Vasectomy Reversal — Men Can Also Change Their Minds!
By Antony Wilton
Prior to undertaking a vasectomy reversal, it is important to discuss with your doctor all aspects of the operation and your personal situation, to pinpoint significant issues that will impact upon the ultimate result.
The extent of the period from vasectomy to reversal is an important factor, as success rates are known to diminish the longer the break has been. This is due to the increased probability of pressure injury sustained in the epididymis or even a blockage within it.
Your doctor will be interested in any history of complications that may have occurred after the the vasectomy such as scrotal hematoma or any post operative epididymis infection. Your partners reproductive potential will also be assessed and you must realise that if you were was having difficulty with conception before your vasectomy, this situation is unlikely to change after vasectomy reversal. Also, your specialist will try to procure your surgical notes relevant to your vasectomy to determine, if possible, how your vasectomy was actually carried out.
For instance, depending whether the vasectomy was performed high up on the tube or quite low down near the epididymis, could have an effect on the difficulty of the reversal surgery. Your physician will also analyse your physical make up to get a superior understanding of what he will encounter during the reconstruction.
Small spongy testes can suggest impaired sperm manufacture and project a poor result.
An enlarged or uneven epididymis can mean secondary epididymal impediment that may require a vasoepididymostomy. On the other hand, an incidence of a sperm granuloma is a satisfactory diagnosis as these sperm granulomas allow for the venting of high pressure away from the epididymis, and subsequently allowing protection from pressure induced harm.
If you have a sperm granuloma your prognosis is good irrespective of the period since the vasectomy took place.
When a very harmful vasectomy has been undertaken, it is conceivable that large portions of the vas have been excised or cut out. This may mean that extensions of the incisions may be required to establish a tension free reconnection leading to more complicated surgery. Naturally, if a satisfactory outcome is obtained by re establishing sperm flow in the man, a successful pregnancy can only be obtained providing the female is also capable of giving birth.
The woman should organize for a gynecological examination to guarantee that she is able to conceive. How near she is to menopause can be also be an issue because of the time that it may take for sperm flow to be re established in the man following a successful vasectomy reversal.
These are just some of the considerations that need to be taken into account before undertaking a vasectomy reversal.
Author Antony Wilton discusses important mens issues on his site
Vasectomy Reversal
His regularly updated blog can be found at
Vasectomy Reversal Blog
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Esperanza to hold mens health fair (The San Angelo Standard-Times)
In honor of National Mens Health Week, Esperanza Health & Dental Centers in San Angelo is hosting a mens health fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the YMCA, 353 S. Randolph St.
Basics of Vasectomy Reversal
After vasectomy, sperm are still made by the testes, but since the vas tubes have been blocked, they cannot exit in the usual way. On each side, sperm can still enter the epididymis (the very long coiled tube behind the testis where sperm normally become mature) and the lowermost portion of the vas tube upstream from the obstruction imposed by the vasectomy. After vasectomy, the very fine tubes of the epididymis can become blocked. There are two possible explanations for this.
In the epididymis, white blood cells in the normal testicular circulation ingest and recycle the trapped sperm. This increased white blood cell activity is a chronic inflammation by definition. Inflammations can lead to scarring, and scarring in a very fine tube like the epididymis can cause obstruction. For example, inflammation of the liver (hepatitis) can cause scarring of the liver (cirrhosis); inflammation of joints (arthritis) can cause scarring with stiffness and decreased range of motion. The longer the duration of the inflammation, the greater the likelihood of scarring and obstruction, and this can occur in the epididymis, just as it can in any organ.
An alternative explanation for obstruction in the epididymis after vasectomy is that pressure increases upstream from the vasectomy site and can cause a “blowout” in the fine tubes of the epididymis, resulting in leakage of sperm and local inflammation and blockage.
Whatever the explanation for the obstruction in the epididymis (scarring or blowout), its likelihood is roughly proportional to the number of years that have gone by since the vasectomy. After an interval of only 1-3 years, the epididymis is rarely blocked, but after an interval of 20 years, the likelihood of secondary obstruction may be over 30%. Fixing the vas where it was divided at the time of the vasectomy (vasovasostomy or “VV”) will not correct the secondary obstruction upstream in the epididymis. That requires a more elaborate procedure called a vasoepididymostomy or “VE”, in which the portion of the vas tube above or “downstream” from the vasectomy site blockage is connected to the portion of the epididymis “upstream” from the secondary obstruction.
June 11-17: International Men’s Health Week (PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance)
Next week marks the 13th year of International Men’s Health Week, celebrated annually during the week preceding and including Father’s Day to honor the importance of men’s health and wellness.
Vasectomy Reversal - Things You Should Know
By Inder Walia
Vasectomy reversal is conducted with an aim to restore fertility in the life of couples that want to explore the joys of parenthood. Vasectomy is considered the most reliable and safe contraceptive method that prevents more pregnancies every year than any other method of birth control. However, with changing times, attitudes, priorities, and financial and emotional circumstances also undergo transformation. One may later in life, feel the need to get a vasectomy reversal. A reversal scores higher than all other available options because its more natural, less expensive and potentially more effective!
It is critical to garner all information regarding vasectomy reversal before deciding to take the plunge! The following are a few pointers to quickly walk you through all that you need to know about vasectomy reversal.
What exactly is vasectomy reversal? Reverting of Vasectomy is a microsurgical procedure that can backtrack vasectomy. It involves the single or multiple suturing of the two severed ends of vas deferens, the tubes that carry sperm from the epididymis to the prostate. This allows for the renewed flow of sperm through the vas deferens in the male reproductive tract. This sperm goes on to become part of the semen ejaculated at orgasm and thus brings about the ability to father children. This medical procedure is known as a “vasovasostomy. If there is a blockage due to the increased pressure in the epididymis, it must be bypassed in an alternate form of surgical procedure known as a “vasoepididymostomy.
The cost of Vasectomy Reversal- It is a good idea to investigate the total expenditure of a vasectomy reversal, which may be anywhere from $4,000 to $20,000. Unlike vasectomy, most insurance companies do not cover the reversal procedure. The asking price may vary among physicians, states, and according to the methodology used. For instance, the services of a vasectomy reversal expert in the US may cost you an average of $10,000. The same would cost you $5000 in Canada. This is all inclusive of the three fees applicable for a vasectomy reversal, which are the surgical fee, the anaesthetic fee and the hospital fee. It is however possible to lessen the charges by opting for an operation at an outpatient surgical centre instead of a hospital. That may reduce the price of a vasectomy reversal to anywhere from $2500 to $4000. Furthermore, in case of a vasoepidiymostomy, the overall cost of the reversal will mount, as this procedure is more complex and time-consuming.
How successful is Vasectomy Reversal? Vasectomy reversal is quite successful! The success rates again vary in accordance with factors such as the duration after vasectomy, experience, expertise and the course of action or approach of your surgeon towards vasectomy reversal. A recent study focussed on vasectomy reversal and conducted on over 1000 couples revealed that if the duration after vasectomy was less than three years, 75 percent of couples achieved a pregnancy, if three to eight years, 50 percent, nine to 14 years, 40 percent and over 14 years post vasectomy, 30 percent of couples achieved a pregnancy. The overall pregnancy rate was 52 percent. Repeat vasectomy reversals were less winning with only 40 percent of pairs accomplishing a pregnancy. In addition, success rates vary from surgeon to surgeon, some boasting of as much as a 97% success rate of a straightforward vasectomy reversal.
Complications- Though rare, there may arise some difficulties following vasectomy reversal. These include the oozing of blood from the corners of the scrotal incision, which usually stops within 12 hours following the procedure. Some patients may incur a large bruise that settles with time and rest. Also, there are chances of an infection that is quite painful, accompanied by the scrotum acquiring a red colour. Immediately contact your vasectomy reversal doctor in case of any of the above complications!
Choosing your Vasectomy reversal expert- The reversal surgery is specialized and technical and demands extensive training in microsurgery and an experience of conducting several reversals throughout a year. Skill, experience and expertise are major factors that have a bearing on the success of vasectomy reversal. Other than that, ensure that your surgeon not only has had formal fellowship training but also is licensed to practise in your state or province. Confirm that your micro surgeon /reversal specialist performs the reversal using an operating microscope, and 2-layer closure with 10-0 nylon sutures. It would also be wise to check out the surgeons statistics for number of reversals per year, number of successes, complication rates and whether or not he has a university appointment.
Pregnancy after vasectomy Reversal- The statistics for pregnancy post vasectomy, as mentioned above, are quite encouraging! After vasectomy reversal a couple may attain pregnancy within a couple of months. The standard duration is at least a period of 12 months. Most pregnancies occur with in a period of two years after the reversal.
Armed with the above knowledge, it is now time to make your decision. It is best not to delay vasectomy reversal because even if you do not plan a child for the next one or two years, it must be borne in mind that post vasectomy reversal pregnancy takes an average time of twelve months. In addition, the more you delay, the more affected are your chances of attaining patency. Hope this information helps you make an informed decision about your and your familys future!
Inder Walia
For all the Vasectomy related questions, please visit www.vasectomyreversalnews.com.
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Vasectomy Reversal