What is a Vasectomy Reversal?
Vasectomy reversal is a delicate and complex operation performed to re-establish the pathway of sperm into the ejaculate permitting a man to re-establish his fertility to enable the couples to conceive a baby naturally. This surgery is done to reverse the effects of a vasectomy, which cuts the vas deferens. Sperm is made in the testes and then travel through the vas deferens into the ejaculate. A vasectomy creates a blockage in this tube, and a vasectomy reversal is a procedure to bypass this blockage.
Generally, there are two types of vasectomy reversal procedures:
- A vasovasostomy is a procedure to reconnect the severed ends of the vas deferens.
- An epididymovasostomy is a more complex and procedure that is performed when a blockage is discovered in the epididymis.
It can take up to three months for sperm to return to the ejaculate following a vasovasostomy and six months to one year following an epididymovasostomy. Six to eight weeks following your reversal, you will have a semen analysis performed, and the results will be reviewed at your postop appointment. We will continue to monitor your semen analysis on a regular basis for up to one year or until your sperm count stabilizes.
Vasectomy Reversal Years After a Vasectomy
Approximately 500,000 men have vasectomies each year and approximately five percent of them will change their minds at a later date. Fortunately, a vasectomy reversal can be a successful surgery for couples wishing to conceive a child naturally following a vasectomy, whether it’s a few years or even a couple of decades since the initial vasectomy.
