Surgery to reverse a vasectomy is known as vasectomy reversal. A surgeon reconnects each vas deferens tube, which is responsible for transporting sperm from a testicle into the semen, during the treatment. Sperm are once more visible in the semen following a successful vasectomy reversal, which may allow you to conceive your partner.
Depending on the surgery, pregnancy rates following vasectomy reversal might range from approximately 30% to over 90%. The amount of time after a vasectomy, the age of the partner, the experience and training of the surgeon, and the presence of fertility problems prior to the vasectomy are just a few of the many variables that influence the effectiveness of a reversal in obtaining conception.
Rationale behind Vasectomy completion
A vasectomy reversal may be chosen to alleviate chronic testicular pain following a vasectomy, to change one’s heart, to remarry, or for any number of other reasons.
Risks of Reversal vasectomy
Vasectomy can be reversed in almost all cases. But this does not ensure that you will be successful in becoming pregnant. Even if a number of years have gone since the first vasectomy, it is still possible to attempt vasectomy reversal; however, the greater the interval, the less likely the reversal will be successful.
Serious problems are infrequent with vasectomy reversal. Among the risks are:
- Bleeding within the scrotum
This may result in a hematoma, or collection of blood, which hurts and swells. By following your doctor’s advice to relax, wear scrotal support, and use ice packs following surgery, you can lower your chance of hematoma. Before and after surgery, find out from your doctor if you need to refrain from taking aspirin or any other blood-thinning medications.
- Infection at the surgery site
Infections are a concern with any operation, while extremely rare, and may need antibiotic therapy.
- Chronic pain
It is rare for vasectomy reversal to cause persistent pain.
How you get ready for Vasectomy
The following are some considerations to consider while thinking about vasectomy reversal:
- Reversing a vasectomy can be costly, and your insurance may not pay for it. Learn about the charges in advance.
- The majority of the time, vasectomy reversals go better when performed by a surgeon skilled in microsurgical procedures, particularly those utilizing a surgical microscope.
- When a surgeon does the surgery frequently and has done it numerous times, the procedure has the highest chance of success.
- Sometimes the operation calls for a more involved repair called a vasoepididymostomy. If this operation is necessary, confirm that your surgeon can handle it.
Asking inquiries about the number of vasectomy reversals performed, the techniques employed, and the frequency of pregnancy following a vasectomy reversal should not be considered timid when selecting a physician. Inquire about the procedure’s possible dangers and complications as well.
Meals and prescribed medications
Before having surgery, make sure you are aware of the necessary steps. Because certain medications can raise your risk of bleeding, your doctor will likely urge you to stop using blood thinners and pain relievers like aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, among others).
Clothes and private goods
Bring undergarments that fit tightly, such sports bras, for wearing following surgery. This will keep the bandages in place and support your scrotum.
Additional safety measures
Make plans for a ride home following your procedure. Generally speaking, surgery takes two to four hours or longer. If general anaesthesia is used during the treatment, you might require more time to recuperate. Find out from your doctor when you can return home following surgery.
Prior to the process
Prior to doing a vasectomy reversal procedure, your doctor probably wants to:
- Get your medical history and do an examination.
Your surgeon will want to confirm that there are no underlying medical issues that could make surgery more difficult for you.
- Verify if you are able to generate viable sperm.
For most males, it suffices to have fathered a kid in the past. Your testicles continued to produce sperm after your vasectomy. However, it’s possible that over time, your sperm production has dropped. How many healthy sperm you can create depends on a number of factors, including age, diet, activity, smoking, and others. Before surgery, your doctor might want to do a few tests just to be sure.
- Verify if your partner is able to become a parent.
In particular, if your spouse is over 40 or has never had children, your doctor will want to check for fertility issues. A gynecological checkup and additional testing can be necessary for this.
Vasectomy reversals are often carried out by doctors in a hospital or surgical center. Usually, the surgery is performed as an outpatient operation without an overnight stay. While some surgeons are capable of doing the procedure in the clinic, you should confirm that the physician can perform a more involved repair (vasoepididymostomy) in the clinic in the event that it becomes necessary.
During the procedure
Your doctor will make a little incision on your scrotum during the procedure. As a result, the sperm-carrying tube (vas deferens) will become visible and be released from the surrounding tissues.
The vas deferens will then be sliced open, and the fluid inside will be examined by the doctor. The ends of the vas deferens can be joined to reopen the pathway for sperm when there are sperm in the fluid.
Scar tissue may be obstructing sperm flow if there are no sperm in the fluid. Your doctor might decide to do a vasoepididymostomy in this situation.
Vasectomy reversal has been accomplished via robot-assisted surgery, however this is often only necessary in certain circumstances.
After the procedure
Your surgeon will bandage the incision right away following surgery. To minimise swelling, you should wear form-fitting underwear, like an athletic supporter, and apply ice for a full day or two.
You can experience days of soreness. Ask your doctor when it’s okay to remove any bandages that were applied to the incision following surgery. Any stitches ought to come out in a week or ten.
Once you’re back at home, relax and try to avoid doing anything that could cause your testicles to move about too much. As the anesthetic wears off, pain and edema are possible side effects. The majority of men experience mild pain that subsides in a few days to a week.
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Results
Your doctor will use a microscope to look at your semen at some point following surgery to check for success.
Periodically, your doctor might wish to check your semen. The only way to determine whether your vasectomy reversal was successful is to look for sperm in your semen. That is, unless you manage to get your partner pregnant.
Sperm may arise in the semen within a few weeks of a successful vasectomy reversal, but it may take up to a year. The quantity and quality of sperm available as well as the age of the female partner all affect the chances of getting pregnant.