- What is vasovasostomy?
- Why is vasovasostomy performed?
- What is vasovasostomy?
- Is there a previous preparation for vasovasostomy?
- How successful are vasovasostomies?
- Care after the procedure
- Alternatives to vasovasostomy
What is a vasovasostomy?
A vasovasostomy is a microsurgical procedure performed on men to reverse a vasectomy performed or to be able to have children if they have suffered scrotal lesions or pathologies and wish to have offspring.
The purpose of a vasovasostomy is to restore the two vas deferens that connect the testicles to the ejaculatory duct in order to regain fertility.
A vasovasostomy is a microsurgical procedure to reverse a vasectomy.
Why is a vasovasostomy performed?
Vasovasostomy is performed to try to restore fertility. Whereas a vasectomy may have been performed because the man and his partner wanted to avoid future pregnancies.
A vasovasostomy may be an option for men who change their minds or because the man has started a different relationship and he and his new partner want to start a family.
What is a vasovasostomy?
A vasovasostomy must be performed in several steps because it is a very delicate area within the reproductive tract.
First, the surgeon puts the patient under general anesthesia so that the surgery is completely painless. In some cases, the procedure can be performed under local anesthesia, such as an epidural. When the anesthesia has taken effect and the patient is fully asleep, after 2 – 4 hours, a two centimeter incision is made in the skin of the scrotal area.
With the aid of a microscope, the vas deferens is accessed to remove the plugged area and the cut ends of the vas deferens are reconnected, taking care to ensure a good blood supply and tight sutures. If the sutures are too large and the connection is not watertight, the vasovasostomy may fail.
Finally, the wound is closed with stitches and a compressive dressing.
Is there any preparation before performing a vasovasostomy?
Before performing a vasovasostomy, the patient will be seen by the anesthesia department to determine his or her health status and to obtain a medical history before anesthesia is performed. Usually, the following tests are also requested: a chest x-ray, a blood test and an electrocardiogram.
Once the tests are collected, the surgeon examines the vascular fluid under a microscope to verify that it is of good quality. This is evident if it is clear and contains fully formed, healthy sperm. If the sperm are observed to be motile, this gives the procedure a better chance of restoring fertility.
How successful are vasovasostomies?
In some cases, vasovasostomies can restore fertility, but not all. The longer the time between the vasectomy and the reversal procedure, the less likely it is to be successful. This is because the body tends to develop anti-sperm antibodies after a vasectomy, which are believed to decrease sperm motility.
Other potential obstacles to achieving pregnancy after vasectomy and subsequent vasovasostomy include blockages in the vas deferens.
Post-operative care
The recovery process after surgery is usually short. However, it is usual to notice mild discomfort for two to three weeks. The patient can return to work in three or four days if he/she is sitting at work without exerting him/herself. If his work involves walking or moving around a lot, he will be able to return to work after eight or ten days. If it requires a great physical effort, you should return to work in two or three weeks.
If the patient is involved in sports, he/she will be able to return to his/her routine in three to four weeks, depending on how the post-operative follow-up proceeds.
Once discharged, the patient will have to follow the recovery process and the dates of the check-ups to which he/she will have to go for follow-up.
Alternatives to vasovasostomy
Another type of vasectomy reversal procedure is a vasoepidididymostomy, which is more technically demanding than a vasovasostomy because it involves connecting the severed vas deferens directly to the epididymis, the tube that connects the testicle to the vas deferens where immature sperm are stored until they develop the ability to swim and fertilize an egg.
In any case, it is highly recommended that, in any case, you consult a specialist in Andrology.