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Reverse Vasectomy
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What is a reverse vasectomy? A reverse vasectomy is an operation to reconnect the vas deferens after a vasectomy. A vasectomy is an operation men have for permanent birth control. With a vasectomy, the vas deferens are cut, clamped, or otherwise sealed. The vas deferens are the tubes that carry sperm from the testicles to the penis. Even though vasectomy is considered permanent, some men change their minds because of a major change in their life, such as a divorce, death of a spouse, or death of a child. When is it done? If a man decides he wants to father more children, the couple has several options. The man can have his sperm extracted from his testes and artificially placed into the woman's body. This is called artificial insemination. Another option is to have surgery to reverse the vasectomy. A physical exam, tests, and review of the original vasectomy will be done to find out if a man is a good candidate for this surgery. The results are better if only a small part of the vas deferens was damaged by the previous surgery. The sooner the reversal is done from the time of the original vasectomy, the better the chances of success. The procedure can be done as an outpatient, but will require several days recovery at home. Reverse vasectomy is an expensive operation that is not usually covered by most insurance companies. Much thought must go into the decision to have this surgery. It is important to talk with the provider about possible complications after the surgery and the likelihood that a pregnancy will result. What happens after the procedure? The surgeon will request a semen analysis every 2 to 3 months after surgery to check on the sperm count. It takes approximately one year to conceive after a vasectomy reversal. Some pregnancies occur earlier, while others occur later. Reverse vasectomy has been reported to be more successful when a surgeon uses a microscope to do the surgery. The surgery can take 1 to 2 hours or longer. For more information, visit the American Urological Associations Web site at www.urologyhealth.org.  Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to
change as new health information becomes available. The
information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a
replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or
treatment by a healthcare professional.
HIA File FMY4331F.HTM Release 9.0/2006. Copyright © 2006 McKesson Corporation and/or one of its subdiaries. All Rights Reserved.
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