What Is Vasectomy Reversal?

Vasectomy reversal is an increasingly popular procedure that allows men to undo a previously performed vasectomy surgery.

Vasectomy reversal surgery is sought by 5-10% of men who have had a vasectomy and now are desiring more children with a first spouse for various reasons, including loss of a child or financial changes, or who are remarrying/ beginning a new relationship. Much less common reasons for the reversal are pain after vasectomy or other supposed health benefits.

In the common vasectomy reversal procedure that I perform, the vasectomy reversal doctor re-connects the tubes that carry sperm from the testicles to a man’s semen. Those tubes, known the vas deferens, are sewn back together. In the much less common procedure, the tubes are attached to the epididymis, the tube on the back of each testicle where the sperm matures.

Vasectomy reversal is considered the best option for pregnancy following a vasectomy.
Vasectomy reversal can be performed anytime after a vasectomy, from just a few months to decades following the vasectomy, as men rarely discontinue sperm production following a vasectomy (although results do decrease over time from vasectomy).

Vasectomy reversals have a high success rate for patients a few years after vasectomy, well over 90%.

From Blood Money to Embracing Life through Vasectomy Reversal

Today’s blog is a bit of a rant. There are just some things I like to get off my chest. Perhaps you’ll relate to this.

It has nothing to do with my skill or qualifications as a surgeon, but perhaps it will give you some insight into who I am as a person. I believe you should not only trust your surgeon, but also feel a connection with him or her. It is important to “be on the same page” with your doctor on more than just the “health care” level.

So here goes…

In 2004, I saw two reliable sources report that 4,000 abortions were being performed in the U.S. every day

That’s right, every day.

It was the most common surgical procedure in the country.

Now, I know that many are convinced of the legitimacy of this procedure, but I confess I have not and will never see any sense in this. Now, my view stems largely from my biblical and spiritual views, but there are some blatant common-sense reasons as well.

First, scores of medical workers will labor heroically hour upon hour, night and day for weeks at a time to save the life of a third trimester fetus born prematurely. But at the same medical center, a third trimester fetus is aborted.

Second, if you’ve ever seen an ultrasound, I defy you to say that the fetus is not a person. A fetus is a person too.

Third, a young mother can hand over the body of her unborn to the abortionist without any charges being filed. And yet, if a murderer takes the life of a fetus he or she is charged with a felony crime.

Which is it? A life worthy of the charge of murder? Or a mass of tissue with no rights? It can’t be both.

It’s enough to make me bang my head on the table (or simply cry) – that we can be so unthinking and so cruel to these helpless ones.

Well, when I heard, in 2004, about the 4,000 abortions a day in the country, the thought occurred to me, “I’m sure those young women are not paying for all those abortions. I’m sure that some of the people I am doing business with are paying for them”.

And sure enough, when I contacted the various insurance companies and government agencies that paid for my services, they said they did pay for elective abortions. These “partners” of mine (through the provider contracts) were funding abortions.

There was blood on my money.

I made the decision to stop the provider agreements. Four months later I had to close the doors of my practice because I was no longer a contracted provider for the patients’ insurance companies.

But one door closing caused another to open. This closure opened the door of opportunity. A few months later I remember my colleague who had, years before, suggested I learn the vasectomy reversal procedure. I did. And now I embrace life. Not death.

You, too, have desires and convictions. And your decision to reverse your vasectomy is one that embraces life. You are choosing to be open to the possibility of children. Obviously, the birth of a child is not in my power to accomplish for you, but I do commit to doing all I can, the best I can, to see your reversal is a success.

Reasons You Should Look Elsewhere for Your Vasectomy Reversal

This blog will let you know who is NOT right for my practice or procedure. I’ve been doing vasectomy reversals for a number of years now. I’ve seen or talked with thousands of patients. And I’ve come to realize there are some patients who are just not right for my practice or procedure.

1. I will not perform the procedure for “health reasons”. I’ve talked to a number of men who believe that having their vasectomy reversed would be good for their health. None of these benefits have been proven. I will not perform my procedure for any reason other than the desire to have children.
2. I strongly encourage patients more than 9 years from vasectomy to go to a surgeon who does the more complicated, expensive bypass procedures. But some simply cannot afford it. These are also the patients that would not proceed with a second surgery if the simple vas reconnection did not work. If patients cannot afford to get to a bypass surgeon as I advise, then I will do the simple vas reconnect for them that offers a 72% rate of return of live sperm.
3. I will not perform the surgery for patients who are only seeking relief from post vasectomy syndrome (PVS). They should seek an expert in PVS to provide them with the specialized care they need.

If you meet one of the criteria above, I urge you to seek advice elsewhere.

But if your vasectomy was within the last nine years and you and your wife sincerely desire to be open once again to the possibility of children, then you are likely a good fit for this practice.

The Health Care Debate and Vasectomy Reversal

I don’t care where you come down on the recent health care debate in Washington. There are certainly arguments for and against universal health care.

But I think there is one thing we can all agree on: there is a lot of waste in the current system.

And some of that waste occurs in the larger hospitals.

Large facilities have high overhead. It’s just a fact. There is greater cost associated with care in a large facility than with care you receive in a small clinic or private office.

Some procedures require the equipment and services that can only be found in large hospitals.

But vasectomy reversal, within 9 years of the vasectomy, is not one of those procedures. There is no advanced or unwieldy equipment that is needed for this procedure. In fact, general anesthesia is not required.

So, part of the additional fee you end up paying for the more complicated and involved “bypass” reversals that some doctors perform, is directly due the facility in which they are performed.

But my reversals are done in a small private office using only what is required to get the job done.

+ no general anesthesia
+ no facility charge
+ personally answer calls and email thus saving labor costs
+ my office is comfortable but not large thus saving fixed costs
+ high powered scheduling and patient relation software also decreases labor costs

You can see that none of these efficiencies have any impact on surgical quality, so the costs are lower and the quality is still excellent.

Also, it’s all I do here. So, your fee does not have to help pay for a billion other services provided like at a major hospital. You pay for what you get. Your vasectomy reversal. Period.