In other cases, men undergo vasectomy reversal due to testicular pain that may have been caused by a vasectomy.
Some have chronic pains while others have pain during sexual intercourse. While a vasectomy is a minor surgery that can take less than 30 minutes, a reversal procedure is considered a major surgery which is also quite complex and hence can be costly. Most health insurance plans do not cover vasectomy reversal, but you can persuade your doctor to approach the insurance company.
The vasectomy reversal procedure is complicated and takes about hours. The operation can be done in two ways:. Vasovasostomy: This technique involves sewing all the severed ends of the sperm carrying tubes vas deferens back together to enable sperm to pass from the testicles to the semen. Vasoepididymostomy: This method involves attaching the vas deferens directly to the epididymis.
It is more complicated than vasovasostomy and is usually chosen if vasovasostomy is not successful. The surgeon decides on the technique that is likely to work best depending on your anatomy and other factors. However, sometimes both procedures may be required — a vasovasostomy on one side and a vasoepididymostomy on the other. The reversal operation has to work for a man to become fertile again.
The more the years it has been since having the vasectomy operation, the more difficult it is to reverse it. In most cases, the surgeon decides during the operation which technique will work best. Sometimes a combination of the two surgical techniques is needed — a vasovasostomy on one side and a vasoepididymostomy on the other.
The longer it has been since your vasectomy, the more likely you are to need a vasoepididymostomy on one or both sides. During surgery, your doctor will make a small cut incision on your scrotum. This will expose the tube that carries sperm vas deferens and release it from surrounding tissues. Next, the doctor will cut open the vas deferens and examine the fluid inside. When sperm are present in the fluid, the ends of the vas deferens can be connected to reestablish the passageway for sperm.
If the fluid contains no sperm, scar tissue may be blocking sperm flow. In this case, your doctor may choose to perform a vasoepididymostomy. Robot-assisted surgery has been used for vasectomy reversal but usually is required only in select cases.
Immediately after surgery, your doctor will cover the incision with bandages. You'll put on tightfitting undergarments, such as an athletic supporter, and apply ice for 24 to 48 hours to reduce swelling.
You may be sore for several days. If your doctor places bandages over the incision after your surgery, ask when it's OK to take them off. Any stitches should dissolve in seven to 10 days. After you return home, take it easy and try to limit activities that might cause the testicles to move around excessively.
As the anesthetic wears off, you may have some pain and swelling. For most men, the pain isn't severe and gets better after a few days to a week. Although it's usually not required or recommended, you may choose to have sperm frozen cryopreservation in case your vasectomy reversal doesn't work. If you're not able to father a child through sexual intercourse, you may still be able to have children through assisted reproductive technology such as in vitro fertilization.
Sometime after surgery, your doctor will examine your semen under a microscope to see if the operation was successful. Your doctor may want to check your semen periodically. Unless you get your partner pregnant, checking your semen for sperm is the only way to tell if your vasectomy reversal was a success.
When a vasectomy reversal is successful, sperm may appear in the semen within a few weeks, but it can sometimes take a year or more. The likelihood of achieving pregnancy depends on various factors, including the number and quality of sperm present and the female partner's age. Vasectomy reversals sometimes fail if there is an underlying issue with the testicle that cannot be recognized during surgery or if a blockage develops sometime after surgery. Some men have a second-attempt vasectomy reversal surgery if the procedure doesn't work the first time.
Success rates are slightly lower for the second attempt than for the initial attempt. You may also be able to father a child through in vitro fertilization by using frozen sperm. Sperm may be retrieved directly from the testicle or epididymis either at the time of the reversal surgery or at a later date.
Doctors don't usually recommend freezing sperm at the time of reversal surgery, as it may be an unnecessary extra procedure. Vasectomy reversal care at Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. Broker Resources. Individuals and Families. Health and Wellness. Wellness Library. Vasectomy Reversal.
Surgery Overview Vasectomy reversal vasovasostomy reconnects the tubes vas deferens that were cut during a vasectomy. Has the greatest chance of success within 3 years of the vasectomy. Risks Risks Risks of vasectomy reversal include: Infection at the site of surgery. Fluid buildup in the scrotum hydrocele that may require draining.
Injury to the arteries or nerves in the scrotum. Female and male sterilization. In RA Hatcher, et al. New York: Ardent Media. Speroff L, Darney PD In A Clinical Guide for Contraception , 5th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
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