What is Vasectomy Reversal?
This is the operation performed for men to regain fertility after a previous vasectomy (Snip). Though men undergo vasectomy with the intention of achieving permanent contraception, due to changing life’s situations, six per cent of men regret their decision and some of them prefer to undergo reversal operation.
What is the Gold Standard Technique and why is that necessary?
Over the years surgeons have tried many techniques to reverse vasectomy, these include insertion of plastic pipes (stents), protein glue, and laser-guided stitching etc. But trials have shown that the gold-standard procedure is a reconstruction of this living tube with microsurgery.
We offer ‘state of the art’ Vasectomy Reversal service by an advanced microsurgery technique called ‘Multi-layer Microsurgical Vaso-vasostomy’. In selected patients, where there is a blockage of the tiny tube called epididymis due to rupture from backpressure after vasectomy (called ‘Blow out’) we perform Vaso-epididymostomy (an even more delicate and complex procedure than vasovasostomy)
The inside diameter of the vas is just 0.2-0.4mm, so infinite care and microscopic stitches that do not obstruct the flow of sperms are required to make a reconnection that will be as close to the original as possible. Preserving the patency of the ultra minute lumen of the vas is the essence of the procedure. This can be only achieved by a highly skilled and experienced team and specialist equipment.
Who is suitable for vasectomy reversal?
First of all – let us say that we treat all patients with the same non-judgmental attitude. We accept that when you chose to have a vasectomy you did so with the best of intentions and in the belief that under the circumstances you made the correct decision for you at that time. Personal circumstances change and we are simply here to help you regain your fertility.
What sort of men desires a vasectomy reversal?
The patients cover a range in age from 24 to 63, and interestingly there are as many in the 38-50 age bracket as there are in the 28-37 years old bracket. Approximately 88 % of patients have formed a new relationship and wish to consolidate this with a child between them, 10% of patients just decide they just want to change their minds and want more children (usually as they become better off or their children grow up and are less demanding). The remainder just feels dissatisfied with their vasectomy or have post-vasectomy pain syndrome and wish to be returned to ‘normal.
Our Simplified Seven Steps of the Reversal Process
1.Consultation: Please call our clinic or fill the enquiry form on this website or on our dedicated Vasectomy Reversal website. We will be delighted to offer a ‘No obligation and free’ Telephone or video consultation within the same week (usually within two days). The telephone/video consultation will be conducted by our surgeon that will include a detailed history taking and discussion about the potential personalized chances of success, any specific implications and alternatives. Following this consultation, you will receive a free detailed summary of the consultation by password encrypted email. Up to this point, our services are completely free and you are not under any obligation to pay or come back to us. Once you had your free remote consultation and we send the documents to you, we will never contact you unless you decide to come back to us. If you prefer to have a face-to-face consultation, we will be happy to offer that for a charge of £ 240. This will include a clinical examination. This charge will be reduced from the procedure fee if you have the procedure with us.
For further information on the cost please click COST
2. Booking a Date for the procedure:
For the vast majority of patients who request reversal for regaining fertility, we are able to offer a booking based on telephone consultation. We take a non-refundable deposit of £600 to make a booking for the procedure. The remaining appropriate fee needs to be settled two weeks prior to the operation date. Our Operation days for vasectomy reversal are Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
3. Visit for the Procedure: We have patients travelling from all over UK, Ireland and further afield. We advise arriving on the previous day if coming from far off.
On the day at the Clinic
a: Our friendly receptionist and nurses will receive you and make you feel welcome and relaxed
b: Our surgeon will see you and examine you. He will go through the original summary of the consultation and explain further the anatomy and function of the testis, epididymis and the tube (vas). A physical examination will include the assessment of the cut-ends of the vas including their length and thickness (occasionally the vas ends can be very fine and fragile), the positioning of the original vasectomy, the quality of epididymis and finally the ease of access to the vas. Also important is the patient’s general health (diabetes, blood pressure etc.) and any previous surgery to the groin area. After this, the surgeon will receive your written consent.
c: The nurses will see you and give you appropriate premedication and take you into the operating room. Your partner can stay in a private room with coffee and refreshments and watch TV to spend the next three to four hours when you have the operation. She may also have a walk in Stockton City centre that is only three minutes walk from the clinic.
d: You will have conscious sedation and local anaesthetic. Even the most anxious men had a good and comfortable experience with us during the procedure. The surgeon will approach the scrotum by appropriate approach and identify the tubes. We will check the fluid from the ends of the vas attached to the testis in the microscope. If there are sperms in that sample, there is a very high chance of you having a successful outcome (our definition of success is to have sperms appear in the semen after the procedure or patency). Our delight will be to make the experience of both you and your partner as comfortable as possible.
If there are definite signs of blow-out ( determined by the appearance of fluid, changes in the epididymis and microscopic finding of the fluid), we will try to do vasoepididymostomy on one side and do the vasovasostomy on the other side (time permitting). The maximum time we allow for the safe completion of the procedure is 4.5 hours.
5. Going Home: You may go home immediately within an hour after the procedure once you have something to eat. We would advise you to stay nearby overnight if you have to travel more than 2 hours to your home.
6:Recuperation. Strict rest for 7 days. Then build up back to normal activity on the second week. You may return back to work on the third week avoiding strenuous activities for at least four weeks. No sex for 3 weeks. Take the supplements we would suggest for two months. Semen tests after 12 weeks in the local fertility clinic and forward the results to us.
7: Please don’t forget to let us know the Ultimate Good News
So Call us today if you are thinking about having a vasectomy reversal. You don’t have to delay even if you are planning to have it in the future. It is better you hear from us the full facts before you make your decision when the timing is ripe for you. When you call, please leave a message and we will respond within one working day.