The Mistake of Using Cost or Convenience – What Should Couples Look for When Comparing Cost of Vasectomy Reversals?
This discussion, put together in 2023 by vasectomy reversal expert and international authority Sheldon Marks, MD, addresses some of the problems and issues when a couple chooses a vasectomy reversal doctor based primarily on cost or convenience.
When comparing vas reversal prices, it is wise to be very careful and dig deep to do the research. Even for doctors with the same costs, it is smart to find out exactly what each patient will receive for that investment, as this varies widely from doctor to doctor. Some doctors have higher vasectomy reversal success rates, while others seem to have more serious complications, pain or bleeding or issues with patients getting in contact with the doctor after the vasectomy reversal if they have questions or concerns.
There are consequences for choosing cheap.
Just because a doctor charges the “correct” amount as everybody else, does not mean that they are skilled and competent. Just the same, just because somebody charges significantly more does not mean they are better. Continuing with that reasoning, if a doctor charges substantially less, then the first question should be “how is this doctor cutting corners to lower costs and how will this impact on the results?”
The doctor may be technically good but not offer any or minimal follow-up care. Or he may actually have a number of complaints about complications at a much higher rate than we see here at ICVR. I have heard from some patients of these discount doctors that describe significant pain, swelling and bruising that the doctor explains is “normal and expected” and can last for weeks or more. That concerns us, as these complications after a vasectomy reversal are not at all normal or expected. Some doctors may not return phone calls or emails if a patient has any problems or questions after the vas reversal or if there are issues with the follow-up sperm counts. This leaves many couples in a panic wondering if what they are experiencing is normal and what to do.
Buyer Beware
Vasectomy reversals in 2023 are often an unsupervised and unregulated aspect of medicine with vas reversal doctors not overseen, monitored or regulated by any hospitals or agencies. In addition to the top tier, skilled urologists who perform vasectomy reversals, there are also some doctors with impressive websites and amazing claims who perform what we believe (based on what we see when we do redo vas reversals) to be poorer quality vasectomy reversals with little to no follow-up, which true experts know is so critical to success. Anyone with little or no training can claim to be a vasectomy reversal expert, and there are no rules or regulations to oversee, control or regulate them.
When couples do their research they will find that there are many self-proclaimed vasectomy reversal “experts” who aren’t even urologists, yet create the image that they have training and expertise in this urologic specialty. Yet, when their patients come to us for a redo because their first vasectomy reversal attempt didn’t work, and we read the operative notes and see their work, it is clear that the doctor either didn’t know what to do or choose to cut corners to go fast or save a few bucks. The technique that they describe, often in a one page photocopy operative note, is often a “fill in a few blanks” form. Many times what they describe is not the state-of-the-art technique that we teach at our courses every year (for comparison, we write a 3 to 5 page customized operative note).
It’s up to each prospective patient to do the research to find the doctor that is best for them – ask the questions to learn how most experts would correctly perform the vas reversal based on current expert opinion and decision making (1) and care, so that each patient can select the doctor that will provide the highest chances for achieving their dream.
Vasectomy reversals or appliances?
We are not selling TVs, toasters or lawnmowers, where it is always the exact same item all over the world and only the price varies. Once a person decides on the model he wants, then finding one for less makes sense. When it comes to a service where the success is totally dependent on the training, skill and expertise of the doctor, the truth is that there is wide variability in the outcomes and quality of the care each patient will receive.
If we were all exactly the same, and offered each patient the same care and success rates, then it makes sense that cost should be a primary reason to choose the doctor. But this is not the case when it comes to vasectomy reversals. Naturally, as in all challenging skills, some urologists are much better than others, which means every person’s dreams of having children may very well depend on the doctor selected for the vas reversal.
This is much the same when patients choose a doctor nearby as a primary reason because they think it is smart to “select a vasectomy reversal doctor near me.” We see so many men who made that mistake and then understand after they come to ICVR the obvious difference in the care and reverse vasectomy success rates. Convenience makes sense only if a true top-tier vas reversal expert leaves in town or nearby. For most men, this is not the case.
Here at ICVR, our doctors are truly respected international authorities in the vasectomy reversal world. We invented a new instrument and techniques that boost success, publish papers in leading peer reviewed fertility journals, write certification courses for fellow vas reversal doctors to take to be certified, we wrote new textbook on vasectomy reversals for other doctors (2) and teach classes about up-to-date vas reversal techniques at international meetings, so that every patient can trust that he is seeing a doctor that other nationally known vas reversal experts recognize as a true top expert. Just today a well respected doctor asked if a visiting vas reversal doctor from another country could come over to ICVR to see what we do and why we are able to give our patients such high success.
Once each person filters through all the claims and finds the top vas reversal doctors, then it makes sense to look at and compare costs. In the world of the most respected leaders, reverse vasectomy costs can range from $8000 up to $80,000 or more – yes, for the very same procedure. Of course, there are many that charge less and others that charge more.
Find out the facts to help provide information to make an intelligent, informed decision. Call (888) 722-2929 . We are happy to set up a no cost consult with zero obligation with either surgeon for phone, office, Zoom, Skype or Face Time at your convenience.
This page was reviewed, edited and updated January 4, 2023 by Sheldon H.F. Marks, MD.
References:
1. Ramasamy R, Mata DA, Jain L, Perkins AR, Marks SH, Lipshultz L. Microscopic visualization of intravasal spermatozoa is positively associated with patency after bilateral microsurgical vasovasostomy. I. Andrology. 2015 May;3(3):532-5.
2. Marks SHF. Vasectomy Reversal: Manual of Vasovasostomy and Vasoepididymostomy. New York; Springer; 2018.