The vasectomy reversal will be carried out in a hospital or outpatient surgical facility. Overnight hospitalization is usually not necessary. The surgery is often done under general anesthesia but may also be done using local anesthetic. One may be asked to have nothing to eat for several hours before your surgery.

In the operating room one or two incisions will be made in the scrotum. The incision is usually longer than the original vasectomy incision in order to expose both cut ends of the vas deferens to adequately rejoin them. During the surgery we will determine if the vas deferens is in satisfactory condition to permit adequate flow of sperm through the rejoined tube. The two healthy ends of the vas above and below the obstruction will be joined. The procedure can take 2-4 hours given its intricacy and the common use of magnification.

Occasionally, the vas deferens is too scarred to permit effective sperm flow. In this case, we may need to bypass this scarred part of the tube and connect one end of the vas deferens directly to the epididymis. This type of surgery, called avaso-epididymostomy is more technically challenging, with a lower success rate.

One should be accompanied home after your vasectomy reversal and you should not drive for 24 hours until you anesthetic has completely worn off. One should avoid strenuous physical activity, heavy lifting, or exercise for about one week. Any strain may cause bleeding or swelling of the scrotum. Application of an ice pack intermittently after the procedure will minimize pain and swelling. Pain is usually adequately controlled with over-the-counter pain killers (Tylenol, Advil). One may need a prescribed painkiller that can be used as required for a few days after the surgery.

Most men have no problem after a vasectomy reversal. There is a small risk of infection requiring treatment with antibiotics. Occasionally, men have scrotal pain that persists for a few weeks or months. Over time, this usually resolves completely without specific treatment. Normally, a small lump will persist at the site of the vasectomy reversal. A vasectomy reversal should not affect your sexual function nor will you notice any change in your semen.

Sexual activity should be postponed for several weeks after the vasectomy reversal. Sperm may return to the semen immediately after the procedure. We will advise the optimal timing of intercourse to achieve a pregnancy. This occurs around the mid-point of your partners menstrual cycle, when ovulation (egg release) occurs.

There is often a significant delay in the appearance of large numbers of sperm in the semen after a vasectomy reversal. If the semen tests show large numbers of healthy sperm, the possibility of pregnancy is good. Unfortunately, restoring sperm to the semen after vasectomy reversal does not always result in a pregnancy.

Many couples have achieved pregnancy following vasectomy reversal.