Vasectomy Reversals

Facts about a Vasectomy Reversal Procedure

• Requires specialized training and the use of an operating room microscope.
• Performed in a hospital or outpatient surgical center
• 6 to 10 stitches are placed into an area approximately the size of a pinhead
• Takes approximately 2 hours to perform
• Patients usually return to a reasonable level of activities within 72 hours
• Discomfort is typically very mild
• All inclusive price covers the charges for surgery, hospital operating room and anesthesia.

Has Your Life Changed?

Sometimes, no matter how much thought goes into having a vasectomy, something in your life changes and makes you decide to have a vasectomy reversal. Common causes include divorce followed by a new relationship and a desire to have children, the tragic loss of a child, or simply changing your mind years after a vasectomy is done.

Simply speaking, a vasectomy reversal means sewing the cut ends of each vas deferens back together again. But there is nothing “simple” about it. At South Florida Urology Center, Inc we use microsurgical techniques to bring the cut ends into exact alignment. The opening in each tube is approximately 1 millimeter in diameter. Stitches which are virtually invisible to the naked eye are placed all around the cut ends to bring and hold them together. A routine vasectomy operation takes about 15 minutes to perform; a vasectomy reversal can takes 2 hours or more. It is an extremely delicate procedure requiring great surgical precision. Our doctors have received specialized training in microsurgery so that he can perform vasectomy reversals.

A vasectomy procedure is done in a hospital or outpatient surgical center. A general anesthetic is used so that you will remain perfectly still during the operation. You can go home several hours after the procedure is completed. It is important to rest and take it easy at home for one week after surgery, with significant activity restriction for the first 72 hours.

The results are best when a vasectomy reversal is performed within 5 years of the original surgery. In fact, there can be very good results even if the vasectomy is reversed within 10 years. Once the time goes beyond that, overall results decrease although there can be successful outcomes 15 or even 20 years later.

Discussion Topics:

• To what to do you attribute the increase in the number of vasectomy reversals being done in the United States?
• Is there a particular age range for men that you usually see in your urology office for vasectomy reversal?
• Do all urologists perform vasectomy reversals?
• Is a vasectomy reversal similar to a vasectomy procedure?
• What determines if a vasectomy reversal will be effective?
• Are there any viable alternatives to a vasectomy reversal?
• When can patients return to normal activities after their vasectomy reversal?
• If a patient has already had a vasectomy reversal and it failed, should he consider a second procedure?
• Why would a patient choose to have you perform a vasectomy reversal?

If you would like more information about a vasectomy reversal, please ask us at South Florida Urology Center, Inc - our staff will be happy to provide additional information for you.