Vasectomy and Vasovasostomy - Highlights

Highlights

New Research

Vasectomy Procedures

• No-scalpel vasectomy is the safest type of vasectomy, but it is difficult to perform and requires an experienced surgeon. A simpler type of no-scalpel vasectomy, called percutaneous vasectomy, is showing good results. In general, no-scalpel vasectomy causes less pain and fewer complications than standard vasectomy.
• Fascial interposition can help improve the success of standard vasectomy. Fascial interposition is performed after the surgeon cuts the vas deferens. (The vas deferens is the tube that carries the sperm from the testes.) Cautery combined with fascial interposition is the best approach. Fascial interposition combined with ligation and excision also works well.
• A saline (salt water) flush performed during vasectomy may help remove leftover sperm. But according to a recent clinical trial, the saline flush does not help to decrease the time it takes for men to achieve azoospermia (complete absence of sperm).

Pregnancy After Vasectomy or Vasectomy Reversal

• Pregnancy after vasectomy is rare, but can happen. The risk is greatest in the months immediately following the procedure, when there are still active sperm left in the semen. Birth control should be used until a doctor confirms that the semen is free of sperm.
• Most men achieve azoospermia after around three months and 20 ejaculations. Doctors recommend that patients return for semen testing at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 1 year following their vasectomy. According to recent studies, only around 8% of men actually make these important follow-up visits.
• A surgeon?s experience is important for increasing the chances of a successful vasectomy. Patients should make sure that their surgeon has performed at least 50 vasectomy procedures.
• For patients who wish to have their vasectomy reversed, new microsurgical techniques are improving success rates.