Vasectomy Reversal (Vasovasostomy)

A vasectomy is recognized as a permanent approach to birth control. Vasectomy reversal (vasovasostomy) reconnects the tubes (vas deferens) that were cut during vasectomy. If you are considering a vasovasostomy, you'll want to read the following important information provided by Metropolitan Urological Specialists in St. Louis, MO. Vasectomy reversal is usually an outpatient procedure (without overnight stay in the hospital). Spinal or general anesthesia is normally used to ensure that you stay totally still during the surgery.

The odds of vasectomy reversal success depend on how much time has passed between the vasectomy and the reversal. With time, further blockages can develop, and some men develop antibodies to their own sperm.

The surgery is more complicated and takes additional time whenever blockage between the vas deferens and the epididymis requires correction (vasoepididymostomy).

What To Expect After Surgery

Vasectomy reversal usually requires from 2 to 4 hours, accompanied by a few more hours for recovery from the anesthetic. You can expect to go home the same day. Pain may be mild to moderate. You ought to be able to resume normal activities, including sex, within 3 weeks.

Why It Is Done

Vasectomy reversal is done when you have had a vasectomy and now want to be fertile.

How Well It Works

Likelihood of a successful vasectomy reversal decline over time. Reversals are more successful during the first decade after vasectomy. Generally, vasectomy reversal:

• Brings about overall pregnancy rates of greater than fifty percent.
• Has the greatest chance of success within 3 years of the vasectomy.
• Causes pregnancy only about 30% of the time if the reversal is done ten years following vasectomy.

Risks

Risks of vasectomy reversal include:

• Infection at the site of surgery.
• Fluid buildup in the scrotum (hydrocele) that might require draining.
• Injury to the arteries or nerves within the scrotum.

What To Think About

Before a vasectomy reversal is done, your doctor will want to make sure you were fertile prior to your vasectomy.

You can have tests to find whether you've got sperm antibodies in your semen before and after vasectomy reversal. If there are sperm antibodies within your semen after surgery, your partner is unlikely to become pregnant. In this case, you may wish to try in vitro fertilization with intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

If you've got any questions about the reverse vasectomy or any of the other services offered by Metropolitan Urological Specialists, set up a urological health consultation with them and they'll give you the answers you need. Metropolitan Urological Specialists is a wonderful place to go for urological knowledge in St Louis, Creve Coeur, Florissant, and Kirkwood, Missouri.