A vasectomy reversal is a surgical procedure that reconnects the tubes that were cut or blocked during a vasectomy. This procedure can restore fertility to men who have had a vasectomy, allowing them to father children again. But before you decide to have a vasectomy reversal, it’s important to understand what the process entails and whether or not it will work for you.
How Does It Work?
A vasectomy reversal is typically performed by a urologist in an outpatient setting using local anesthesia. During the procedure, the doctor makes an incision in the scrotum and then reconnects the two ends of the vas deferens —the tube that transports sperm from each testicle into the ejaculate —using sutures. The doctor may also use tissue taken from other parts of your body or from donor tissue to create a bridge between the two ends of the tube. This bridge helps ensure that sperm will travel properly through both sides of the vas deferens.
What Are My Chances Of Success?
Your chances of successfully restoring fertility after having a vasectomy reversal depend on several factors, including how long ago you had your original surgery and whether or not there was any damage done to your reproductive organs during the initial procedure. Generally speaking, men who had their vasectomies within 10 years are more likely to regain their fertility than those who had theirs more than 10 years ago. Additionally, if there was any scarring caused by either your original surgery or from any infections resulting from it, this could affect your chances of success as well. However, even men with longer gaps between surgeries and/or some degree of scarring may still be able to have successful reversals.
Restores Fertility in One Procedure
Unlike other fertility treatments such as IVF or IUI which require multiple cycles or rounds of treatment before achieving successful pregnancy, a vasectomy reversal can restores fertility in one simple procedure. Since only around 40% of IVF cycles and 25% of IUI cycles result in pregnancy, this makes it easier for couples to achieve their goal without resorting to costly and time-consuming treatments with lower success rates.
The best way to determine your chances of success is to consult with a qualified urologist prior to undergoing any procedure. Your urologist can examine both sides of your reproductive system and make an assessment based on his findings as well as any other relevant factors (e.g., age).
Additionally, even if you do get your fertility restored after having a reversal surgery, it doesn’t guarantee that you will be able to father children immediately afterward—it may take several months for sperm counts and motility levels to return back up enough for conception to occur naturally.
All in all, having a successful reversal requires careful consideration and thoughtful planning beforehand—and sometimes luck too! If you’re considering having a vasectomy reversal procedure done, make sure you talk with several qualified professionals before making your decision so that you can be confident in knowing what results can realistically be expected from such an operation.
