NORWEGIAN divorcee Alan (not his real name) found a new job and a second chance at starting a family here.
Hoping to have children with his younger Singaporean wife, the businessman in his late 40s underwent a reverse vasectomy last year.
In the procedure, surgeons rejoin ends of the sperm ducts, which had been cut, to allow sperm to flow to the penis. Singapore urologists told my paper that the number of men here like Alan has more than doubled in the last five years.
Most of their patients come from the rising population of Western expatriate men here. Most are divorcees in their 40s and 50s, who have settled down with younger partners.
Dr Li Man Kay, a urologist at Gleneagles Medical Centre, said: 'Many of these men already have children from previous marriages but (have) married younger wives who want their own children.'
He sees up to 30 cases now, compared to 10 five years ago. Costs for the operation, which lasts around three hours, range from $6,000 to $13,000.
Chances of finding sperm in semen again can hit almost 100 per cent. However, pregnancy rates are around 20 to 70 per cent, depending on the surgeon's skill.
Men who had vasectomies done less than 10 years ago stand a better chance, said urologists.
Few Singaporean men have reverse vasectomies as vasectomies are uncommon here in the first place, said doctors.
Private urologist Ho Siew Hong said: 'Singapore men usually push their wives to go for tuballigation instead.'
Some Singaporean men my paper spoke to were also unaware that vasectomies could be reversed.
For British expatriate John (not his real name), his Singaporean wife booked a reverse vasectomy for him last year.
While the oil-company executive in his late 40s already has children from a previous marriage, he wants another child to "demonstrate his responsibility" to his new wife.
