Vasectomy Reversal

Sometimes after vasectomy has been performed, a man decides he would like to father another child. This can often be done by reversing the process of a vasectomy.

Vasectomy reversal is frequently the best option to restore fertility in men who have had a vasectomy. There are approximately 500,000 vasectomy’s performed in the United States each year according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This type of birth control is popular among adult males who are interested in preventing future pregnancies. For a variety of reasons, however, nearly 10% of men who undergo a vasectomy later change their minds and undergo a vasectomy reversal.

Vasectomy reversals are not covered under most insurance plans. Our price for this procedure is very competitive and cost-effective. Most importantly, at Bellevue Urology, our vasectomy reversals are performed using micro-surgical techniques in our Accredited and Licensed Ambulatory Surgery Center, with Board Certified Urologists and Registered Nurses.

A vasectomy reversal takes more time and is more complex than a vasectomy; therefore, regional anesthesia will be used, requiring additional recovery time.

Vasectomy Reversa

A vasectomy involves severing the vas deferens so that the passage of sperm is interrupted and their release from the body is prevented. After the procedure, sperm are still made but die soon after production and are absorbed by the body. The vasectomy reversal is the process of opening and reconnecting those pathways. This enables the sperm to flow freely from the testes through the urethra and out of the penis during intercourse.

As with a vasectomy, a vasectomy reversal causes no physical changes to the scrotal area, and after a normal healing period, sexual relations may continue. A vasectomy reversal procedure will not affect your sex drive or ability to have an erection.

Our doctor will meet with you and your partner, answer your questions and discuss the likelihood of restoring your fertility. While there is no guarantee if you have a vasectomy reversal that your partner will become pregnant the success rate is high with 97% of the men producing sperm in their ejaculation, and a 75% pregnancy rate. Many factors are involved with the most important being the length of time since your original vasectomy was performed. The more time that has passed since the vasectomy will lower the success rate of the vasectomy reversal resulting in a pregnancy. If the vasectomy reversal is performed between 3 and 8 years after the vasectomy, the rate for sperm in the ejaculate is about 90%, and the pregnancy rate is about 50%. If the vasectomy reversal is performed more than 15 years after the vasectomy, the rate of sperm in the ejaculate is about 70%, and the pregnancy rate is about 30%.

The Procedure

Before
  • One week prior to the procedure, stop taking aspirin or aspirin containing products. You may ask our doctor during your consult about any other medications you may need to discontinue.
  • Bring an athletic supporter or snug briefs with you to wear home after the procedure.
  • Do not drink or eat anything after midnight the evening before the procedure.
  • A nurse will contact you a couple of days before the procedure to answer medication questions and any you may have unanswered.
After
  • When you return home, stay off your feet for the first 24 hours. Any discomfort you feel is usually mild. An ice pack or bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel may be placed on your scrotum for short periods of time to reduce swelling. Avoid heavy lifting or exercise for five to seven days.
  • Sexual activity can resume one month after the procedure. You may notice some blood in your semen, this is normal. You should discuss the type of work you do with our doctor to make a decision about when you can return to work.
  • You will need to bring in a semen sample six to eight weeks after the procedure.
Symptoms to Monitor
  • Watch for signs of infection, although this is very uncommon. Let us know if you experience any fever, chills, drainage from the incision site and pain.
  • Watch for signs of internal bleeding at the site, although very uncommon.
  • Let us know if you have increasing pain, excessive swelling, a large black and blue area or a growing lump.

Call our office day or night at 425-454-8016, if you have any of these symptoms.