Vasectomy Reversal
Men, like women, have the prerogative to change their minds. Sometimes, after a man has a vasectomy, he wants to reverse the procedure so he can have children. A vasectomy reversal is an outpatient surgical procedure to restore male fertility. Our Austin urologists can help some men, but there are cases where the surgery is not appropriate. Our surgeons consider several factors when deciding who should have the surgery. They consider the amount of time since the man had the vasectomy, how old his partner is and whether he has other medical issues that could impact the reversal.
How the procedure helps restore male fertility
During a vasectomy, our surgeons block the vas deferens so that they cannot transport sperm to the prostate gland, where it mixes with semen. Men still ejaculate semen, but there is no sperm in the fluid. If a man wants to have children, our urologists have to unblock the vas deferens so that sperm can once again mix with semen.
A vasectomy reversal is a longer, more delicate procedure than a vasectomy. It can take two to three hours. During the procedure, our Austin urologists make incisions in the scrotum. After gaining access to the vas deferens, they rejoin the two ends of the vas deferens that were cut, tied or seared during the vasectomy and reconnects them with very tiny stitches.
Complications and success rates of a vasectomy reversal
It’s not always possible to reverse a vasectomy. Men who have the surgery have about a 50% chance of achieving pregnancies with their partners. Approximately 50% of men will have a blockage in the vas deferens about a year after their reversal surgery. For this reason, our physicians recommend that men collect and freeze their sperm when they have the vasectomy reversal. Our Austin urology practice offers this service free of charge; however, there is a storage fee for sperm storage.
There is also a risk of other complications with this surgery, including the following.
- Infection
- Scrotal bleeding
- Damage to blood vessels and nerves that could impair male fertility
- Deep vein thrombosis, or blood clots in the legs
- Blocked vas deferens occur in about 50% of men a year after the surgery due to scar tissue development
Our Austin urologists help men who have fertility issues
Men who are dealing with male infertility due to a vasectomy or other issues can consult with our urologists. If a vasectomy reversal isn’t an option or isn’t successful, there are other procedures that may help restore male fertility. Sometimes, our surgeons can retrieve sperm directly from men’s testicles or epididymis. Then, men can pursue IVF or ICSI treatment. Contact us for an appointment.