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Success rate and failure
In simple words, reversing the vasectomy means reconnecting the vas back together in a way that leaves the canal open.
As the ultimate goal of vasectomy reversal is
to get the sperm flowing again, you want to make sure your surgeon has a high success rate for sperm recovery.
There is no medical procedure that can enjoy a 100 percent success rate, but vasectomy reversals are surgeries
that boast a fairly low failure rate.
The results of vasectomy reversals are reported as two percentages.
- Patency rate; that means the percentage of men who have the return of sperm in the ejaculate after reversal.
This means that the operation was technically successful with no failure.
- Pregnancy rate. The pregnancy rate is always lower than the patency rate because many more factors play a role
in getting pregnant other that the return of sperm in the ejaculate.
When asked about results of vasectomy reversals, most surgeons quote Vasovasostomy Study Group revealing that,
at the time of surgery, sperm is present in the vasal fluid in more of 90% cases and pregnancy rate is up to 76%.
This means the surgeons were able to restore sperm flow in the vas tube 90% of the time, and this allowed a
pregnancy rate of 76%, not including couples where the woman was infertile.
There are several factors that contribute to eliminate the failure of the vasectomy reversal procedure
- The technique used.
A direct vas to vas reconnection (vasovasostomy) is the most reliable type of vasectomy reversal with the
highest success rates. When a sperm blockage is seen within the fluid from the cut end of the testicular vas,
a bypass re-connection or vasoepididymostomy should be performed.
It is highly reccommended to choose a surgeon who is experienced in both vasovasostomy and vasoepididymostomy techniques.
This is critical to avoid vasectomy failure.
- The years between the initial surgery and the reversal attempt.
Generally, those men undergoing a vasectomy reversal less than 10 years following the original surgery can expect a
greater chance for a vasectomy reversal
Additionaly, in some cases, new sperm are unable to fertilize the egg even with a successful vasectomy reversal,
because sperm quality diminishes over time .
- The experience and skill of the surgeon.
A surgeon accustomed to performing this operation, with adequate skills, judgment and experience will increase the
likelihood of success.
- Patient's condition.
Some conditions in patients may lower the success rate. Stitching healthy tissue is more likely to be successful than
attempting to reconnect a damaged one. At the same time, any associated condition that impairs sperm production,
a varicocele for example, may lower the pregnancy rates.
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