• Healthy State
  • Careers
  • Education
  • Research
  • Giving
Ochsner Health Ochsner Health
  • About
  • Find A Doctor (current)
  • Find A Location
  • Specialties & Treatments
MyOchsner Logo
Login | Signup
Submit Search magnifying glass icon
Close Search X icon
  •   Home
  • In To Your Health...
  • Food & Fitness
  • Conditions & Treatment
  • Health Trends
  • Prevention & Wellness
  • Women's Health
  • Men's Health
  • Mental Health
  • Parenting
  • I need to...
  • Find A Doctor
  • Find A Location
  • Find A Specialty
  • Schedule An Appointment
  • Pay A Bill
  • Explore
  • About Ochsner
  • Careers
  • Patients & Visitors
  • "To Your Health" Blog
  • Health Resources
  • Medical Professionals
  • Education
  • Philanthropy
  • Community Outreach
  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
  • Research
  • Ochsner Health Network
  • Schedule an Appointment
  • Call: 1-866-624-7637
  • Online: Login to MyOchsner
  • Personalize your content
  • patient Edit Persona Persona Chooser
To Your Health

View Newsletter Editions
  • Food & Fitness
  • Conditions & Treatment
  • Health Trends
  • Prevention & Wellness
  • Women's Health
  • Men's Health
  • Mental Health
  • Parenting
Thinkstockphotos 97829162 Man Sitting In Park

Is a Vasectomy Reversible?

Jun 14, 2021 |
By Brandon S. Cottrell, MD
Share Facebook Logo Twitter Logo Pinterest Logo Email Logo

When a man considers a vasectomy he may think that it cannot be undone, and thus irreversible. But in reality, a vasectomy can be undone with great care and understanding. When a vasectomy is undone it is called a “vasectomy reversal.”

However, whether or not it will work well enough to return adequate sperm to the semen will not be known for some time after the procedure, and there is no guarantee that it will work.

There are a couple of factors that determine the likelihood of a successful vasectomy reversal:

  1. The length of time that has past since the vasectomy

  2. How the surgeon does the repair

  3. How well the vasectomy heals

  4. Presence of anti-sperm antibodies and assorted anatomic signs at surgery

The longer the time since the vasectomy, the lower the chance of success. If it has been less than three years since the vasectomy, the sperm returns 97% of the time and there is a 76% chance of pregnancy. (The percent chance of sperm return and pregnancy are not the same because there are many other factors that go into pregnancy.) On the other hand, if it has been more than 15 years, the sperm returns only 76% of the time and there is only a 30% chance of pregnancy.

Learn more about vasectomy reversal services at Ochsner Health.


For the repair, there are one-layer and two-layer repairs of the vas deferens. In almost all studies, the two layer repair, done with a microscope, gives the best result. The inner layer of the vas is reattached first, making the tube aligned properly in the center of the vas deferens. The outer layer reinforces the first.

If anti-sperm antibodies are present as a result of the body dissolving sperm trapped by the vasectomy then the sperm after vasectomy reversal are at risk of being attacked by the immune system and may not be able to do their job well for pregnancy.

This is one reason the pregnancy rate is lower. Sperm granulomas and other signs of the fluid in the vas deferens at surgery can suggest positive or negative outcomes as well, but these only are seen during surgery and can’t help you make the decision to get a reversal.

In general, vasectomy is hard to undo. Done right it requires a microscopic two-layer technique in the hands of the most experienced Urologist. But keep in mind that vasectomy reversal is not covered by insurance, so it will require that the entire surgery be paid for up front. And while there is no guarantee of success, many men have reversals and go on to father many more children afterwards.

Tags
vasectomy

You may also be interested in:

Gettyimages 97559036
Prevention & Wellness
August 9, 2022

Men's Health: Skin Cancer

Studies show that skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. Did you know men are more likely to be at risk?
Thinkstockphotos 82090255 Man Outdoors Stretching
Prevention & Wellness
August 5, 2022

10 Ways to Keep Your Back Healthy

From staying hydrated to quitting smoking, here are 10 ways to keep your back healthy and strong.
By Tamara Fryer, PT, Cert-MDT
147078642 Golf
Food & Fitness
August 9, 2022

Do You Suffer from a Golf-Related Injury?

Playing golf can cause a variety of injuries. These are some of the most common ones that physicians see.
By Misty Suri, MD

email envelop icon Comments about the blog? Send us an email!

Ochsner Health

Schedule An Appointment: 1-866-624-7637

Follow us: Facebook Follow Ochsner Health on TikTok Twitter Follow Ochsner Health on Twitter LinkedIn Visit Ochsner Health's LinkedIn page Instagram Follow Ochsner Health on Instagram YouTube Subscribe to Ochsner Health on YouTube Pinterest Follow Ochsner Health on Pinterest TikTok Follow Ochsner Health on TikTok

Healthy living tips newsletters, delivered to your inbox.

Sign Up

Patients & Visitors

  • Billing & Financial Services
  • Insurance Information
  • International Patients
  • Request Medical Records
  • Share Your Story
  • Read Patient Stories

Medical Professionals

  • Transfer a Patient
  • Refer a Patient

Health Resources

  • To Your Health Blog
  • Golden Opportunity
  • Healthy State
  • Ochsner Magazine

Job Seekers

  • Career Paths
  • Benefits
  • Open Positions

Employees

  • Webmail
  • OHSLink
  • Workday

Employers

  • Corporate Wellness
  • Medicare Advantage Plans

Community Outreach

  • Classes & Events
  • Programs
  • Community Health Needs Assessment
  • Dr. John Ochsner Discovery Health Sciences Academy

Education

  • Graduate Medical Education
  • Clinical Medical Education
  • Continuing Medical Education
  • Medical Library
  • Publishing Services
  • Medical Illustrations

Research

  • Clinical Trials
  • Applied Health Services Research
  • Clinical Research & Trials
  • Nursing Research
  • Translational Research

Giving

  • Donate
  • Volunteer

About Ochsner

  • Mission & Vision
  • History
  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
  • Annual Report
  • Outcomes & Honors
  • News & Media
  • Alumni
  • Ochsner Health Network
  • Contact Us

Shop

  • O Bar
  • Optical Shop
  • Ochsner Fitness Center
  • Brent House Hotel

© Ochsner Health  | Notice of Privacy Practices | Terms of Use | Vendor Information

Ochsner accepts all major insurances.

Ochsner is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, founded on providing the best patient care, research, and education.

We are one of the country’s largest non-university based academic medical centers.

Ochsner is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

Community Needs Health Assessment

EpicMobile Tablet | EpicMobile Phone

newsletter icon

Subscribe to Our Newsletters

newsletter icon

Select the newsletters you'd like to receive.

Please select at least one category to continue.

Curious about our newsletters?

View details for each edition
newsletter icon

Let us know where to send your newsletters.

To Your Health- Food and Fitness:
To Your Health- General:
To Your Health- Men’s Health:
To Your Health- Parenting:
To Your Health- Women’s Health:
To Your Health-Mental Health Monthly":
To Your Health- Skin Deep:

Source:
Source Description:
Marketing Goal:
newsletter icon

You're all set!

We’ll send newsletters full of healthy living tips right to your inbox.

Ochsner Health System
magnifying glass icon
ESC to Close

Begin Typing to Search

Select the drop-down to filter Search by Blog Articles or Sitewide