If the decision to have a vasectomy is something you now regret, help is available at Tampa male infertility clinic The Center for Vasectomy Reversal. The center’s Joshua Green, MD, explains that sometimes circumstances change in unpredictable ways and men find themselves wanting to experience fatherhood years after undergoing a vasectomy. When this happens, a procedure called vasovasostomy can often restore fertility.
Here, Dr. Green explains how the vasectomy reversal procedure is performed and what to expect after your surgery.
How the Procedure is Performed
Your vasectomy reversal will be performed at a surgery center under general anesthesia. During the procedure, you can expect to feel nothing at all.
“Something I pride myself on is that my patients have a painless experience during the procedure,” says Dr. Green. “Some doctors perform this surgery in the office with IV sedation and local anesthesia. But if you wake up while someone is operating on a very sensitive part of your body, it can be very disconcerting.”
During surgery, a small incision is made in the scrotum, and the vas deferens is isolated and dissected microscopically. The vas is divided above and below the obstruction. The fluid from the testicular side of the vas is inspected. The vas deferens is then reconnected using multiple layers of microscopic sutures. The vas is then placed back into its normal position, and a small drain is inserted on each side. The incision is closed with absorbable sutures that will dissolve on their own.
After Your Procedure
After surgery, once you’re awake and alert, you’ll be allowed to leave the surgery center with a driver. If you’ve come into Tampa from out of town, you’ll be required to stay near the center for one night. The day after your procedure, you’ll meet with Dr. Green in his office for the removal of your drains. The drains are very small, so this process is relatively painless. After this appointment, you’re free to return home.
You can expect to experience some discomfort and aching for the first 24 to 48 hours after surgery. But most patients say that the pain was not as bad as they had expected.
“Most men say that since I do this through a microscope and the incisions are very small, the recovery from the procedure is no more uncomfortable than the recovery period after a vasectomy,” says Dr. Green.
You can use ice packs to control swelling and discomfort for the first day after your surgery. For the next 30 days, you’ll need to wear a snug scrotal support, and you’ll be asked to refrain from sexual activity for at least three weeks.
If you and your partner have decided that a vasectomy reversal is something you’d like to pursue, Dr. Green and his team at The Center for Vasectomy Reversal are dedicated to providing the most comfortable, personalized and effective care possible.