Vasectomy Reversal Procedure  

 Read These Keypoints About Your Vasectomy Reversal Procedure....

The vasectomy reversal procedure is a relatively minor surgical procedure in which the structures responsible for transportation of sperm from the testes to the prostate, the Vas deferens, are reconnected after being disconnected at the time of the Vasectomy surgery. The Vasectomy takes its name from “Vas” = Vas Deferens and “ectomy” = surgical removal.

During a vasectomy, the tube like Vas Deferens are cut and “tied’ by the surgeon with either a clamp or sutures. During the vasectomy reversal procedure, the two ends of the Vas Deferens are untied and re-connected creating the opportunity for uninterrupted sperm flow from the testes, to the epididymis (where the sperm is stored) to the prostate (via the Vas Deferens) where it is finally expelled upon ejaculation.

There are actually two types of Vasectomy reversal procedures that can be performed during vasectomy reversal surgery.

The most common and most preferred is the Vasovasostomy. Here the cut ends of the Vas Deferens are simply re-joined.

Occasionally, it is not always possible to do this particular vasectomy reversal procedure, and it is necessary to attach the Vas Deferens directly to the epididymis.

This particular procedure is called a vasoepididymostomy and is performed when there is some obstruction in the epididymis (usually due to inflammation and scaring) that would prevent sperm flow even with the re-joining of the Vas deferens.

The way the vasectomy was performed often determines what kind of vasectomy reversal procedure you will need.

If the previous surgery left a long Vas deferens remnant, that is, the original cut was made further along the tube rather than closer to the epididymis, the greater the chance of being able to use the more successful vasovasostomy procedure is.

However, if the cut was made closer to the epididymis, leaving a short Vas deferens attached, there is a much greater chance of scaring and obstruction in the epididymis making it necessary to perform the more complicated and less successful vasoepididymostomy.

What type of vasectomy reversal procedure is needed is not often known until surgery has started.  However there are a few tell tale signs that may indicate a greater likelihood of needing the  vasoepididymostomy as your vasectomy reversal procedure.

These tell tale signs will be found by your doctor upon palpation of your scrotum during your pre surgery examination. What your doctor is looking for is a swollen or hardened epididymis that could indicate some form of blockage in the epididymis. In this case the vasovasostomy would not be effective, due to the obstruction not being in the Vas Deferens.

Scrotal examination can also reveal the length of the remaining Vas Deferens. The shorter the remaining Vas Deferens segment is, the greater the chance of needing to have a vasoepididymostomy.