Vasectomy reversal what is it

We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Between 6 and 10 percent of vasectomy patients change their minds and undergo a reversal. Life circumstances often spur the decision: a new marriage, a couple simply deciding they want children or more children , or the death of a child. A vasectomy reversal is a minimally invasive procedure that restores continuity. Vij says. You can go back to work in a day or two, if you have a desk job.

Or in three or four days if you have a more strenuous job. This is a surprise to many men, Dr. But after a vasectomy, your testicles continue to produce sperm.

It just no longer has a way out of the body. Because of this, your normal fertility is restored by a reversal. We typically offer sperm banking in case late scarring does occur. It is important to choose a surgeon who performs reversals on a regular basis, preferably someone with fellowship training or other special training in male infertility.

Patients should ask the surgeon how often they perform the procedure, what their own personal success rate is, both in obtaining sperm and pregnancy rates, and if they have the ability to perform both types of reversals. The sperm quality should return to normal 3 to 6 months following a reversal as it takes that long for the testicles to make new sperm. However, the count and the motility may be lower after reversal due to partial blockage or scarring.

We typically recommend checking every 3 months, and we offer sperm banking based upon the quality of the sample. The chance of scarring is approximately 7 to 10 percent in the first 1 to 2 years following a successful reversal.

The incidence of male infertility is not well known, however, approximately 15 percent of U. Therefore, in any couple that is having fertility problems, there is a 50 percent chance that the male may be involved and therefore he should be evaluated. Vasectomy reversals do not always work and in someone who is both young and never fathered children, it is probably not a good idea.

We would counsel this patient to reconsider having a vasectomy. Prior to a vasectomy, the patient and his partner should be absolutely sure that they are done having children. There are no special preparations in terms of abstaining from ejaculation prior to either the vasectomy or the reversal.

The patient should be aware that a vasectomy reversal is a more expensive procedure than the original vasectomy and likely will take longer to recover. Most men will recover from a vasectomy in a couple of days. We typically recommend taking it easy for 2 days, using ice packs and scrotal support, and then going back to work 2 or 3 days later.

However, vasectomy reversals tend to take longer, depending on the type of work that the patient does. While some men can return to a desk job in 3 or 4 days, we recommend that heavy construction and lifting should be avoided for 4 weeks after a vasectomy reversal. The success of the reversal is related more to the age of the female rather than the male. Therefore, there is no age limit for a reversal. A report on psychological factors prior to a vasectomy has suggested that most men are not worried about having a vasectomy, but they are a little concerned regarding the recovery of a vasectomy.

Very few men have reported serious psychological or emotional problems following their vasectomy. Moshe Wald, MD Urologist. Use of Health Topics. How likely is a positive outcome from a vasectomy reversal? Is there ever any nerve damage when a vasectomy is performed? Will the nerves restore themselves after the reversal?

How is the surgery performed? What is the recovery process? Does insurance pay for vasectomy reversal? 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. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Vasectomy reversal is surgery to undo a vasectomy.

Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Vasectomy reversal Open pop-up dialog box Close. Vasectomy reversal A vasectomy reversal reconnects the severed vas deferens, the tube that carries sperm from each testicle. Share on: Facebook Twitter.

Show references Hayden RP, et al. Microsurgical vasectomy reversal: Contemporary techniques, intraoperative decision making, and surgical training for the next generation. Fertility and Sterility. Complications of surgery of the testicle, vas deferens, epididymis, and scrotum. In: Taneja's Complications of Urologic Surgery. Elsevier; Accessed Jan. Patel AP, et al.

Vasectomy reversal: A clinical update. Asian Journal of Andrology. What is vasectomy reversal? Urology Care Foundation. Smith-Harrison LI, et al. Vasectomy reversal for post-vasectomy pain syndrome. Translational Andrology and Urology. Viera AJ.