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The Vasectomy Reversal Procedure
Vasectomy reversal is a safe, delicate microsurgical procedure that is growing in availability and popularity.
- WHO IS THIS FOR? - Who typically would consider having a vasectomy reversal?
- ANATOMY & TERMS - Illustration of the male anatomy and a list of terms with helpful definitions.
- HOW IT'S DONE - What are the basic surgical steps in a reversal procedure?
- RISKS & COMPLICATIONS - What are the general risks and possible complications in the near and long-term?
- ALTERNATIVES - How does a vasectomy reversal compare with alternatives available to a couple?
- AFTER YOUR REVERSAL - A guide to the days and weeks that follow a vasectomy.
All about vasectomy reversal.
Although a vasectomy should be regarded as permanent, advances in microsurgery have resulted in surgeons being able to reverse the procedure, and restore fertility, in many cases.
The technical name for a vasectomy reversal is a vasovasostomy. This is surgically performed by reconnecting the previously cut ends of the vas deferens to rebuild an open vas channel for sperm to again become part of the man's ejaculate.
Each year, a number of men elect to have a reversal of their vasectomy, often because of a change in their lives, such as having a new spouse through remarriage, and the desire for a second family, or a change in family planning goals within the same marriage. The reversal procedure is performed for about 50,000 men each year; a number that is growing with the more widespread availability of the procedure, reduced cost factors, and the training and experience of more surgeons who perform it.
The likelihood of successfully restoring an open vas channel involves many factors, but can be as high as 97 percent if the original vasectomy was performed less than three years previously. Success is also measured in terms of the reversal leading to pregnancy, which can be as high as 76 percent according to some studies.
However, these rates of success are lower as more time passes from the date of the original vasectomy. For those individuals who had a vasectomy over 15 years previously, these chances fall to 71 percent likelihood of restoring the vas channel, and 30 percent likelihood of a subsequent pregnancy.
Nevertheless, a reversal procedure is one of the most cost-effective procedures that couples may want to consider before other options.
A vasectomy reversal is considered to be comparatively safe, but it is a more delicate and involved microsurgical procedure than a vasectomy. Typically, it is performed on an outpatient basis in a surgical center and requires no overnight hospital stay.
The surgery, usually performed by a urologist, requires the aid of a microscope in a procedure that can take several hours. The vas deferens that are to be rejoined are about the size of a round shoelace. The inner channel which must be precisely aligned is about one third of a millimeter in diameter and the tiny suture material used in the procedure is nearly invisible.
Because of the delicate skill required, the time involved and other factors, the cost for a vasectomy reversal can range from $5,000 to over $13,000. These costs are not usually covered by health insurance programs.
In Summary:
- It is possible to restore fertility through a vasectomy reversal.
- The number of reversals performed each year is growing, as the procedure is more widely available and affordable.
- Success rates can be high if the original vasectomy was fairly recent.
- A urologist performs this procedure usually with the aid of a microscope.
- It is usually performed as a same-day, outpatient procedure.
- The cost is typically not reimbursed by health insurance, but financial help may be available, if needed.
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