The tubal ligation reversal specialist of A Personal Choice would like to maximize the chance of having a successful pregnancy after reversal surgery.
One test to consider having is a semen analysis.
A semen analysis is a very simple test, which can provide important information for some couples. A semen analysis is not absolutely required before tubal reversal but for a few men it may be a very good idea.
Is Semen Testing Needed Before Reversing Tubes?
Couples would be wise to consider a sperm test before having tubal reversal if the man as not fathered any children.
If the man has fathered a child, then there is less of a chance of a problem but some men with limited number of children will have a decreased sperm count.
If the man has not fathered any children then defective sperm production could be the reason.
Sperm Test Before Tube Reversal
When a semen analysis is done you are really looking for three main problems with sperm production: azospermia (no sperm), oligospermia (decreased sperm), and abnormal morphology (abnormally shaped sperm).
These conditions can exists from childbirth or as a male becomes older. Many environmental factors can also contribute to these abnormal conditions.
Abnormal Sperm Morphology
The sperm count can be normal but the shapes may be abnormal.
When sperm are not shaped normally then this impairs their ability to find and fertilize an egg. This can be a cause of infertility.
Environmental factors, medications, and abnormal male anatomy can cause sperm to have abnormal shape. Some of these conditions are correctable.
Azospermia: Donor Sperm Required
When a semen analysis shows azospermia it will be almost impossible to achieve pregnancy after a tubal ligation reversal with the partner who has azospermia. To achieve pregnancy in this situation, a woman would have to use donor sperm (sperm from another male) to become pregnant.
The chance of any one man having azospermia is less than 2%.
Oligospermia: Pregnancy May Take Longer
When oligospermia exists pregnancy is not impossible – but it may take longer to become pregnant. If sperm counts are severely low then the chance of getting pregnant spontaneously are also decreased. Many infertility experts will recommend IVF with intra cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) if sperm counts are severely depressed. Sometimes correctable medical illnesses or exposure to environmental toxins or substances can be identified and corrected to increase the sperm count before a reversal surgery is undertaken.
The chance of having oligospermia in any one man is less than 5%.
Tubal Reversal Testing: Is A Semen Test Required?
We want all patients of our patients to have successful ligation reversal surgery.
More importantly, we would love all of our patients to have successful and healthy pregnancies.
We do not require any patient to have a semen analysis before surgery and we have published previous articles on the futility of routine testing before having tubal reversal surgery, Tubal Reversal: What Infertility Test Do You Need?
Semen testing can be a good idea before tubal reversal for some patients but it is most important for couples when the male partner has not previously fathered children.
Our next article in this series about semen analysis is Tubal Reversal Tests: Sperms Tests Explained.
Readers who are interested in seeing the most up-to-date and accurate statistics on the chances of pregnancy after tubal reversal should visit: Tubal Reversal Pregnancy Report 2011.
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