Vasectomy and Vasovasostomy - Considerations

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Vasectomies may not be right for:

• Men in relationships in which one partner is unsure about his or her desire to have children in the future
• Men whose current relationships are unstable, going through a stressful phase, or are marked by substantial conflict
• Men who are considering the operation just to please their partners
• Men who are counting on having children later by storing sperm or by surgical reversal of the vasectomy
• Young men, who still have many life changes ahead
• Men who are single (including those divorced or separated) at the time of vasectomy
• Men or couples whose only motive is freedom from distraction imposed by other contraceptive methods during sexual activity

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Sperm Banking

Sperm banking can be used in conjunction with vasectomy or vasectomy reversal surgery. Sperm banking involves freezing (cryopreservation) and storage (cryobanking) of sperm. It is usually performed before a vasectomy, or during or after reversal surgery. If a man later desires to have children, the sperm can be used for assisted reproductive technologies, usually intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) used in combination with in vitro fertilization. [For more information, see In-Depth Report #67: Infertility in men.]

Sperm banking is no guarantee for successful conception and pregnancy. Sperm can be frozen for many years, but even after 6 months some sperm cells lose their ability to function normally after being unfrozen. In addition, sperm banking is typically not covered by health insurance plans and costs should be considered.

Although most men who have a vasectomy never use their banked sperm, it is understandable if some men are emotionally reassured by the idea that they have sperm preserved "just in case." Still, men who are considering vasectomy should not view sperm banking (or vasectomy reversal) as a guaranteed option if they later change their minds. It is best to undertake vasectomy as a permanent sterilization procedure. If future fathering of children seems a possibly desirable scenario, it is wise to reconsider whether vasectomy is the right decision to make.

Review Date: 11/04/2010
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).