Reversing a Vasectomy | HMT St Hugh's Hospital

Reversing a Vasectomy

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What is reversing a vasectomy?

You had a vasectomy, which is meant to be a permanent method of male contraception. It involved cutting both the tubes (vas deferens) that carry sperm from your testicles. Reversing a vasectomy is a procedure to rejoin the tubes.

Reversing a vasectomy can fail, even if the tubes are rejoined.

What are the benefits of surgery?

The aim of rejoining the tubes is to allow sperm to mix with your semen, making you fertile again.

Are there any alternatives to surgery?

You may want to consider using donor sperm, either from someone you know or from a sperm bank.

Using a technique called artificial insemination, your doctor will inject the sperm into your partner’s womb or near the neck of her womb. The sperm then fertilises her egg in the normal way.

It is possible for your doctor to take sperm from one of your testicles using a needle (sperm aspiration). In the laboratory, a single sperm can be injected directly into one of your partner’s eggs.

What does the operation involve?

The operation is performed under a general anaesthetic and usually takes an hour to 90 minutes.

Your surgeon will usually make two cuts, about 3 centimetres long, on each side of your scrotum.

Your surgeon will examine each testicle before finding and freeing up the tubes, and removing any scar tissue. Your surgeon will use an operating microscope to stitch the ends of the tubes back together.

How soon will I recover?

You should be able to go home the same day or the day after.

Do not do strenuous exercise, like running and riding a bicycle, for 7 to 14 days.

You should be able to return to work after about a week. If your work involves strenuous exercise, you may need to stay off work for up to 3 weeks.

Regular exercise should help you to return to normal activities as soon as possible. Before you start exercising, ask the healthcare team or your GP for advice.

Your doctor will ask you to give a sample of your semen after 6 to 8 weeks. The sample will be tested to find out if there are any sperm. If there are no sperm, it is unlikely that the operation will be a success.

What complications can happen?

General complications of any operation

Pain
Bleeding
Infection of the surgical site (wound) or in your scrotum

Specific complications of this operation

Long-term pain in your testicles
Reduced sperm count over time

Availability

Private

Pricing*

Consultant

£525

Anaesthetist

£210

Hospital

£3082

Prices start from

£3817

*The prices shown are minimum guide prices only. Diagnostic scans and investigations are not included unless otherwise stated. The exact cost of treatment will be made clear to you before you proceed.

This document is intended for information purposes only and should not replace advice your healthcare team gives you. This information is published under license from EIDO Healthcare UK and is protected by copyright. Other than for your personal, non-commercial use, you may not copy, print, download or otherwise reproduce it.

Reversing a vasectomy is an operation to rejoin the tubes that carry sperm from your testicles. It may make you fertile again.

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Everybody was kind, considerate and a jolly bunch, which helps to put you at ease and gives you confidence in knowing that they know what they are doing. 5 stars.

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Very good hospital and very good staff. I have never met so many caring people in one place. The nursing was 1st class. The encouragement to walk was also very good.

I had an amazing experience during my time at St Hugh’s Hospital, from my initial consultation to the aftercare following my procedure. Communication with the cosmetic nurse was brilliant; every member of staff I met was kind respectful, caring and polite. My surgeon was fantastic, so professional and kind, I trusted his knowledge completely.