Vasectomy Reversal in Greensboro, NC
Patients who have previously received a vasectomy will occasionally change their mind later on for a wide variety of reasons. While a vasectomy is a permanent form of birth control, there is a procedure that can reverse its effects.
If you have changed your mind about conceiving, contact, Dr. Luke Machen, a board-certified urologist and men’s health specialist with Alliance Urology Specialists in Greensboro, NC. Dr. Machen will take the time to discus the chances of success following a vasectomy reversal. To schedule your vasectomy reversal consultation, at our men’s health clinic in Greensboro, NC, please call 336-274-1114 or request a consultation through our secure online form.
How it Works
A vasectomy procedure involves the cutting and sealing of the vas deferens. These tubes are what allows the sperm to travel from the testicles into the semen. During a vasectomy reversal, Dr. Machen will use a microscope and very small sutures to reconnect the tubes of the vas deferens and restore its connection between the sperm and semen. Using a microscope offers the highest success rates for the procedure and is considered the gold standard.
The restoration of the vas deferens can be accomplished in two different ways:
- Vasovasostomy: sewing the severed ends of the vas deferens back together
- Vasoepididymostomy: attaching the vas deferens directly to the epididymis, which is the organ that holds a man’s storage of sperm.
Risks of a Vasectomy Reversal
A vasectomy reversal procedure is minimally invasive and is not associated with many side effects. Uncommon complications that can arise from a vasectomy reversal include:
- Infection
- Bleeding, including a collection of blood called a hematoma
- failure of the procedure
- even if the procedure is a success, the connection can scar shut over time
Chances of Success
While success rates of microscopic vasectomy reversal are excellent, they will not always be successful. Factors that influence the outcome of a vasectomy reversal are:
- Length of time since vasectomy procedure: the more time that has passed, the less likely the vasectomy reversal will be to work
- Your age
- Prior surgeries near the affected area (hernia, prostate resection, etc.)
After the Vasectomy Reversal
Once a time span of 6 weeks has passed after the vasectomy reversal, you will check a semen sample and attend a follow up appointment. After a vas-to-vas reconnection, a semen analysis will be checked at 6 weeks and again at 3 months. Many men will have sperm in their ejaculate by 6 weeks, but the average time to see sperm in your ejaculate after reversal is 3 months. If you required the vas-to-epididymis connection, it takes longer for sperm to return to your ejaculate. After this procedure, typically the first semen analysis will be checked in 3 months.
A Second Attempt
If your first attempt at a vasectomy reversal was unsuccessful, you can still try again, although the success rates are lower with each attempt. Sometimes, the surgery will prove ineffective due to a blockage that has formed within the vas deferens, or from other various complications.
Each surgeon will have their own vasectomy reversal success rate, which is why it is advised to seek care from an experienced, fellowship trained surgeon like Dr Machen who has performed many successful vasectomy reversals.
Schedule Your Vasectomy Reversal in Greensboro, NC
If you are considering a vasectomy reversal, contact Dr. Luke Machen to schedule a consultation and discuss your chance of success following your reversal. To schedule your consultation at our men’s health clinic in Greensboro, NC, please call 336-274-1114 or request an appointment through our secure online form. Dr. Machen will take the time to answer any questions you may have so that you can make an informed decision about your care.