Australia's Vasectomy Reversal Specialist
Expertise refined by more than 6500 vasectomy reversal procedures performed over 30 years provides confidence in the highest standard of care and best possible results. This vast microsurgical experience, more than any other reproductive microsurgeon currently practicing in Australia, along with a knowledge and insight acquired by consulting with many more couples considering the possibility of reversing vasectomy, allows you to make the wisest personal choice.
Only by continually performing large numbers of microsurgical procedures to reverse vasectomy is it possible to obtain consistently high success rates. My extensive experience in dealing with the wide variety of surgical challenges of differing methods of vasectomy, means that regardless of your personal situation it is highly likely that I have seen it before and will be able to give you the best possible outcome. This accumulated expertise provides you reassurance of being the wisest choice of reproductive microsurgeon to undertake the procedure to restore your fertility.
Success rates
Microsurgical vasectomy reversal is a highly effective means to reverse vasectomy in the majority of men. At the time of surgery it is possible to technically achieve patency rates (surgical opening of the vasectomy site) of more than 99.5%. The precision, skill and experience of your micorsurgeon is crucial to achieving such results.
The functional success rate of vasectomy reversal is impressive with the restoration of fertility in over 95% of the time for the average man undergoing the operation under my care. Successful pregnancy occurs in up to 85% of couples when the female partner's age is less than 35 years and between 50% to 70% for the average couple having their vasectomy reversed.
→ Full explanation of vasectomy reversal success rates
Why experience matters
There is a wide range of experience and expertise in doctors performing vasectomy reversal in Australia. More than 95% of surgeons perform less that 10 operations to reverse vasectomy per year. The number of operations a surgeon performs is an major influence on success rates, so inquiring about this is important.
You should always ask about specialist qualifications of the doctor who actually performs the operation and be certain that they are recognised as qualified specialists by the Australian Health Practitioners Regulatory Authority.
→ Questions to ask your vasectomy reversal doctor
Cost
Vasectomy reversal is provided at reasonable cost as a result of an agreement between my anaesthetist, assistant surgeon and myself that allows for control and limits on the expense of the procedure. If you have full health insurance the cost can be as little as $3,100 and for those without insurance $6,600. There are however a number of influences on your final out of pocket cost which include your level of health insurance cover and which hospital you wish to have your procedure performed.
→ Learn more about the cost of reversing your vasectomy
Predictors of successful vasectomy reversal
There are a range of predictors of successful vasectomy reversal which you should consider when making a decision to reverse your vasectomy. These include the length of time from your initial vasectomy to its reversal, your partners age and if you have had a prior IVF sperm extraction. It is very important to be aware of just how many vasectomy reversal operations your chosen surgeon is performing so that you can make a judgement about their likely results.
→ Read about the predictors of successful vasectomy reversal
Vasectomy reversal or IVF ?
You may be trying to choose between vasectomy reversal or IVF. It is best to consider this decision not as an 'either-or' issue but rather a question of what order you should undergo each treatment. By this I mean which of IVF followed by vasectomy reversal or vasectomy reversal followed IVF is the wisest first choice.
The critical issue in this decision is that fact that sperm extraction for IVF either from the epididymis (PESA procedure) or testis (TESE procedure) runs a high risk of damaging the outflow path of sperm from the testis and therefore markedly reducing the prospect of future successful vasectomy reversal. On the other hand if vasectomy reversal is undertaken first then for the average case 95% of men will achieve the presence of sperm and so increasing the likelihood of future successful IVF should pregnancy not occur following vasectomy reversal.
The net result is that the cumulative pregnancy rates of the sequence vasectomy reversal followed by IVF is more likely to be successful than IVF followed by vasectomy reversal. So while IVF is an excellent treatment when undertaken at a high quality IVF clinic such as Genea it is my view that vasectomy reversal should be your first choice as it provides you the widest range of long-term options.
→ Decide whether IVF or vasectomy reversal is best for you
Need more detail ?
I have written an article for the Australian Doctor journal which is intended for General Practitioners that describes in fine medical detail all aspects of microsurgical vasectomy reversal including information on pre-operative assessment, alternative surgical methods, post operative care and assessment of outcome.
→ Read medical journal publication on vasectomy and vasectomy reversal
