By Steve Coates
Robert Burbank was hoping to add to his new family. The divorced father of three boys, ages 13, 11, and 9, had remarried and wanted to have a baby with his new wife but thought the vasectomy he underwent eight years prior would prevent him from growing his family.
A friend referred him to Hartford HealthCare Tallwood Urology and Kidney Institute physician Jared Bieniek, who he said might be able help. After consultation with Dr. Bieniek, a fellowship-trained infertility expert and microsurgeon, Burbank underwent a vasectomy reversal, a same day procedure to re-establish the flow of sperm through the vas deferens — the duct that transports sperm — that was cut during the vasectomy.
“Dr. Bieniek was very informative. He mapped everything out for me and walked me thought what to expect [before and after the procedure],” says Burbank.
The procedure went well with Burbank saying he had much less discomfort following the reversal than he did after the original vasectomy.
And the best part, just a month after the operation, his wife was pregnant. Their healthy baby girl was born in July.
“Up to 6 percent of men change their minds after a vasectomy,” says Dr. Bieniek. “A vasectomy reversal is an excellent option for having children again but may require complex intraoperative decision making and vasoepididymostomy reconstruction, as in Robert’s case. It is imperative that you have an experienced and well-trained surgeon on your side.”
Burbank is thankful his friend helped him make the connection with Dr. Bieniek.
“It’s worked out perfectly,” he says.
Dr. Jared Bieniek is a urologist with Hartford HealthCare’s Tallwood Urology and Kidney Institute. For information on men’s health and sexual function, click here.