What is a Vasectomy Reversal

When you had your vasectomy operation, a piece of the tube (vas) running up from each testicle was taken out. Ever since that time, your testicles have been making sperm, but your body has been melting the sperm away because they cannot pass along the vases. If the cut ends of the vas on each side can be joined up again, the sperm will pass along the vas once more and you may become fertile again. The chance of fathering more children is about 1 in 3. This depends on the size of the gap between the cut ends, the method of stitching the ends, and earlier infection or scarring. Even though the sperm tests after operation may be alright, this does not always mean that a pregnancy is a certainty. This is because the sperms may not be as strong as they used to be before the vasectomy.

The Operation

You will usually have a general anaesthetic, and will be asleep for the whole operation. A cut is made into each side of the scrotum. The vas on each side is found. The cut ends are trimmed and freshened and stitched together using plastic stitches that are finer than hair. The cuts in the skin are then closed up. After two to three hours on the ward, you should feel fit enough to go home.