Your FAQ Breakdown About Getting a Vasectomy Reversal

Your decision to get a vasectomy was a huge step in your life, and your choice to reverse that vasectomy is just as significant. To help you feel comfortable with your decision, we’ve rounded up and answered some of the top FAQs surrounding vasectomy reversals.

With our expert insights and guidance, you can rest easy knowing that you’re making the right call for your family plans. And if you can’t find the answer to your question here, feel free to ask our male fertility specialists directly and schedule a free, online assessment.

What is The Success Rate of Vasectomy Reversals?

When performed by qualified and highly trained reproductive urologists, vasectomy reversals have very high success rates. In fact, 99% of vasectomies reversed less than 3 years after a vasectomy will result in the return of sperm to the ejaculate.

However, the success of a reversal depends on multiple factors like your age, time since the original vasectomy, pre-existing fertility issues, and, most importantly, the skill and experience of the operating surgeon. In general, it’s best to look for a fellowship-trained, reproductive urologist that has multiple years of experience performing these types of procedures.

How Long Does a Vasectomy Reversal Procedure Take?

In most cases, you can expect the procedure to take approximately 1.5-3 hours. Be cautious of anyone offering to do the procedure in 1 hour. They are likely not performing the necessary steps to successfully complete the correct surgery.

What Are the Different Types of Vasectomy Reversals?

When reversing a vasectomy, your microsurgeon will need to reattach the vas deferens via one of two microsurgical techniques:

Vasovasostomy – During this procedure, the severed ends of each vas deferens tube are sewn back together.
Vasoepididymostomy – During this surgery, the vas deferens are attached directly to the epididymis (a small organ at the back of each testicle that holds sperm).

Importantly, surgeons generally cannot determine ahead of time which procedure is needed. The decision is usually made during the operation, and in some cases, both surgical techniques may be needed. The critical factor is that your reproductive urologist should be able to do both procedures. If they are not, then there is a chance that you will be getting the wrong surgery.

How Painful is the Procedure and the Recovery?

You’ll be completely asleep during the procedure. Pain is minimal and well controlled with the use of local numbing medicine. After you wake up and the medications wear off, you may experience some light soreness in your scrotum or testicles. Most pain symptoms go away within a few days after your procedure, but if it persists, contact your reproductive urologist at Posterity Health for assistance.

After your procedure, you’ll be sent home with mild oral pain medications that will help alleviate discomfort during your recovery. Over the counter drugs like Ibuprofen can be very effective at alleviating pain as well. We also recommend having some ice packs ready to go for your recovery and that you avoid any type of strenuous activity or heavy lifting for several days.

Are There Any Potential Complications?

In the majority of cases, patients do not encounter any major complications during a vasectomy reversal procedure. While it is uncommon, you may experience symptoms after your procedure like:

Swelling and bruising
Bleeding
Infections

Your male fertility specialist can provide care services to address these complications.

Does Insurance Cover the Cost of a Reversal?

Most health insurance policies do not cover vasectomy reversals and you’ll likely need to pay out of pocket. However, some male fertility clinics can provide financing solutions that make the procedure much more affordable.

For instance, Posterity Health partners with Care Credit to provide flexible financing for male fertility treatments. That financing plan combines all your treatment costs into one monthly payment that is easy to manage and understand.

Can I Get Another Vasectomy After a Reversal?

Yes, a vasectomy can be redone if needed and there is little-to-no risk associated with this second procedure. However, you should tell your urologist that you have had a reversal so there are no surprises when you go in for the procedure.

How Long Does It Take to Get Pregnant After a Reversal?

Typically, you will need to abstain from ejaculation for 2 weeks following a vasectomy reversal procedure. After this, multiple ejaculations are needed to ensure good flow through the newly connected tubes. You are fertile at this point and may achieve conception – so if you and your partner are not ready to get pregnant just yet, use protection. On average, it will take most couples at least 3 months to successfully get pregnant after the surgery.

At Posterity Health, we always conduct a post-operative semen analysis roughly 6 weeks after the procedure to ensure it was successful. The results of your semen analysis will help us better predict your chances of pregnancy. Following this, your progress will be followed every 6-12 weeks until a pregnancy is achieved.

Benefits of Seeing a Reproductive Urologist

One of the many advantages of seeing a male fertility specialist is that they are available for excellent post-op care services. This includes everything from wound checks and knowledge about how to optimize your post-operative experience to future treatments and more. For example, if your sperm parameters are in need of a boost, your Posterity Health specialist can go over your hormones and prescribe medications to strengthen and improve your sperm numbers.

Book a Vasectomy Reversal Near You Today

At Posterity Health, our skilled microsurgeons have achieved incredibly high success rates across the U.S. We can schedule your reversal consultation within 72 hours and book your surgery within a few weeks to speed up your timeline to conception. And we’ll perform the procedure at an affordable price and can structure a flexible payment plan to meet your needs.