Vasectomy Reversal

It is currently estimated that about 1% of men who have undergone a vasectomy will eventually want reversal surgery. A vasectomy reversal is a surgical procedure that restores the flow of sperm through the vas deferens. It is usually performed by an experienced microsurgeon using specialized instruments including an operating microscope. A vasovasostomy is the operation most frequently performed for a vasectomy reversal and involves communicating the severed ends of the vas deferens. However, if following a vasectomy an obstruction has occurred in the epididymis, a vasoepididymostomy must be performed which involves communicating the vas deferens to the section of the epididymis that contains mature and motile sperm. With recent advances in microsurgical techniques, instruments and suture materials, success rates have increased dramatically. Following microsurgical vasovasostomy, sperm appears in the semen in approximately 85 to 97% of men and approximately 50% of couples subsequently achieve a pregnancy.