Vasectomies are incredibly effective at preventing pregnancy — nearly 100%. Usually, a man decides to have a vasectomy when his family is complete. However, circumstances can change.
If a man remarries, experiences the loss of a child, or has a change of heart, he may regret his vasectomy. In rare cases, a vasectomy causes chronic testicular pain, and reversal gets you relief.
The great news about vasectomies is that they are reversible. Experienced urologist W. Cooper Buschemeyer III, MD, at Buschemeyer Urology can perform the reversal procedure.
Here’s what you should know if you regret your vasectomy.
During a vasectomy, your surgeon disconnects the tubes (the vas deferens) that deliver sperm into the semen. When the procedure is reversed, Dr. Buschemeyer reconnects these tubes, so sperm is again present in semen.
A vasectomy does not affect your sperm production. After a vasectomy, your body simply absorbs the sperm instead of releasing it through semen.
Dr. Buschemeyer uses one of two methods to reverse a vasectomy:
This is the most common way to reverse a vasectomy. During a vasovasostomy, Dr. Buschemeyer reopens and reconnects the severed ends of the vas deferens.
The most common method involves reopening and reconnecting the severed ends of the vas deferens. This process permits sperm to flow from the testicles and mix with semen for ejaculation.
In certain cases, a vasoepididymostomy is a more effective way of reversing a vasectomy. Dr. Buschemeyer connects the vas deferens to the epididymis, a small tube that sits behind the testicle. The epididymis stores sperm and carries it away from the testes to the semen.
Dr. Buschemeyer must access the vas deferens first to determine which procedure is right for each patient.
A man can get their partner pregnant after a vasectomy reversal. Sperm usually reappears in the sperm in just a few months after your reversal surgery, but it can take a year for some men.
The reversal doesn’t guarantee pregnancy, however — rates of pregnancy range from 30%-90% after vasectomy.
Factors that influence pregnancy include:
If you have trouble getting pregnant after a reversal, a woman may need a fertility workup, and Dr. Buschemeyer may determine if there’s sperm blockage due to scar tissue in the vas deferens or epididymis.
He can also do a sperm analysis to determine the count and health of your sperm.
Dr. Buschemeyer can reverse a vasectomy at any time — even 20 years or longer after your procedure. If it’s been more than 10 years since your original vasectomy, chances of getting a partner pregnant are greatly reduced.
If you regret your vasectomy, make an appointment at our office. We can discuss your goals with reversal and set expectations. Dr. Buschemeyer also reviews your medical history and the best treatment for you.
If you’re reconsidering your vasectomy, contact Buschemeyer Urology at the Conroe, Willis, or The Woodlands, Texas, offices. Call or use this website to schedule an appointment.
