Vasectomy reversal surgery

Vasectomy reversal surgery seeks to re-establish a connection between both ends of the vas deferens. They were separated when a vasectomy surgery was performed. Whether a vasectomy reversal surgery is successful or not rest largely on the microsurgical skills of the urologist. Hence, it is extremely important to engage the services of a competent urologist.

Depending on the condition of the client, the vas deferens is sometimes reconnected to the epididymis due to obstruction in the epididymis. This type of reconstruction, which uses a special microscope, is called “epididymovasostomy”.

There are a growing number of men opting to have vasectomy reversal surgery done for a number of reasons. The main ones are that they have lost a child and so they want to start another pregnancy, they remarried and want to have kids, or couples simply “changed their mind” about not having kids.

Because of advances made in microsurgery, pregnancy rates after a vasectomy reversal surgery continues to improve in recent years. But a high success rate depends on the following factors:

1.  Skill of the surgeon.
2.  The surgical findings prior to the operation. 

A skillful surgeon is needed because precise suture placement is vital to ensure that the operation is successful. Ideally, the surgeon must also be skilled in performing an epididymovasostomy.

When fluid flow from the testicular side of the vasectomy site and sperms are present, then it’s good news. This is because at least 90 per cent of patients will see a return of sperms, and the associated pregnancy rate can be as high as 70 per cent.

However, if the vasectomy fluid is abundant but there’s no sperm, then a direct vasovasostomy needs to be performed. The success rate is about 50 per cent.

In the event that (a) fluid is present but of poor quality, and (b) there’s no sperm then a epididymovasostomy will be carried out. This procedure will also be carried out if there’s no fluid at all. Success rate can be as high as 50 per cent.

Vasectomy reversal surgery is often done on an outpatient basis, meaning the patient is allowed to return home or live at a nearby hotel shortly after surgery. This helps the patient to save cost.

The operating time for vasovasostomy or epididymovasostomy is about three hours, using state-of-the-art equipment. General anesthetic is typically used, but sometimes a regional anesthetic are also selected.

Post-operation follow-up includes evaluating the wound healing processes and a semen analysis. The surgeon will want to take a look at the wounds roughly 10 days after the operation, and he would want to carry out a semen analysis in between six to eight weeks time. This is often followed up with a monthly semen analysis.

Prior to doing a vasectomy reversal surgery, the surgeon may carry out a sperm banking routine known as “cryopreservation of sperm”. Crypreservation is done for the benefit of the client, just in case sperms count becomes inadequate after the operation.

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