Table of Contents
Reversal Surgery
Although men should consider vasectomy a permanent decision, vasovasostomy is a reversal procedure that may restore fertility in men who change their minds. Vasovasostomies are also effective in relieving chronic pain from vasectomies in the rare case that this occurs.
One Australian study suggested that although the rate of vasectomies has not changed over the past few decades, the desire for reversal surgery increased by over 70% in the late 1990s compared to the early 1980s. Men who had vasectomies in their 20s are more likely to seek reversal later on than older men. The main reasons for requesting a reversal are remarriage, the death of a child, or an improvement in finances. Reversal may also be performed to relieve postvasectomy pain, which occurs in a small percentage of men. However, fewer than 10% of patients who request reversals do so because of physical or psychological problems following vasectomy.
Vasovasostomy (Reversal Surgery) Procedures
Standard Procedure. Vasovasostomy reconnects the severed ends of the vas deferens to reestablish the flow of sperm. The procedure is difficult:
- It involves sewing together the two tiny ends of both tubes, each with pinhead-sized openings.
- If the vas deferens is blocked, the surgeon may try to connect the epididymis to an area in the vas deferens that bypasses the blockage.
Vasovasostomy can usually be done on an outpatient basis, and patients can usually return to work within 1 - 2 weeks. It is far more difficult and expensive than vasectomy itself, however, and is even costlier if the procedure involves connecting the vas to the epididymis, which takes about 3 hours. It should be noted that reversal surgery is usually not reimbursed by insurance companies, and that the results may not be known for some time.
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Review Date: 10/20/2006
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, M.D., Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of
Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General
Hospital
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
