Is a Vasectomy Reversible?

Doctors perform about half a million vasectomies in America every year, and it’s a viable solution for permanent contraception. Yet, life often changes, and some people decide they want to be able to have children again.

Dr. Himansh Khanna and our dedicated medical team perform vasectomies and offer many other treatments to manage reproductive and urinary needs to residents of the Brooklyn, New York, area. If you’ve had a vasectomy, we can help you understand your options.

So, can your vasectomy be reversed? And what risks are involved in the procedure? Let’s first examine how a vasectomy works, and then look at the possibility of reversal in detail.

What is a vasectomy?

A vasectomy prevents sperm from reaching the vagina and fertilizing an egg. It works by severing the vas deferens, tubes that carry sperm to your urethra from your testicles. 

This solution has a high success rate as a form of contraception. It prevents pregnancy without compromising your ability to get and maintain an erection, affecting your sex drive, or being able to ejaculate. 

Once the vasectomy is done, you don’t stop producing sperm; it simply is reabsorbed as opposed to entering the vas deferens and becoming part of your ejaculate.

How is a vasectomy reversed?

To reverse a vasectomy, a surgeon reattaches the ends of the vas deferens. People often choose this option if they want kids after losing a child or partner, want to have kids with a new partner, or simply change their minds about having kids. It can also relieve chronic testicular pain from the original vasectomy. 

Sperm will appear in your semen again in as little as a few months after the reversal. However, the longer you wait to reverse it, the lower the chances it will be successful in producing healthy, viable sperm.

What are the risks of vasectomy reversal?

The procedure itself is low risk, but numerous factors can determine how successfully it can restore sperm to high levels:

• Existing testicular conditions
• Blockages that develop after the initial surgery
• Healing complications post-surgery
• Scarring
• Infection
• Hematoma (mass of clotted blood)
• Pain

The time it takes for normal sperm count levels to return will vary from person to person. 

Is vasectomy reversal right for you?

Vasectomies are often reversed, and most people experience only minor side effects and discomfort. Contact Dr. Khanna today for questions and concerns you have about vasectomy reversal.