Vasectomy Reversal

What Is a Vasectomy?

A vasectomy is surgery men have to prevent pregnancy when having sex with female partners. Surgeons cut and block the vas deferens, the two tubes that carry sperm from the testicles to the penis. After the surgery, the semen that is ejaculated during sex no longer contains sperm. Learn more about vasectomy.

What is a vasectomy reversal?

In a vasectomy reversal, surgery is performed to reconnect the vas deferens after a previous vasectomy. Up to six percent of men (approximately 30,000 men each year), change their minds after vasectomy and wish to father children again. 

Can it be "too late" to undergo a vasectomy reversal?

One common misconception is that after a period of time, a vasectomy reversal is no longer possible. While the age of the vasectomy is a factor, there is no time cutoff where a vasectomy reversal will not work. Our patients have high success rates, even decades after a vasectomy. Our experts have performed successful reversals with vasectomies performed more than 30 years prior.

What happens during the vasectomy reversal?

The goal of a vasectomy reversal is to bypass the point of obstruction. The initial vasectomy causes blockage in the vas deferens, but additional blockage points can occur as well after the vasectomy. During the procedure, we will:

1. Identify the level of blockage. To do this, we collect fluid from the vas deferens and examine it under the microscope.
2. Analyze the fluid’s color, consistency and contents to determine the type of vasectomy procedure we will do.
3. Perform one of two vasectomy reversal procedures:
   • Vasovasotomy (VV), where we stitch together the cut ends of the vas deferens
   • Vasoepididymostomy (VE), where we create a bypass around the blockage to reconnect the vas to the unblocked epididymis
4. The surgery takes between three to four hours and is an outpatient procedure. You do not need to stay overnight in the hospital.

How effective is a vasectomy reversal?

The effectiveness of a vasectomy reversal is up to 90-95 percent. Vasovasotomy procedures (90-95 percent) generally have higher success rates than vasoepididymostomy procedures (65-70 percent). In either type of surgery, the vasectomy reversal is often more successful with microsurgery as this allows precise reapproximation of the cut ends of the genital tract. Microsurgery is a type of surgery that requires an operating microscope to perform the procedure. Fellowship trained in microsurgery, our experts are able to delivery state-of-the-art care with superior success rates.

Vasectomy reversal: Recovery

Patients undergoing vasectomy reversal will be given specific recovery instructions by their surgeon based on the specific procedures performed and the specifics of their case. In general, patients are advised to stay off their feet for a few days. Pain is manageable and similar to the original vasectomy procedure. Applying ice packs to the scrotum is suggested to reduce swelling and pain.  Prescribed pain medication may be necessary for a few days after the procedure.  After that, over-the-counter pain medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen may be used to reduce pain if necessary. Patients routinely return to sitting, office jobs within 3 days and jobs that are physically strenuous in about 4 weeks. Ejaculation and strenuous activity should be avoided for 2 weeks.

A follow up visit will occur at 2 weeks to assess healing and recovery. At 6 weeks, the first semen analysis will be checked. Depending upon the type of repair and time from vasectomy, sperm can take 1 month to 1 year to return to the ejaculate.