Some men who undergo vasectomies, especially those who receive them early in life, eventually decide that they would like to become fertile again. Fortunately, vasectomy reversal allows many of these men to restore normal fertility. Here’s how vasectomy reversal works:

Understanding the Vasectomy

In order to understand vasectomy reversal, it is necessary to understand vasectomy. If you’ve already had a vasectomy, most of this information is probably familiar to you, but it may be useful to review. The vasectomy is a fairly straightforward procedure. In healthy male genitalia, sperm is created in the testes and sent to the prostate through a small tube called the vas deferens, one of which exists for each testicle. All that is required to surgically cause infertility is to cut and tie off the vas deferens. This does not affect sexual function in any way other than to eliminate sperm from the semen, making reproduction impossible.

Reversing a Vasectomy

There are two basic techniques used to reverse vasectomies . The simplest and most common is the vasovasostomy. During this procedure, the sealed, severed ends of the vas deferens are recovered and reattached to each other, permitting sperm to flow freely from the testes into the prostate, and restoring normal fertility. Sometimes, it will not be possible for your surgeon to reconnect the two parts of the vas deferens; in this case, he will perform a vasoepididymostomy, connecting the vas deferens directly to the epididymis, a tube which branches directly from the testes.

Undergoing the Procedure

A typical reverse vasectomy takes up to an hour for each side. During the procedure, patients are given anesthetics to prevent them from feeling pain. After your surgery, you’ll be required to wear a support to prevent excessive movement of the testicles and may experience bruising and soreness for about a week. Bandages may generally be removed after about a week.

If you are interested in reversing your vasectomy in order to have children naturally, The Center for Vasectomy Reversal and Male Infertility can help. Contact our Tampa office at (941) 343-4020 to learn more about your fertility options.

Infertility does not only affect women—approximately one-third of fertility problems in the United States are attributed to male infertility. At the Center for Vasectomy Reversal, we understand that choosing a physician to assist you in overcoming your struggles with fertility can be difficult. Our healthcare team specializes in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of male infertility. With this video, you will get an idea of who we are and learn more about our practice’s philosophy.

To find out more about the services and state-of-the-art procedures offered by the Center for Vasectomy Reversal , contact our helpful staff at (941) 343-4020 . We are dedicated to helping our patients become parents—call and schedule your consultation with Dr. Joshua Green today.

For men who have undergone vasectomy procedures and later become interested in starting their own families, vasectomy reversal can be a great way to restore lost fertility. Through vasectomy reversal (vasovasostomy), the vas deferens can be reconnected to allow the passage of sperm into the ejaculate. With the passageway of sperm restored, men are likely to once again be fertile.

Time and Successful Vasovasostomy
Men considering a vasectomy reversal often wonder: Will the procedure be successful in restoring my fertility ? In fact, the success rate of this procedure is quite high. The surgery’s success, however, does depend on the time that has passed since the initial vasectomy was performed. As the time since vasectomy increases, the rates of positive semen analysis (sperm detected in the semen) and successful conception will tend to decrease. If the reversal is performed within five years of the vasectomy, there is a greater than 95% chance that sperm will be found in the ejaculate. If the surgery is performed a decade or more after the initial vasectomy, that chance only drops to 80-90%.

Other Fertility Factors and Successful Conception
The success of the vasovasostomy also depends on other factors. After the reversal procedure is completed, the man’s sperm may not be as motile or as high in number as they were before the initial vasectomy—both of these factors will decrease the likelihood of pregnancy. Successful conception also depends on the other partner. If the woman has undiagnosed fertility issues, such as problems with ovulation, she may also need to seek infertility treatment before pregnancy is achieved. General good health of both partners increases the likelihood of successful conception.

If you are considering a vasectomy reversal and live in the greater Tampa Bay, FL area, contact the healthcare team at the Center for Vasectomy Reversal . In addition to having extensive experience in the vasovasostomy procedure, our staff has training in all aspects of the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of other causes of male infertility. Schedule an appointment at our center today by calling (941) 343-4020 .

A vasectomy is form of surgical birth control performed by disconnecting the biological tubes that carry sperm from the testes. These two tubes, called the vasa deferentia, connect each testicle to the urethra and are typically clamped, cut, or sealed to prevent the passage of sperm. Of the millions of American men who have undergone a vasectomy, many later decide that they have the desire to experience fatherhood. For these men, a vasectomy reversal can help to restore their fertility.

How is a vasectomy reversal performed?
A vasectomy reversal, also called a vasovasostomy, is a surgery performed to reconnect the vasa deferentia . The goal of this procedure is to once again allow the sperm to be ejaculated with the semen. To perform the procedure, the surgeon first makes a tiny incision in the scrotum and isolates a single vas deferens. After inspecting the fluid from the section of vas deferens closest to the testes, the surgeon will then reconnect the separated tubes using multiple layers of tiny suture material, reopening the passageway for sperm.

How successful are vasectomy reversals?
Success rates for vasectomy reversal are typically very high and often depend on the length of time since the original vasectomy was performed. 10 years after vasectomy, sperm is present in the ejaculate in 80-90% of cases. If the reversal procedure is performed within five years of a vasectomy, the chances of sperm being found in the ejaculate increases to over 95%.

If you are considering reversing your vasectomy, consult the experts at the Center for Vasectomy Reversal . Our healthcare team is dedicated to helping men overcome infertility and realize their dreams of starting a family. If you would like to learn more about our practice or schedule a private consultation, please call us at (941) 343-4020 or visit our website.