What will my recovery from surgery be like?

This surgery requires and general anaesthetic for almost 2 hours. Discharge from hospital is usually the same day and a family member or friend will be required for the transfer home. Although able to walk comfortably, men should not not drive a motor vehicle for 24 hours after the operation.

What symptoms will I experience after surgery?
 
Following the operation men may experience some symptoms which may last for a day or two such as:

• fatigue and muscle pain;
• mild nausea related to the anaesthetic;
• pain at the site of the incisions. This may be referred to abdomen. The pain usually disappears within 24-48 hours and oral pain killers such as Codeine or Panadol are usually sufficient
• mild bleeding or discharge form the incision site for a few days is common.

How soon after Surgery can I have Sex?

Sexual intercourse should not resume for two to three weeks. I recommend light physical duties for the first week and if necessary medical leave should be applied for up to three weeks to avoid heavy lifting or straining. Complete healing is not achieved for six weeks in total. From the time of discharge and up to six weeks firm supportive underwear is recommended and avoidance of contact sports which could result in scrotal trauma.

What is the likelihood of a vasectomy reversal being successful?

The most important factor predicting success is the time since the initial vasectomy. For those men less than three years since the procedure the chance of reversal resulting in satisfactory sperm counts is approximately 90%. At five years this reduces to 70% and if more than ten years has elapsed only 50% of men will have a satisfactory semen analysis. The pregnancy rate after reversal is approximately two thirds (66%) of these men with satisfactory sperm count. Other important factors include:

• type of procedure performed initially;
• complications such as infection at the time of vasectomy;
• previous history of infertility or poor semen analysis;
• medical conditions such as diabetes or chronic illness.

What factors will affect the chance of pregnancy?

Consideration of any female factors likely to compromise fertility should be discussed prior to vasectomy reversal. In particular, the following female factors may reduce the chance of pregnancy:

• female age more than 35 years;
• history of female pelvic infection;
• history of tubal surgery;
• history of previous infertility

What are the possible complications of surgery?

No surgery is without risk however, the risk associated with this surgery is small. An antibiotic injection is given during anaesthetic to reduce the risk of infection. Complications such as bleeding at the site of scrotal incisions is usually minor although men are encouraged to rest for the first 24 hours following discharge and report any significant bleeding. Bleeding within the testis with damage to the testis occur rarely and if this happens further surgery may be required. Anaesthesia itself is never without risk and the risks are greater for men who smoke or who are significantly over weight.