All About Vasectomy Reversal

The number of men requesting vasectomy reversal is increasing.  Approximately 5-10% of men who have had a vasectomy decide to have a vasectomy reversal. Dr. Ethan Grober is a respected vasectomy reversal specialist, providing this procedure to patients in Toronto / GTA and from all over the world.

Patients commonly include men who have found a new life partner, suffered through the unfortunate loss of a child or spouse or couples who have simply changed their minds and desire more children.

A vasectomy reversal re-establishes the transport of sperm back to the ejaculate via the vas deferens (or vas).
 
The surgical reconnection can be accomplished in 2 ways:
  • a direct reconnection of the vas deferens (vasovasostomy)
  • a vas to epididymis connection (vasoepididymostomy)
Significant advances in surgical techniques and microsurgical precision allow for success rates that approach 95% when a direct vas to vas reconnection is possible. The main principle of a vasectomy reversal is to reconnect the vas to an area where sperm are identified. If sperm are identified in the lumen of the vas or vasal fluid at the time of surgery, a direct vas to vas connection (vasovasostomy) can be performed.

To ensure surgical precision, our practice is to use a high-powered surgical microscope to perform a 2-layer reconnection of the vas using very fine (10-0) sutures on this inner “mucosal” layer and slightly larger sutures (9-0) on the outer muscular layer of the vas.

If no sperm are identified in the vasal fluid, this suggests an epididymal obstruction and a vasoepididymostomy is performed. In this case, the vas is microsurgically connected to the epididymis at a location where moving sperm are identified.

The surgery is performed under a general anaesthetic but is considered “day surgery” so patients come to the hospital and go home to recover the same day as the procedure.  It typically takes about 2 hours to complete. Full recovery back to normal life activities typically takes only a few days.

In our program we perform more vasectomy reversals than any other centre in Canada.  Dr. Grober is a fellowship-trained microsurgeon focusing specifically on microsurgical vasectomy reversal and male infertility.
 
 
Click to see how Dr. Grober performs a Vasectomy Reversal
Click to see how Dr. Grober performs a Vasectomy Reversal