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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

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Original poster

Conception after vesectomy reversal

14 replies

jordanna79 · 15/04/2010 12:42

Hi all - My partner had his vesectomy reversed in October 2009 and we have been TTCing ever since....to no avail as yet. I realise it is very early days but I'm getting impatient!

I was just wondering if there is anyone out there whose partner had the vesectomy reversal before they started trying and how long it took to get pregnant?

Obviously it was a private op and the doctor said that it went well and that a semen test wouldn't be necessary....just to come back in a years time with a picture of the baby! I'm thinking that now it has been six months and the sperm should be at full strength...that possibly we should get his semen tested.

My partner has two children from a previous marriage and I have been pregnant in the past altho I MC'd. So in a sense we have 'both worked' at some point altho I realise there is no guarrantee that we 'work together!'

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

OP posts:

Sapphire1 · 15/04/2010 13:39

Hi Jordanna
My DH had his vasectomy reversed in December 09, and I just found out I am very newly pregnant (and freaking out cos I've been spotting for a week). He has a child already, and I've never been pregnant before. Our doc advised us to have a semen test, 8 weeks after the VR, which we did. He also advised us to get some semen frozen, which we are considering -soo expensive though. I think a test would put your mind at rest. From looking at VR support forums, it is not uncommon for it to take a few years to get a BFP. Even for 'normal' couples it can take up to a year. Oh, and my DH only had one side done and is at risk of scarring, so anything is possible. Good luck and fingers crossed for you xxx

Original poster

jordanna79 · 15/04/2010 13:50

Ah you're so lucky! I just hoped it would happen really quickly. I'm 30 and he is 40 in May so we want to get cracking....plus his kids are now 11 and 13 and we'd like them to be bought up as brother and sister with our child(ren) so don't wanna leave it too long.

I think the semen test is the next step in putting my mind at rest. I worry that I'm thinking about it too much and that is what is stressing me out...hence it is not happening. I'm SIWing as much as I can - so although I have OV sticks to use for the first time this month I can't see that we can have sex anymore than we already do!

As for your spotting - my mum had three healthy pregnancies and had light periods thru all three....so it might not be anything to worry about - get to your doc to put your mind at rest. Good luck to you with your pregnancy - I hope you enjoy the whole experience!

Has the dr said that you were really lucky to get pregnant so quick after the VR? Jxx

OP posts:

Original poster

jordanna79 · 15/04/2010 13:51

PS What is a BFP?!

OP posts:

Sapphire1 · 15/04/2010 14:15

I know, I still can't believe it - I am the world's worst worrier. Am driving hubby mad already, freaking out about everything. I rang the docs today, and she said not to worry unless it's accompanied by bad pain or gets a lot worse. Guess I'll just wait and see... A BFP is a 'big fat positive' or positive pregnancy test - you'll probably see it bandied about a lot in trying to conceive forums. I know all about stressing out, even after we had the semen test and it showed the op worked, I then stressed out about it scarring over. I got fully immersed in using ov sticks, taking temps etc - I'm sure I have a mild case of OCD! Oh, and I haven't told the Dr who did the VR, people normally just send him pictures of their babies! I haven't told anyone yet, nobody even knows he had the reversal apart from one friend! Your time will come, I'm sure - let me know how you get on and feel free to contact me about any other questions you have xxx

Original poster

jordanna79 · 15/04/2010 14:22

You're lovely!
That's exactly what our dr said! I'll keep you informed of any updates.
One stupid mistake I have made, being an excitable idiot, is told the world and his dog that we are trying....probably should have kept my gob shut for my own sanity....still.....tough now!!
Best of luck, your comrade in OCD, Jxx

OP posts:

Sapphire1 · 15/04/2010 14:30

Ah, thanks
Lots of love and luck to you, S xxx

luckywebby · 15/04/2010 16:42

HI everyone
Hope you don't mind me coming back to this site. I posted quite a while ago but then left due to bad news.
A bit of background..DH had a VR in October 09..he had quite a bad time of it and was off work for 2 months following the op.
We had SA's done at 10 weeks and 3 months and have recently had one at 6 months..all 3 showed no sperm. I was devastated.
After a lot of arguing and eventually talking we have decided to look into a redo.
Does anyone have any experience of this, or could anyone recommend a good surgeon. We line in the west country so ideally would like to stay local but am open to any suggestions or advice.
Thanks for listening

Lisa
x

wannaBe · 15/04/2010 16:50

Tbh I'm surprised that your dr said that a semen analysis was not necessary as I was under the impression that vasectomy reversal does not have a very high success rate.

I have no personal experience, but I do have friends who had a VR and they had to undergo IVF in order to conceive as the operation was not successful.

Tbh I would go and see your gp and get a semen analysis done to establish whether your dh's reversal was a success, that will give you one answer at least. And if it was then you can relax about that and think about trying without worrying about it.

It is perfectly normal for healthy fertile couples to take up to a year to conceive, and most gp's won't refer for tests until you've been ttc for a year. But I would get the analysis done as tbh I think your dr has given false hope by totally ruling out the need for a test.

wannaBe · 15/04/2010 16:54

here
is some information re the success rate of VR. So although eight out of ten men do produce sperm only approx half are able to get their partner pregnant.

I think your dr has been a bit irresponsible tbh in not pointing this out at the time.

Sapphire1 · 15/04/2010 20:22

Hi Lisa
So sorry to hear about your experience of VR, it must be devastating for you. My DHs doctor was Dr Dawson in Hartlepool, so that's quite a way from you. He does do redos though, and has had some successful ones. Have a search around various forums, I'm sure there are other people who have had success stories from redos too. Good luck to you xxx

WannaBe, our doc told us there would only be a 50% chance of pregnancy. I agree Jordanna's doc should have pointed this out and it seems weird that he didn't tell them to get an SA done. But 50% is better than nothing, and there are other options if the VR doesn't work. I totally didn't expect to get pregnant, but I did so it can happen. I just hope mine sticks around...

wannaBe · 15/04/2010 20:42

oh I totally agree that 50% is better than nothing and that failed reversal does not mean unable to get pg.

I just think that a dr saying to someone that there's no need to have a semen analysis and to bring in a picture of the baby in a year's time seems ve blasay and is just not right.

Sapphire1 · 15/04/2010 20:58

I have to agree with you there, it's much better to be informed from the start.

Original poster

jordanna79 · 16/04/2010 10:22

Thanks all. Very interesting...We have decided that a sperm test is the way forward - one less thing to worry about at least.

Lisa - Sorry to hear it didn't work out for you first time round. I would certainly want to go to a different dr if attempting the op again. Erm...although miles away our dr was based in a private hospital in MK - we were very pleased with him and he said that the op went very well. He is a very matter of fact type of guy and we liked that....however guess I need to find out if the op was successful first before I can fully recommend him!

I will save you as a friend and let you know the sperm analysis results as soon as I know them. Fingers crossed it'll be good news. I don't know about you Lisa, but I really want to avoid the IVF route if poss so I probably would give the reversal a second go too...altho it's driving me crazy I can't be thinking along those lines yet anyway...need to at least give it a year before serious investigations start.

Did the follow up appointment let you know why your vR was unsuccessful at all?

I'll be in touch Jxx

OP posts:

luckywebby · 16/04/2010 19:51

Jordanna

Thanks for thinking of me and I please let me know how you get on with your SA results. I'm sure they will be fine.
DH has decided that he does not want to go down the IVF route. We have looked into it but my AMH is low so less than 5% chance of success.
We did think about leaving it longer until pursuing different things but they have definitely said that there is no chance of the SA getting any better at this stage and i'm 40 so time is running out and that old bio clock is ticking louder by the day.

Take care and have a good weekend

Lisa
x

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