Did you know that it costs more than a quarter of a million dollars to raise a child to 17? Even without including the cost of higher education, having a child is an incredibly expensive prospect. This is just one reason why many people choose not to have children unless and until they are absolutely ready.
If you’re choosing to remain childfree, a vasectomy is an easiest and most effective way to get peace of mind. Even if there is a mishap with your secondary form of birth control, you still know that you’re protected.
But is a vasectomy reversible? What do you do if you’ve gotten a vasectomy and find yourself ready to become a father? To answer these questions and more, we’ve compiled this handy guide.
Read on to learn the answers to all your vasectomy questions!
What Happens During a Vasectomy?
To understand the vasectomy reversal process, you must first understand what happens when you get a vasectomy. There are two kinds of vasectomy: incision and no-cut.
Incision Vasectomy
During an incision vasectomy, your doctor will make either one or two cuts in the bottom of your scrotum. They use these cuts to access the vas deferens. Your vas deferens are the tubes that carry your sperm.
Depending on your surgeon, your vas deference will either be tied, clipped with surgical clips, or cauterized shut. Then the incisions are stitched shut.
The procedure takes under a half-hour, and you won’t feel a thing. You’ll probably have a local anesthetic, but you won’t be put under during the procedure. The procedure could be uncomfortable, but it won’t be as painful as it might sound!
No-Cut Vasectomy
In a no-cut vasectomy, also called a no-scalpel vasectomy, your doctor makes a tiny hole in your scrotum. The rest of the procedure operates in the same way, but you won’t need stitches. There’s a lower risk of post-surgical complications after a no-cut vasectomy, but the overall outcome is the same.
Recovery
After your vasectomy, you might feel some discomfort but very few people report pain. An ice pack and over-the-counter pain medication will relieve any pain you do feel.
You should rest for a few days, but after that, you can return to normal. However, it’s important to note that it takes about three months for your vasectomy to start preventing pregnancy. This is because your testicles still produce sperm, even if it isn’t able to travel down the vas deferens, and it takes a while to empty the backlog of sperm.
Your doctor will have to test your semen to confirm that it’s become sperm-free, and is therefore effective as birth control.
Is a Vasectomy Reversible?
A vasectomy reversal is essentially the same process, but backward! The doctor will make a small puncture or incision in your scrotum, and reconnect the vas deferens tubes.
Before your reversal, your doctor will perform an exam and check if you can still produce healthy sperm. Remember, after your vasectomy, your testicles will still be able to produce sperm, it just won’t be able to leave your body. So, the viability of your sperm isn’t related to your vasectomy.
Your doctor will likely also check your partner, to make sure they can have a child. All of this will give you a full picture of your fertility.
Similar to a vasectomy, the reversal is an outpatient procedure and is fairly straightforward. Some doctors will give you general anesthesia, while others will give you local anesthesia. The reversal procedure is more complicated, which is why the procedure can take longer.
What Is a Vasectomy Reversal Procedure Called?
Most surgeons perform a procedure called a vasovasostomy, where they sew the ends of your vas deferens back together. If this procedure fails or if your vas deferens were cauterized, they will perform a vasoepididymostomy. In this procedure, the doctor will attach one end of the vas deferens directly to the testicles.
Effectiveness
Your vasectomy may or may not be able to be reversed. After the procedure, you’re also not guaranteed to be able to conceive a child. The longer that it’s been since your vasectomy, the less likely the procedure is to succeed.
You can increase your chances of being able to produce viable sperm by keeping a healthy lifestyle. Stay active, don’t smoke, and eat a balanced diet. These simple lifestyle factors can mean the difference between healthy sperm production and shooting blanks for good.
Expertise
In addition, the surgeon you pick can make or break your procedure. A vasectomy reversal is far more difficult to perform than a vasectomy, as it involves very fine motor skills. For a crude comparison, it’s the difference between cutting a hose and trying to sew up a hose that’s been cut in two.
In fact, during the surgery, your doctor will use a microscope to view the vas deferens at 40 times its actual size!
A successful vasectomy reversal is a combination of healthy sperm, specialized skill, and experience. For that reason, if you want the best possible outcome for your reversal, make sure you visit a specialized clinic like dadsagain.com.
Vasectomy Reversal Costs
A vasectomy reversal can be an expensive procedure, and not all insurances cover it. For that reason, make sure your procedure is at least partially covered beforehand.
If it’s not, find out exactly how much it will cost before you go under the knife to avoid any surprises. And it’s always worth checking the viability of your sperm and ensuring your partner doesn’t have any underlying fertility problems. These factors might affect the decision you make.
Take Control of Your Reproductive Health Today
A vasectomy can be a great way to avoid any surprises and put off pregnancy until you’re ready. But, when the time comes, you can always get it reversed. The outcome isn’t guaranteed, but you can increase your likelihood of a good result with a healthy lifestyle and an experienced surgeon.
So, don’t be afraid to use these procedures to be proactive about your reproductive health!
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