It is important to take the time to discuss with your partner why he had the procedure, and how his thoughts might have changed since then.

Remember that when you are planning to become parents together, it is important to have both people on board and fully committed. Otherwise, it may have a negative toll on the relationship, as well as for your baby. If your partner is not fully committed, it might take some soul-searching to determine whether having a baby is really the best idea. You may find couple counseling helpful as you discuss this, as it is a very significant life decision and your partner no doubt had strong feelings about it in the past, or he would not have had a vasectomy.

Certain procedures (such as in vitro fertilization) can be very expensive, so it is important to know how far you and your partner are willing to go in order to become pregnant. [5] X Research source

The urologist can take a detailed medical history and perform a physical exam to determine what course of action is best to help you and your partner become pregnant. The urologist can also assess your partner to see if he has any specific fertility problems, other than the vasectomy. It is advisable for you, as the woman, to also consult your OB/GYN and to make sure you have no fertility problems that could hold the two of you back from becoming pregnant.

Some men find it helpful to have you there as moral support. It is also recommended to drive your partner home after the procedure as he will likely be experiencing some pain and discomfort.

The vasectomy reversal can be done in two ways. The first way is reattaching the two cut ends of the vas deferens (called a vasovasostomy). This is the more common procedure. [7] X Research source The second way is reattaching the vas deferens directly to the epididymis (called a vasoepididymostomy). This is used when a vasovasostomy is not possible. [8] X Research source

The man may have some pain in his scrotal area, and this can be treated with over-the-counter pain medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or an NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug), such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), or aspirin. Most men are fine with over-the-counter pain medications and do not need anything stronger; however, it is an option to receive prescription pain medication from the doctor if your partner needs it.

If this occurs for your partner, it should resolve on its own with time (within a few weeks). If the bleeding is severe or the pain and discomfort are not improving, seek additional help from your doctor.

Note that success rates of vasectomy reversal are approximately 60%. It partly depends upon the number of years that the man has had the vasectomy for. A shorter duration equates to a greater success rate. [11] X Trustworthy Source National Health Service (UK) Public healthcare system of the UK Go to source

Note that this also means that the man is no longer “sterile” (that is, the vasectomy is no longer functioning as birth control), so the two of you will need to discuss alternate methods for contraception after the pregnancy is over.

It is important to talk to a doctor who specializes in this area and who can provide additional information (as well as expected cost) for your case. The cost and complexity of the procedure can vary greatly between couples. [14] X Research source One of the main reasons that IVF is chosen is that the vasectomy reversal was unsuccessful, and the couple is still determined to have biological children of their own. Success rates of the procedure vary greatly depending upon the reason for receiving it, as well as fertility factors for both the man and the woman. [15] X Trustworthy Source National Health Service (UK) Public healthcare system of the UK Go to source

If he has not, another option is to collect sperm directly from the man’s vas deferens (the portion of the tube that is still intact and that was not cut by surgery) and to use this for in vitro fertilization.

Normally more than one egg is taken from the female, in order to maximize the chances of a successful embryo forming in the lab.

A complication of IVF, for this reason, is the risk of having multiples (twins, triplets, or perhaps more). Speak to your doctor about how many embryos he or she recommends to have implanted in your specific case. It would depend upon a number of factors specific to each couple, including cost (as if the procedure “fails” and has to be done again that gets expensive), as well as other “fertility factors” that can be assessed by your doctor. [19] X Trustworthy Source National Health Service (UK) Public healthcare system of the UK Go to source

The advantages of IVF include: the vasectomy still exists as permanent birth control after your child is conceived it is an easier procedure for the man (compared to undergoing surgery to have his vasectomy reversed) conception can often occur within a faster time-frame (as compared with vasectomy reversal). The disadvantages of IVF include: cost (quite expensive)[20] X Trustworthy Source MedlinePlus Collection of medical information sourced from the US National Library of Medicine Go to source it is a more arduous procedure for the woman the procedure may have to be repeated if you wanted additional children. This is not always the case, as sometimes extra embryos can be created that can be frozen for future pregnancies. it may result in more than one child. Oftentimes more than one embryo is inserted into the woman’s uterus, to increase the success rate of one surviving. However, this can result in more than one baby for some couples, so it is important to consider the possibility of having multiples. [21] X Trustworthy Source MedlinePlus Collection of medical information sourced from the US National Library of Medicine Go to source