What Is Vasectomy Reversal?
April 26, 2010 by David Wilson · 2 Comments
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%.
This is a common question and is answered on the FAQ page, but basically there have been no studies that prove the type of vasectomy performed determines reversal results.
Does the previous vasectomy procedure affect the outcome of the reversal? By this I mean that since there are various way to have the vasectomy done, is the reversal outcome the same? My husband’s vasectomy was performed on both sides of his scrotum not under it. Will this affect how the reversal is done or able to be done?