Reverse Vasectomy
Reverse Vasectomy
Our patients are often shocked at how simple, quick, and relatively pain-free a reverse vasectomy is. Talking about sensitive parts can quickly be a sensitive topic. For men who have chosen to get a vasectomy, sometimes life changes and their plans change with it. Whether it is a new spouse, new scenery, or whatever reason about 10% of all vasectomy patients decide to go through with a reversal. A reverse vasectomy has varying levels of success but the biggest factor of all is how long it has been since the vasectomy took place. If you are considering a reversal, it is important to learn how it works.
How does a reverse vasectomy work
Reversing a vasectomy sounds like a complicated process that is actually somewhat simple. This outpatient procedure is performed with local or general anesthesia and involves the surgeon making a small incision to undo the vasectomy. To undo the vasectomy, the surgeon will rejoin the vas deferens which was vivisected during the initial surgery. This type of reverse vasectomy is called a vasovasostomy. The operation will take around 2-4 hours and the majority of patients will go home for recovery that same day.
Facts about vasectomy reversal
Men have plenty of great reasons to choose to have a vasectomy and then plenty of great reasons to choose to reverse that vasectomy. Data suggests that around 10% of all patients choose to undo a vasectomy. Effectiveness of this operation is mostly dictated by how much time passed from the vasectomy, the precision of the surgeon, and how your body healed initially. Many years ago there was a study done that suggested that vasectomies could increase chances to develop cancer, however that study has since been disproven and a reversal would have no impact in this area.
Reverse vasectomy recovery
While no two operations are ever identical, recovering from a reverse vasectomy will generally follow this timeline. After the 2-4 hour surgery, most men will leave the hospital or clinic where the reversal took place and go home to recover. In the first few days following, expect soreness, pain, sometimes swelling, or bruising. Your physician will advise you to avoid heavy lifting for the next 2-4 weeks as well. Your doctor will want to follow up with you sometime afterwards to make sure you are recovering well from the procedure. It is important to take your recovery seriously and to monitor yourself over time, making notes of swelling or discoloration beyond what would be expected.
Arizona State Urology
Getting a reverse vasectomy is a safe and effective procedure that is an excellent choice for many men. Working with an experienced and skilled team is one of the best choices you can make with your reverse vasectomy. The entire team at Asurology comprises seasoned and talented medical professionals with decades of combined experience. Our teams utilize advanced technologies in every situation in order to provide everyone with the highest caliber of service. We understand you might be a bit cautious about how this surgery works or how successful it could be. If you have any questions or might be interested in learning more, the Arizona State Urology team is ready to help. Call us at 602-337-8500.
