of sperm retrieval:
- MESA (Microscopic Epididymal Sperm Aspiration): During this microscopic procedure, Dr. Lipshultz will create a small incision in your scrotum, through which he will access your testis and epididymis. Then, using microscopic tools, he will open a duct from your epididymis and extract the sperm within it. Once removed, we can freeze these sperm for future use.
- TESE (Testicular Sperm Extraction): If testicular blockages or other sperm disorders make you ineligible for MESA, Dr. Lipshultz can retrieve sperm using TESE. During this procedure, he will perform a testicular biopsy, removing tiny samples of testicular tissue. A fertility specialist will then assess this tissue for sperm, freezing those found. Since TESE harvests much fewer sperm than MESA, these sperm will need to be used with ICSI to improve the odds of success.
With either technique, you will be anesthetized prior to surgery. Therefore, you should plan to have someone drive you to and from our office on the day of your sperm retrieval.
We Can Help You Grow Your Family
Dr. Lipshultz and our team can help you conceive without undergoing vasectomy reversal. Contact our urology practice to schedule an appointment. During your consultation, you will discover more about your treatment options and find out which is best for you.