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Vasectomy reversal types

What are the different types of vasectomy reversals?

Reversals are generally performed in an outpatient area of a hospital or in an ambulatory surgery center. The operation is usually performed with general anesthesia if the surgical microscope is used, as any movement is magnified under the microscope. The choice will depend on the preference of the surgeon, patient and anesthesiologist.

Once the patient is anesthetized, the urologist will make a small opening (cut) on each side of the scrotum and first remove the scarred ends of the vas at the point of blockage created by the vasectomy. The urologist will then extract a fluid sample from the end closest to the testicle to see if the fluid contains sperm.

The presence of sperm in the fluid is an indication that there is no obstruction between the testicle and the location in the vas from which the fluid was obtained, and particularly that there is no blockage in the epididymis. When sperm are present in the fluid, the ends of the vas can be connected to reestablish the passageway for sperm. The medical term for reconnecting the ends of the vas is vasovasostomy.

The microsurgical approach is recommended and uses a high-powered microscope to magnify structures from five to 40 times their actual size. Use of an operating microscope provides better results, as it allows the urologist to manipulate stitches smaller in diameter than an eyelash to join the ends of the vas. When microsurgery is used, vasovasostomy results in return of sperm to the semen in 70-95 percent of patients and pregnancy in 30-75 percent of female partners, depending upon the length of time from the vasectomy until the reversal (see next section).

If the urologist does not find sperm in the fluid sample, it may be because the original vasectomy resulted in back pressure that caused a break in the epididymal tubule. Because any break in this single, continuous tube can result in a blockage, the urologist will have to employ a more complicated reversal technique called an epididymovasostomy or vasoepididymostomy. In this procedure, the urologist must bypass the blockage in the epididymis by connecting the "upper" (abdominal) end of the vas to the epididymis above the point of the blockage.

While vasoepididymostomy is a more complex procedure than vasovasostomy due to the very small size of the tube inside the epididymis, recent advances in the surgical technique have made outcomes nearly as good as for vasovasostomy. You may need a combination of the two techniques, with a vasovasostomy done on one side and a vasoepididymostomy on the other side. Vasoepididymostomy usually requires a longer incision into the scrotum.

• Vasovasostomy
• Vasoepididymostomy

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Vasectomy reversal FAQ

Vasectomy reversal

Who performs vasectomy reversals?

Urologists are the surgical specialists who most frequently perform vasectomy reversals. Since not everyone focuses on this procedure, make sure to ask your urologist how many he or she has done — and to what level of success. Also, if your urologist recommends a microsurgical approach, you have the right to ask about his or her experience and success rates with this technique especially since this is a technique that requires additional training.

Can all vasectomies be reversed?

Almost all vasectomies can be reversed. However, if the vasectomy was performed during the repair of a hernia in the groin, there may be more difficulty reconnecting the ends of the vas. Rarely, reconnection of the ends of the vas is not possible because such a long segment of the vas was removed during the vasectomy procedure.

Should I have a vasovasostomy or a vasoepididymostomy?

It is not possible to determine before the reversal operation which procedure will be best for you. The urologist can only determine this during the vasectomy reversal procedure. If sperm are present in the fluid that is obtained from the end of the vas that is connected to the testicle, then a vasovasostomy is performed. If sperm are absent from the fluid obtained from the end of the vas that is connected to the testicle, the urologist then uses several criteria to determine which operation is best for you. The urologist will inspect the epididymis to determine if a blockage is present in the tube within the epididymis. If a blockage is seen, then a vasoepididymostomy will be required.

If no blockage is apparent, then the appearance of the fluid that is obtained from the end of the vas connected to the testicle may help determine which operation is best for you. In general, watery appearing fluid influences the urologist to perform vasovasostomy even though sperm are not present in the fluid, while creamy appearing fluid suggests that vasoepididymostomy is required when sperm are not present in the fluid. Several other factors also may be considered to help the urologist determine which operation is best for you. Some patients may require a vasovasostomy on one side and a vasoepididymostomy on the other side.

Is age a factor in conceiving after a vasectomy reversal?

Your age should not influence the result of your vasectomy reversal. Most men continue to produce sperm from their testicles for many years after their partners have entered menopause and are no longer ovulating, or producing eggs. In fact, a woman's fertility starts declining in her mid-30s, with significant impairment beginning around age 37.

If female age is a factor, your partner should check with her gynecologist to see if she is still ovulating before you agree to a reversal. Abnormal results from a simple blood test to measure hormone levels on the third day of menstruation indicate a significantly lowered chance of fertility. However, women should not be deceived by a normal reading because it does not always guarantee that a woman will be able to get pregnant.

Are there alternatives to vasectomy reversal?

Yes. Your doctor can obtain sperm from the testicle or epididymis by either a needle aspiration or surgery. But the sperm are not useful for simple, inexpensive office artificial inseminations. Instead, the sperm that are obtained by such methods require the more complex, expensive ($12,000 to $17,000) in vitro fertilization (IVF) techniques using intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

Most centers report a 30 percent to 50 percent pregnancy rate each time IVF with ICSI is performed if the female partner is younger than 37, but much lower rates if she is older. Since studies consistently show that vasectomy reversals are more cost-effective in achieving pregnancy than sperm retrieval and IVF with ICSI, your better option is with the reversal. However, insurance coverage for one procedure and not another, may influence a couples decision on how to proceed. Factors that may affect the decision to proceed with vasectomy reversal or sperm retrieval with ICSI include cost, years since vasectomy (and possible need for epididymovasostomy) and age of the female partner.

If a vasectomy reversal fails, should I consider a repeat reversal?

The success rates for repeat reversals are generally similar to first reversals in the hands of experienced microsurgeons. In making a recommendation, your urologist will review the record of your previous procedure. If sperm were present in fluid obtained from the lower end of the vas during that operation, he or she will probably perform a repeat vasovasostomy, a less complicated procedure than a vasoepididymostomy, but more likely to produce success.

How expensive is a vasectomy reversal?

Costs vary widely, ranging between about $5,000 and $15,000 for surgical fees, not including anesthesia and surgical center fees. Most insurance companies do not pay for this procedure. Therefore, you should discuss the finances of your operation early to see if your insurance company might be the exception to the rule.

Will a vasectomy reversal relieve pain in the testicle that developed after my vasectomy?

It is fortunate that only a very small percentage of men develop pain in the testicle after a vasectomy that is sufficiently severe for them to inquire about a vasectomy reversal to relieve pain. Because such situations are rare, there are few reports of groups of patients who undergo vasectomy reversals to relieve pain in the testicle. Most of these reports indicate that the majority of patients who undergo a vasectomy reversal for relief of pain in the testicles indeed are relieved of their pain. However, your urologist cannot determine in advance that your pain definitely will be relieved if you undergo a reversal.

Vasectomy

Can my partner tell if I have had a vasectomy?

There is no significant change in one's ejaculate after a vasectomy since the sperm contributes a small amount to the overall ejaculate volume. Your partner may on occasion be able to feel the vasectomy site. This is particularly true if you have developed a granuloma.

Will my sense of orgasm be altered by having a vasectomy?

Ejaculation and orgasm are generally not affected by vasectomy. The only exception to this is the occasional patient who has developed post-vasectomy pain syndrome.

Can I become impotent after a vasectomy?

An uncomplicated vasectomy cannot cause impotence.

Can a vasectomy fail?

First, it is important to be certain that a vasectomy has been successful and that all sperm are absent from the ejaculate prior to stopping other forms of contraception. Even if the vasectomy has been demonstrated to be effective, there is a small chance that a vasectomy may fail. This occurs as a result of sperm leaking from one end of the cut vas deferens (the testicular end) and finding a channel to the other end (the abdominal end).

Can something happen to my testicles?

Rarely, the testicles may be injured during a vasectomy as a result of injury to the testicular artery. Other complications such as a mass of blood (hematoma) or infection may also affect the testicles.

Can I have children after my vasectomy?

Yes, but if you have not stored frozen sperm, you will require an additional procedure. The vas deferens can be micro surgically reconnected (in a procedure called a vasectomy reversal) to allow normal conception to occur. Alternatively, sperm can be extracted from the testicle or the epididymis and utilized for in vitro fertilization. These procedures are costly and may or may not be covered by insurance. Additionally, they are not successful 100 percent of the time. Therefore, one should carefully consider nonsurgical alternatives for contraception prior to deciding to proceed with a vasectomy.

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Alternative: assisted reproduction

Assisted reproduction uses “test tube baby” technology (also called in vitro fertilization, IVF) for the female partner along with sperm retrieval techniques for the male partner to help build a family. This technology, including intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), has been available since 1992 and became available as an alternative to vasectomy reversal soon after. This alternative should be discussed with couples during a consultation for vasectomy reversal.

Disscussion points

What To Think About

Before a vasectomy reversal is done, your doctor will want to confirm that you were fertile before your vasectomy.

You can have tests to see whether you have sperm antibodies in your semen before and after vasectomy reversal. If there are sperm antibodies in your semen after surgery, your partner is unlikely to become pregnant. In such a case, you may wish to try in vitro fertilization with intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

Every patient who is considering vasectomy reversal should undergo a screening visit before the procedure to learn as much as possible about his current fertility potential. At this visit, the patient can decide whether he is a good candidate for vasectomy reversal and assess if it is right for him. Issues to be discussed at this visit include:

• Female partner’s history of past pregnancies
• Male’s medical and surgical history
• Complications during or after the vasectomy
• Female partner’s age, menstrual cycle and fertility
• Brief physical examination to assess male reproductive tract anatomy
• A review of the vasectomy reversal procedure, its nature, benefits and risks, and complications
• Alternatives to vasectomy reversal
• Freezing of sperm at the time of vasectomy reversal
• Questions about the surgery, the success rates, and recovery
• Analysis of hormones such as testosterone or FSH in selected cases to better determine whether sperm production is normal

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Risks

Risks of vasectomy reversal include:

• Infection at the site of surgery.
• Fluid buildup in the scrotum (hydrocele) that may require draining.
• Injury to the arteries or nerves in the scrotum.

Complications

In general, vasectomy reversal is a safe procedure and complication rates are low. There are small chances of infection or bleeding, the latter of which can result in a hematoma or blood clot in the scrotum that needs surgical drainage. If there is significant scar tissue encountered during the vasectomy reversal, fluid other than blood (seroma) can also accumulate in a small number of cases. Painful granulomas, caused by leaking sperm, can develop near the surgical site in some cases. Very rare complications include compartment syndrome or deep venous thrombosis from prolonged positioning, testis atrophy due to damaged blood supply, and reactions to anesthesia.

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