Jim, a 67-year-old Australian, had a vasectomy in 2010 before his first marriage ended. Now remarried to a Vietnamese woman and wanting children, he underwent a vasectomy reversal in Thailand. Unfortunately, the procedure was unsuccessful and led to a severe infection requiring two months of antibiotics.

In early 2025, the couple visited Vietnam and sought help at the Fertility Support Department of Tam Anh General Hospital - District 8 (IVF Tam Anh District 8). "This is the oldest post-vasectomy infertility patient we've treated, and it was a complex case", said Dr. Le Dang Khoa, head of the unit.

While vasectomy reversal with microsurgical techniques is possible, the chances of natural conception were low due to the couple's age. Therefore, doctors opted for percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA) for in vitro fertilization (IVF). This minimally invasive procedure is quick, effective, and poses little risk to the patient. Two sperm samples were successfully retrieved.

The medical team performs sperm retrieval. Illustrative photo: Hoai Thuong

Tuyet, Jim's 42-year-old wife, had a diminished ovarian reserve (AMH 0.9 ng/mL). After two egg retrieval cycles, 9 eggs were collected. Embryologists selected suitable sperm for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and cultured the embryos using time-lapse technology. This resulted in five high-quality day-5 embryos. Preimplantation genetic testing revealed four embryos free of genetic abnormalities.

One embryo was transferred to Tuyet's uterus, resulting in a successful pregnancy. She is currently 12 weeks pregnant and the fetus is developing well. The couple has returned to Australia for prenatal care. The remaining sperm samples and embryos are cryopreserved, offering the couple the opportunity to have more children in the future without further invasive procedures.

Dr. Khoa advises men to carefully consider vasectomy, as reversal is significantly more challenging and expensive. Couples considering reversal should consult a fertility specialist for a comprehensive reproductive health assessment and personalized treatment plan.

Hoai Thuong

*The patient's name has been changed