Vasectomy Reversal: Restore Your Fertility and Family Goals

During this outpatient surgery done under general anesthesia, one of our highly skilled surgeons will reconnect the tubes that were separated during your vasectomy. These tubes, the vas deferens, facilitate the transport of sperm to your urethra, where they mix with the rest of your semen.

Reversal is a fairly common procedure, with more than 5 percent of vasectomy patients choosing it at some point. Reasons for a reversal include a new relationship, a change of heart, the loss of a spouse or child, and chronic post-vasectomy pain. There are, however, no guarantees that the reversal will work or result in a successful pregnancy. There are several factors at play, including age and time of vasectomy.

Vasectomy Reversal Options and Services Offered

The multidisciplinary team at Orlando Health Medical Group Urology is specially trained in a wide range of urological procedures, including robotic-assisted surgeries for fertility. These take advantage of the combination of precise robotic movements and highly detailed imaging to perform surgeries more effectively, with fewer complications and quicker recoveries.

While your original vasectomy took about 15 minutes, a reversal is often more complex, taking as long as three hours. There are two types of vasectomy reversals. Your surgeon will determine which option gives you the best chance of success.

Simple vasectomy reversal (vasovasostomy): The tubes are reconnected with microsurgery right where the vasectomy was done.
Complex vasectomy reversal (vasoepididymostomy): If there is scarring in your tubes, your surgeon may need to reconnect the tubes closer to the testicles. This procedure is less effective and takes longer.

During the procedure, your surgeon can extract sperm to freeze for future use. This can give you a backup plan in the event that the reversal doesn’t lead to a pregnancy.

What to Expect Before and After Surgery

If you decide to pursue a vasectomy reversal, a member of our compassionate care team will walk you through the process. Here is a look at what you can expect:

Make an appointment: Schedule your initial appointment by calling (877) 876-3627.
Your first visit: During your first meeting, your doctor will ask questions about your medical history, including details about your vasectomy. You can also expect a detailed explanation of the reversal procedure. Your doctor will also answer any questions you may have.
Consent and scheduling: If you decide to go forward with the procedure, you will be asked to sign a consent form and the surgery will be scheduled.
Follow-up care: If there are any stitches, they will dissolve on their own. You may be asked to wear scrotal support and use ice packs. While recovering, you will need to refrain from heavy lifting and intense physical activity for several weeks. If your job doesn’t have heavy physical requirements, you should be able to return to work sooner.
Checking your results: A few months after surgery, you’ll provide a semen sample so we can check whether sperm has returned. We may repeat this every few months until your fertility recovers.

Frequently Asked Questions About Vasectomy Reversals

There are several factors that affect the success of a reversal, including how long ago you had the vasectomy and the type of reversal procedure. It is estimated that sperm returns to your ejaculate in 60 percent to 95 percent of reversals.

After the procedure, you may need to limit your physical activity and use scrotal support for a month. You will likely be asked to wait one to two weeks before ejaculating.

If the reversal is successful, it may take a while before your sperm returns. Often this occurs within three months, but it can take a year or longer.

If the reversal does not result in a pregnancy, your sperm can be harvested and frozen for in vitro fertilization. This may be done during the reversal procedure but may add an additional cost.

There is no reason you can’t have the vasectomy procedure performed a second time.

Vasectomy Reversal Success Rates and Outcomes

Pregnancy rates after reversal range from 30 percent to 90 percent, depending on several key health factors. But there are no guarantees that the reversal procedure will put you exactly where you were before the vasectomy. Achieving a pregnancy after vasectomy reversal depends on many factors, including your partner’s age, time elapsed since your vasectomy, type of reversal performed, and concentration of sperm on the semen analysis. It can take up to one year to achieve a pregnancy.

As with a vasectomy, the reversal is a relatively low-risk procedure. And you can expect a longer recovery, with limits on your physical and sexual activity for about a month afterward. There may also be follow-up tests every few months to monitor sperm levels in your ejaculate. And there is a small risk of scarring that could affect your continued fertility.

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The multidisciplinary team at Orlando Health Medical Group Urology includes experts in a wide range of urological procedures and conditions.

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