#ThursdayThoughts
As promised, each Thursday, we will now offer you a piece of educational, science, or research related information. The purpose of our #ThursdayThoughts post is to share with you fact-based content that can enlighten and assist you on your fertility journey. Enjoy our post! Helping to Create New Beginnings….
Thinking about Vasectomy? Consider Sperm Cryopreservation!
Vasectomy is a permanent form of male birth control that prevents sperm from reaching the semen ejaculated during intercourse. It is a minor surgical procedure that involves cutting and sealing the two tubes called vasa deferentia (singular, vas deferens) that transport mature sperm to the urethra in preparation for ejaculation. Men may consider having a vasectomy if they do not want to father a child (or any more children) in the future. It is a very effective and safe method of birth control. Although vasectomy reversal is possible in certain cases, many men do not realize that the sperm quality after vasectomy and reversal may never return to fertile levels sufficient to achieve a spontaneous pregnancy.
At the Fertility Institute of Hawaii, we frequently see patients who change their mind, sometimes many years after vasectomy surgery, and now desire to have children. Due to the sperm quality issue, vasectomy reversal is often not the most effective method to achieve a desired pregnancy and such patients are sometimes advised to undergo sperm aspiration or testicular biopsy, along with with in vitro fertilization (IVF). One way to avoid a testicular procedure and IVF is by freezing sperm prior to vasectomy surgery. Sperm cryopreservation is an effective way to preserve fertility with no time limit on the viability of the cryopreserved sperm. Frozen sperm can be shipped to a cryobank for long-term storage and future use. Prior to undergoing vasectomy, we recommend talking to your urologist about sperm cryopreservation, which we do offer at the Fertility Institute of Hawaii. To inquire about sperm cryopreservation, please contact Fertility Institute of Hawaii at 808-545-2800 or visit our website for more information https://www.ivfcenterhawaii.com.
