Vasectomy reversal - please share your stories!

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this but have been really encouraged reading some of your stories. My boyfriend is booked in for a VR in 3 weeks time and I'm almost too scared to hope that it will be successful. He's 42 and has 2 (now adult) children from a previous relationship. He had his vasectomy 15 years ago so I know the chances of success are far from great. The consultant we spoke to said there was only about a 25% chance but we're determined to try everything we can and this is the first step.

I was wondering - has anyone else been in a simliar position with such a long gap between vasectomy and reversal and how have you got on? I would feel tons better about the whole thing if I knew that it had actually worked for people after this amount of time. I'm trying to be realistic and not get my hopes up - part of me is hugely excited and another part is totally pessimistic. I don't know what to think! I would really appreciate hearing from others who are/have been in the same boat.

All the very best of luck to everyone trying! xxx

I have very similar situation as you

Hi,

Just thought i'd register and drop you a note as i am in almost exactly the same situation as you are. My BF is 43, he has had his vasectomy for 16 years. We went to the spira Leicester hospital 2 weeks ago and he is booked in for VR next Thursday morning. I am only 30 and have no children where as he already has 2 grown up daughters that have kids of there own (I'm a step nan nan!!) He knew when we got together 5 years ago that i wanted kids so a reversal was always on the cards. It was just a case of getting round to it and saving up the pennies!

When we saw consultant he said there was 40 - 50% chance which seems different to what you were told which is confusing. I've spent hours trawling the net to try and find info and there are success stories which are encouraging. I'm trying so hard not to get my hopes up and am starting to get quite jittery about the op and it's not even me going through it. I love him even more for trying this and just going to have to keep evrything crossed that the outcome is positive.

I'll keep you posted once op is done and dusted. Thinking of you xx

Hi miniangel, how have you got on?

It was so great to hear that there are others going through the same thing! I am also a step-nan at 30 - my partner's daughter has a 2 year old son. It all gets very complicated when you start thinking that you may one day have kids younger than your grandkids!

How did you get on with the op? My BF is recovering at home after having his last week. The consultant said it had gone well and that the tubes had all gone back together fine so that's a big relief. It's just a matter of being patient now and waiting to see if it's worked (not something I'm very good at - I want it to work NOW!) Like you, I love him even more for putting himself through the op just to give us a chance of having a child together.

My fingers are crossed for you! I hope everything has gone well, xx

Update!

Hi Jenn,

My BF had his op 2 weeks ago today and although at first he was moving quite gingerly around, his swelling and bruising has gone down and is almost looking normal. He says it wasn't as bad as he thought it was going to be but is still quite sensitive

Regarding the op, to be honest we didn't get a lot of feedback from surgeon as he had to get off to another hospital. I keep badgering him to give the surgeon's office a call to see if they can fill him in but you know what men are like!

I know how you feel re being patient, i'm no good at that either!!! Never been my strong point. Were you advised as to how long you should wait for resuming bedroom olympics? Just wondered as every web site i look at says something different.

It's really nice to be able to talk to someone in same situation as i'm sure my BF gets fed up with talking about it! bless him.

Hope your BF is feeling ok and tell him, as long as he rests up, it'll all get back to normal! Take care and keep me posted and how he's doing,
Nat x

Bedroom olympics resumed!

Hi Nat,

Really glad to hear everything's gone well! My BF is pretty much recovered now - all the brusing and swelling has gone down. He says it still aches on and off but he's off the painkillers and feels better now the stitches have gone .

As for bedroon olympics - we were given quite a lot of information at the hospital. They had a general leaflet that advised waiting at least a week and then a letter written by the surgeon advising to wait "a few days" until feeling comfortable. We were both so excited to try it out that we had a struggle waiting a week so bedroom olympics are now back on!

It's completely mad to think that there's now a chance it could actually happen. We've spent so long talking about it and wishing for it and saving up for it so to be in a position where we could potentially get pregnant is amazing! BF went to his GP yesterday though, just for a check up, and was told that the sperm can often take about 2 months to regenerate properly so I'm trying to be sensible and not expect it to happen straight away. Having said that, I know someone who's partner had a reversal a few years ago and they were expecting within 2 weeks!

It's great to talk to someone who is in the same situation - like you, I'm sure my BF is completely fed up of me going on about it all the time. In some ways I'm trying to put it out of my mind and carry on as normal and just see what happens, but in other ways I can't help it and just keep pestering him all the time asking "do you think it'll work? when do you think it'll work?" - bless him, as if he hasn't been through enough!

When does your BF go back to give the sample? We know people that have had follow up appointments 8 weeks later to check sperm count and mobility etc but ours isn't for 14 weeks! Seems like a long time, but I suppose it gives him a while to get the numbers up!

Tons of good luck to you both, take care and keep in touch,
Jenn xxx

Phew- thank god!!

Hi Jenn,

SOOOOO glad you said a week or when comfortable, cause we gave in to the fruitiness and then were both worried we'd done wrong thing!!!! BF said he didn't feel any twinges or anything though which is good and i'm taking it's a good sign that he's healed. We were told he had dissolvable stiches but they still not gone, so think he gonna have to go GP's to have them removed.

Sounds like the place you had it done was really good and kept you well informed. Where did you have it done?

I know what you mean re thinking that there's now potential to be pregnant, it takes some getting used to and you can't help but wonder and i often find myself day dreaming!! Think we've just got to take it one day at a time chick.

We had to make a 12 week appoint to take sample in so ours is at end of Jan. Thinks theres a part of me that would almost rather not know results and just let nature take it's course. I know thats not really the point but it's a bg thing that my bf has gone through and don't want him to feel bad if it's not good news, cause i just won't be able to hold my emotions back. But lets hope it doesn't come to that hey.

NOw that the reversal's done i now keep looking at web pages about best time to get preggers . . . tips and suggestions, just can't help myself!!! At the end of the day it only takes one good swimmer doesn ...

Best of luck to you guys too, keep chilled out and think positive! I'll keep you posted on any progress and just mail me if you want a friendly ear to talk too!!

Nat x