What is the success rate of a vasectomy reversal?
Posted by Mike Malone | Posted in Uncategorized | Posted on 30-06-2010-05-2008
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How and when the original vasectomy was performed can affect the chances of a vasectomy reversal being successful. There is less chance of success if:
- heat (diathermy) was used to close either end of the vas deferens;
- a larger amount of vas deferens was removed;
- the time between the vasectomy and reversal is lengthy.
If ten years or more has passed since the vasectomy, the chance of having sperm reappearing in the semen after a reversal is greatly reduced.
The development of other blockages in the epididymis can also reduce the chance of success. The epididymis can burst (epididymal ‘blow-outs’) due to pressure from sperm build-up. As the blow-out heals, scarring can create an extra blockage and may cause fertility problems.
There are other reasons pregnancy may not happen after reversal surgery. First, while sperm are still produced in the testes, their number decreases slowly over time so that sperm counts may not return to normal even though the vasectomy reversal procedure (ie rejoining the two cut ends of the vas deferens) is successful. Finally, sperm normally mature in the epididymis prior to ejaculation, but this process may not happen normally if the epididymis has been extensively damaged.
