What is Vasectomy Reversal and What Can Be Expected After the Procedure?
By: Seomul Evans
Submitted: 2011-09-13 11:39:31 | Word Count: 674
Vasectomy and its reversal procedure are both relatively simple micro surgical procedures that are generally conducted as outpatient surgeries In the original procedure, the vas deferens are cut and occluded to stop the passage of sperms and in vasectomy reversal , the anatomical structures responsible for the transfer of sperms; vas deferens from the testicles to the prostrate glands and from there to the urogential opening during ejaculation are reconnected to clear the path for the passage pf sperms. The term vasectomy is an amalgamation of two words Vas which stands for the vas deferens tube that are severed during the vasectomy surgery and 'ectomy' which refers to a surgical procedure.
When a vasectomy reversal is conducted, the micro surgeon tries to unfasten the two ends of the vas deferens tube that were clamped or sutured during the original procedure; these ends are then sutured back together to produce the chance of continuous flow of sperms to the prostrate glands. Depending on factors such as your age and the amount of time that has lapsed since the vasectomy surgery, the reversal procedure can be carried out in two ways:
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Vasovasostomy is the simpler of the two procedures and also the preferred form of surgical procedure to reverse a vasectomy. However, this procedure is only feasible if not more than three years have lapsed since the original procedure. In t surgery, the severed ends of the vas deferens tubes are simply joined back together with minute sutures.
However, when a decade or more has passed since the surgery, there is a possibility of certain complications like the growth of scar tissue that can turn into a hindrance when joining the severed ends of the vas deferens, in such a scenario, it may not be possible to reconnect the end of the vas deferens directly to the epididymis and another procedure known as vasoepididymostomy is carried out instead of the simpler vasovasostomy. When there is some form of impediment that may pose a hindrance to the flow of perms even when the vas deferens is reconnected; this procedure is used. The type of reversal procedure that you will need will largely depend on how the original surgery was conducted. If in the initial procedure the vas deferens was cut further along the tubing; the surgeon will have the ability to use a greater length of the vas deferens tube to connect in with the epididymis and there will be good chances of a successful vasovasostomy
When it is not possible another vasectomy reversal procedure is called for. This specific operation is known as a vasoepididymostomy and is carried out when there's some impediment in the epididymis (usually due to inflammation and scaring) that would preclude sperm flow rate even with the re-connecting of the Vas Deferens.
However, you need to understand that there is no way for the surgeon to know about the appropriate procedure which can be used to reverse your vasectomy unless he/she open you up and can se the condition of the vas deferens and any issues that may have been created by the initial procedure. However, there are certain tell tale, external, physical traits that may point to the need for a vasoepididymostomy. For instance, the surgeon will usually examine your scrortum before the surgery, in such an examination the doctor is looking for a hardened or puffy epididymis that an create some sort of obstruction in the eididymis. A full examination will also reveal the length of the vas deferens tube tat has en left over, if it is short then vasoepididymostomy may be the only option to reverse the original procedure. However, despite a thorough scortum examination, the surgeon will still have to make the final decision after opening the scortum. Vasectomy reversal is generally conducted under the influence of general anesthesia but using local or epidural anesthesia is also an option. You will be sent back home after the effect of the anesthesia wears off and you should be able to resume your normal activities within a few weeks.
