Alternatives to a Vasectomy Reversal : A guide to Vasectomy Reversal

If you find that you are not suitable for a vasectomy reversal or have decided not to go ahead then what are your alternatives? There are two options available to you which are:

• IVF treatment
• Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)

IVF is a popular form of fertility treatment and for many couples is the last resort when it comes to having children. It does work although there is no 100% guarantee of this and it can be very expensive. IVF is available on the NHS via your local Primary Care Trust (PCT) although you have to apply for ‘sponsorship’ by them. If you fulfil their criteria then you may be offered funding which pays for one or at the most, three cycles of IVF.Find out more about IVF in our complete guide to infertility.Intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is a form of injection directly into the testicles which removes sperm for IVF or artificial insemination. With IVF, the sperm are combined with an egg from your partner in a process called fertilisation which takes place outside of her body. Once this has happened, the resulting embryos are implanted into her uterus. Artificial insemination involves injecting these sperm with an egg from your partner directly into her uterus. These are recommended if a vasectomy reversal has failed but they are more expensive and time consuming than surgery.