Contact us.
A common question asked is whether the reversal will be harder if clips were used or if the patient was told by the urologist “I took out a section and burned it.”
In the vast majority of cases this has no influence on the microscopic vasectomy procedure.
The procedure is harder if both sides of the vasectomy were done in the vas deferens closest to the testicle-the convoluted vas. This area is smaller in diameter and not straight (convoluted) and this makes the repair a little harder.
Whether clips or burned, there is not difference in how difficult the reversal will be. Having had clips makes the area of the vasectomy easier to locate.
The amount of vas tube removed is usually not an issue unless there is a very large segment removed and this is customarily not done.
Of note, if you have had two vasectomies done, this could be an issue. If you had a complication after the vasectomy, say a large hematoma or infection that had to resolve or be operated on, these may affect the repair. On all unusual issues, be sure to make the reversal doctor aware.
Ga No Scalpel Vasectomy: Whether the concern about having a no scalpel vasectomy is pain, cost, convenience or safety…we have you covered! Check out the link below-“Everything you’d ever want to know about having a vasectomy” at Northeast Georgia Urological Associates. Dr McHugh does between 30-40 a month, hundreds a year and several thousand in his 30 year urological career in Northeast Georgia.
The procedure itself: All no scalpel vasectomies across America use a small hemostat to spread the skin (i.e. no scalpel), however whether after dividing the vas deferens tube the urologist uses cautery, clips or suture the success rate of 1/2000 is about the same. It becomes about the preference of the urologist. Dr. McHugh uses electrocautery (fulgurate or heat). We have learned over the years that many patients prefer not having the foreign body of the clip left in the scrotum. (See link above for the McHugh Method eBook on Vasectomy)
So the answer to the question is that there are several combinations of how the procedure is billed and options re: how it is performed. We do them all. We have done thousands of vasectomies over the years and perform hundreds a year.
“We know a thing or two about doing vasectomies, because we’ve done a vasectomy or two.”
Dr. McHugh is Georgia’s most experienced no scalpel vasectomy and microscopic vasectomy reversal urologist.
“The office staff was very nice and very informative to me and my wife. The doctor was very personable and made you feel comfortable. He explained everything he was doing and explained it before he did it. I would recommend him to anyone and you don’t find that in many doctors these days.” Z.S.
More concerns or questions? Email us.
Great Doctor. Completely helps you understand what issues you have and actually talks to you with great respect. – S.G.
Thank you very much. You are kind!- John McHugh
In men with prior vasectomy, microsurgical reconstruction of the reproductive tract is more cost-effective than sperm retrieval with in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection if the obstructive interval is less than 15 years and no female fertility risk factors are present. If epididymal obstruction is detected or advanced female age is present, the decision to use either microsurgical reconstruction or sperm retrieval with in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection should be individualized. Sperm retrieval with in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection is preferred to surgical treatment when female factors requiring in vitro fertilization are present or when the chance for success with sperm retrieval and intracytoplasmic sperm injection exceeds the chance for success with surgical treatment.
A Microscopic Vasectomy Reversal Podcast by Dr. McHugh
If you prefer to read a PDF of Reversal 101
You can schedule your free reversal consultation 24/7 by giving us your phone number and our reversal coordinator will call you with an appointment.
So although the two primary areas that need to heal before strenuous physical activity or sexual activity are different in character, the magic number of time is around three weeks-four weeks.
Anecdotally, I have had a patient present to my office the day after a reversal stating that he was having bleeding at the incision site. He confessed that he had had sex the night of the procedure. I reassured him the bleeding was from the skin edge and nothing to be concerned about.
This couple had a baby almost 9 months later to the day. Go figure!
I saw a patient recently on whom I performed a reversal around a year ago. He and his wife have not achieved pregnancy. He showed me the report of a semen analysis which showed around 50 million sperm with a motility of over 50%. Although 60-150 million sperm is considered normal, most urologists feel that any count above 20 million is suitable to achieve pregnancy. Motility should be over 45% (i.e. 45% of the sperm under the microscope are observed to be moving forward). Other parameters such as morphology (how the sperm look) are less important.
From the perspective of the surgeon who performed the procedure, any sperm in the ejaculate indicates that the reversal was successful and now it is up the the male to begin to produce the quality of sperm necessary to achieve pregnancy. As well, there is the added dynamics of the female ability to have a child. As a rule, when there is no pregnancy between a couple without the history of a vasectomy, the problem is about 50/50 male to female. The point is that even if the post reversal male has adequate sperm, pregnancy still requires other factors to be in place as well.
In the above scenario, the good sperm count and motility is a very good start and indicates a good reversal. And it makes the point about couples understanding the difference between patency (presence of sperm after a reversal) and pregnancy. There is usually a 10-15% differential between the two.
Pregnancy is a many splendored thing-Pregnancy after a reversal is a multi-factorial thing.
