Microsurgery for Vasectomy Reversals

What is microsurgery for vasectomy reversals and how and why is it required? Vasectomy reversal is the process of re-attaching the vas deferens with the epididymis again. The vas deferens is the long tube that carries the sperm from the male reproductive organs (testes) to the urinary/ejaculatory tract, later fertilizing a female’s egg to form a child.

Microsurgery for vasectomy reversals
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What’s important to learn is that vasectomies are effective contraception methods. In fact, they are 99 percent successful after your sperm analysis ensures that you don’t have any sperm in your semen. However, couples may decide to begin their families by having children, which calls for vasectomy reversals. You should note that the success rates of microsurgical vasectomy reversals depend on several different reasons and factors. Hence, the chances of pregnancy can vary substantially.

What Happens During a Vasectomy Reversal?

In a vasectomy reversal procedure, the main objective of the surgeon is to make sure that the vas deferens (long tubes carrying sperm to the penis) is reconnected either on the severed ends or with the epididymis. Since it is a microsurgical procedure, the qualities of the urologist and micro-surgeon will matter significantly.

In reversing the effects of the vasectomy, i.e., contraception and blockage of sperm from entering the semen that leaves a man’s penis, the surgeon ensures to bypass the blockage that initially stopped the sperm.

The procedure itself begins when the surgeon uses local or general anesthesia. The restoration of the pathway of sperm into a man’s penis is a complex one. Hence, the procedure can take well up to 3 or four hours. On top of that, here are the two most common vasectomy reversal microsurgical procedures that take place.

Vasovasostomy

When your surgeon begins the procedure, they make an incision on the scrotum from which they separate and gently handle the vas. The surgeon will incise the vas to check whether there is fluid inside or not. If there is fluid and sperm present in the vas, the surgeon will re-attach the severed ends of the vas deferens together.

The surgeon might perform the same re-attachment even when there is watery and clear vassal fluid present. These are the right conditions for sperm production and therefore hint towards potential chances of pregnancy post-procedure. This microsurgical procedure is “vasovasostomy.” For some people, the chances of pregnancy after the procedure are as high as 95 percent.

Epididymovasostomy

Epididymovasostomy is a complex and detailed microsurgical medical procedure that is similar to vasovasostomy. Like the previous ones, this procedure also uses microsurgical instruments and equipment. Moreover, your surgeon may perform this microsurgery when there is either no fluid/sperm present in your vas or pasty and thick fluid in the vas.

Abundant pasty fluid in the vas points towards poor quality of the severed vas end and possible scar tissue interference. Hence, in this procedure, the surgeon will directly attach the end of the vas to the epididymis (sperm-producing tissues and cells in the male reproductive organs, testes).

What Happens Post Microsurgery?

Your surgeon might decide to perform vasovasostomy on one vas and epididymovasostomy on the other, depending on the conditions. After the procedure, the surgeon will use bandages to cover the incision. You may also need stitches.

Your surgeon will instruct you to avoid wetting the area for nearly two days and inform you that it will take at least two weeks for the stitches to dissolve. Moreover, you might not have to stay at the hospital for longer. In fact, you may be able to carry on with your everyday life after 1 or 2 days except for certain activities.

Urologist for microsurgery for vasectomy reversals
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Pain, numbing, and swelling can persist but are a cause for general concern. Further, it can take up to 4 weeks before your surgeon may allow you to have sexual intercourse. In regard to that, your surgeon will also demand semen samples within 2-3 weeks of the procedure to check on the sperm count and quality.

In case of any persistent chronic pain, you have to consult your surgeon and primary healthcare provider. This will ensure that any previous medical conditions will not interfere with the success rate of the vasectomy reversal.