Many men who chose vasectomies at a relatively young age are now learning that a vasectomy reversal is possible. Many times, couples inquire about vasectomy reversal after a divorce or the death of a spouse, or in some cases, the couple may have just had a change of heart about having more children. Refinement of microscopic surgery techniques have increased vasectomy reversal success rates tremendously, allowing couples to add to their family without using in-vitro fertilization. However, the procedure is considered elective surgery by most insurance companies, and the surgery can be expensive. Rates for vasectomy reversals can run from $3,000 to $12,000 dollars. There are several reasons why the reversal surgery costs this much.
Results Are Rarely Guaranteed
Unfortunately, even with the current high success rates for the surgery in the hands of the true specialists, not all reversals are successful. A couple may go through the healing from the procedure, as well as the high cost of a vasectomy reversal, only to learn that they still cannot conceive without other methods.
Procedure Requires More Skill than Vasectomy
A vasectomy is a relatively simple procedure that is usually performed in the doctor’s office. A vasectomy reversal is a complicated procedure that can take up to 4 hours to perform. In addition, the procedure is best performed in a surgery center as an outpatient rather than in the doctor’s office. The facility stay, surgeon fees, anesthesia, specialized equipment and medications all add to the cost of vasectomy reversals.
Reversal Specialists Are Highly Trained
Although most urologists are taught how to perform a vasectomy reversal, the procedure is extremely delicate and complicated. Therefore, to increase vasectomy reversal success rates, it is important to locate a physician who specializes in this type of surgery. It is important, however, to choose a vasectomy reversal specialist in order to achieve success (www.vasectomyreversal.com/blog/)
Length of Time Since Vasectomy
As time passes, blockages can form in the vas deferens or in the epididymis, the tube connecting the vas deferens and the testicle. The chance of this type of blockage forming increases significantly if the vasectomy was performed more than 10 years ago. If there is an epididymis blockage, the doctor must perform a vasoepididymostomy, which may increase the cost of the vasectomy reversal.
Microscopic Surgery
The main reason for the cost of vasectomy reversal is that the surgery requires the use of high tech surgical microscopes and microscopic sutures in order to increase the rate of success. The surgery is time consuming and delicate, so that microsurgical vasectomy reversal doctors must spend additional time training on the equipment. Therefore, the doctor fees will be significantly higher with skilled microsurgeons.
Vasectomy reversal is possible with the refinement of microscopic surgeries and improvements in vasoepididymostomies. The cost is sometimes prohibitive for couples, but the addition of a child to their families is well worth the investment. It is important to discuss all options with a male infertility doctor in order to make an informed decision. For more information about the cost of vasectomy reversals, visit www.vasectomyreversal.com.
