Vasectomy reversal?

[SheABitSpicyToday]

Has anybody got an experiment with this? Is a relatively straight forward procedure?

We’re pretty certain we don’t want anymore children, and husband has offered to get a vasectomy. However, I’m wary that we’re both still fairly young and may change our minds in a couple of years. Husband thinks this is no problem, he can just get it reversed.

Is it this simple? I’m hesitant to go back into hormonal contraception as it plays havoc with my bipolar disorder.

AIUI, and given what my husband went through, no one should go into a vasectomy with an idea that they might reverse it.

No it’s not that simple. Reversals are not available on the NHS, for one thing, and they are not always successful.

Don't do this assuming it can be reversed.

Ah I always assumed they were fairly straight forward to reverse!

Don't do this. Vasectomies aren't temporary birth control. Your DH would have to lie for a start and then if you try to get it reversed and it doesn't work and he was left infertile for life then what? All you can really do here is pick another BC or get sperm frozen and use that if you want another (but obviosuly then you'd need to pay for storage and fertility treatment).

Definitely not a temporary contraceptive

Really not a good idea!
How old are you? Maybe use condoms until you have both decided that you will not be having any more children?

Only go through with it if you are 100% sure.

I’m 27 he’s 35. If we had another it would be in another 2 or 3 years or so. I don’t want any after 30 and he doesn’t want any after 40.

We willl have another rethink!

Freeze sperm instead of betting on a reversal?

My local area won’t let a man have a vasectomy if they’re under 36 anyway, they ask you many many questions and one hint of maybe wanting another child and they’ll refuse to do it. There’s also a 19 month waiting list. It’s not as simple as just deciding you want one then having it done

Presumably you'd want the NHS to pay for this? If so it's taking the P a bit isn't it if you think you might want it reversed in just 2-3 years time?

You can't get it reversed on the NHS - and it can cost at least £3k privately to do that and no guarantees that a reversal would work

I think they'll also say no if he says he can always get it reversed if he changes his mind, because they warn you that its not always reversible.

Freezing sperm is a possibility, but its not free, and it has a a shelf life. You would have to freeze several samples. AFAIK it costs about £400 per sample for the first year, then an annual charge after that.

We are currently in the process of having a reversal. We have an 85% chance of success in terms of sperm being present. 55% chance of a live birth.

@twinningatlife why on earth would you presume we expect the NHS to pay for it?!

My OH and I have two children (DD & DS) and he had a vasectomy after our DS as we have had two and both were born c-section so didn’t want me risking any other pregnancies. He is only 30 and I am only 27 but we have agreed that we don’t want anymore and even if we split or something happened to one of us then we would not look to have anymore.

It felt like a big ask for him but he told me that he always thought once he had the children he wanted then he would get one

It’s hard because I’m certain I don’t want anymore but at the same time feel really sad about it being a very final decision. I might just stick the pill out again once this one is born and see how we go.

What about the copper coil? It lasts 5-10 years and no hormones. I've been very happy with mine.

There are a lot of alternatives between the pill and a vasectomy.

I definitely don’t want anything that sits inside me like the coil or the implant. I think I’m going to try the pill again.

I was going to suggest the copper coil as well, but fair enough if you don’t want it-although they’re easy to remove if you wanted to give it a try.