What is vasectomy reversal? Vasectomy reversal refers to a surgical procedure that restores a man's fertility by restoring the flow of sperm through the vas deferens.  A vasectomy reversal must always be performed by an experienced microsurgeon. The microsurgeon must be specially trained to use several specialized instruments, including an operating microscope.  To give you an idea of how complex the surgery can be, consider this:  many of the sutures used during a vasectomy reversal are finer than a human hair.

There are two basic type of vasectomy reversal procedures:  a vasovasostomy, and a vasoepididymostomy.  A vasovasostomy is the most common type of vasectomy reversal.  A vasovasostomy involves stitching the ends of the vans deferens together.  Although a vasovasostomy is the most popular choice for vasectomy reversal, however it cannot be performed if excessive scarring or inflammation or has occurred on the epididymis.  If the epididymis has experienced significant blockage, there is a good chance that the vasovasostomy will not work. 

A vasoepididymostomy is performed when there is too much blockage of the epididymis.  Rather than stitching the ends of the vans deferens together, as is performed in the vasovasostomy, the vasoepididymostomy involves connecting the vans deferens directly to the epididymis. 

Why are most vasectomy reversals performed?  Most men decide to undergo vasectomy reversals post vasectomy because they wish to father children again, perhaps after remarrying after divorce or the death of a spouse.  Another reason that some men decide to undergo a vasectomy reversal post vasectomy is to relieve the scrotal pain the some men suffer after undergoing a vasectomy. 

How many men undergo a vasectomy reversal?  Although no specific numbers are currently available, it is estimated that roughly one percent of all men who undergo a vasectomy procedure will eventually seek out a vasectomy reversal.  Currently, approximately 500,000 undergo vasectomies each year.  Although the number of vasectomies performed in the United States each year has remained relatively stable, the number of men seeking vasectomy appears to be rising. 

Although many people believe that a vasectomy is virtually impossible to reverse, in reality, it has become a much more common and easy procedure to perform.  The development of new microsurgical techniques has allowed even the most seemingly complex vasectomy reversal to be completed successfully.  The vasoepididymostomy, for instance, allows microsurgeons to bypass epididymal blockage and correct the vans deferens.  

How do you know if you're a good candidate for vasectomy reversal surgery?  While it's true that the more time that has passed the more difficult a vasectomy reversal surgery is likely to be, it's also true that as a general rule, most vasectomies can be reversed.  The shorter the time between the two procedures, the greater the rate for success. 

Perhaps the most important factor in whether a vasectomy reversal surgery is apt to be successful is the site of the original vasectomy.  The farther away from the testicle that the original vasectomy was performed, the greater the chance of an easy vasectomy reversal.

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