Phone: (713) 798-4001 | Houston, TX

Recovery

Vasectomy Reversal Recovery Timeline:

  • Day of the Procedure: return home
  • Three Days after Surgery: resume normal non-strenuous activities
  • One Week after Surgery: return to work
  • Ten Days after Surgery: assess your healing
  • Two Weeks after Surgery: resume normal strenuous activities
  • Six to Eight Weeks after Surgery: determine successful procedure
  • Four to Six Months after Surgery: monitor your recovery

Each patient’s experience is unique, but most can expect to recover on the same general timeline:

Day of the Procedure: You can return home on the same day as your surgery. However, because of the anesthesia, you should plan to have a friend or family member drive you home. If you have traveled from out of town to our practice, you should plan to spend the night at a hotel. Any discomfort or soreness can be managed with medication, as prescribed by Dr. Lipshultz. Though you may feel groggy and slightly sore, discomfort should be minimal and tolerable.

Three Days after Surgery: You should begin feeling well enough to resume normal non-strenuous activities approximately three days after treatment. However, you should be careful to avoid any exercises or motions that place pressure on your testicular region or cause discomfort, including sexual intercourse.

One Week after Surgery: You should be able to return to work or school roughly seven days following treatment, although you may need to wait longer if your job involves strenuous activity or manual labor.

Ten Days after Surgery: One and a half weeks after treatment, Dr. Lipshultz will see you for a follow-up appointment to assess your healing and answer any questions you may have about your recovery.  If you are from out of town, your postoperative exam can be with a local physician.

Two Weeks after Surgery: You may resume jogging, weight lifting, and sexual activity approximately two weeks after treatment, with Dr. Lipshultz’s approval.

Six to Eight Weeks after Surgery: Dr. Lipshultz will perform a semen analysis to determine if your procedure was successful.

Four to Six Months after Surgery: In order to monitor your recovery, we ask that you come in, if possible, for every other month examinations. In some cases, early scar tissue on your vas may cause a lower sperm count than predicted. If so, Dr. Lipshultz will likely prescribe an anti-inflammatory medication.

Larry Lipshultz' patients experience fast recovery following a vasectomy reversal, and can often resume strenuous activity as soon as two weeks after surgery. If you are a vasectomy patient who wishes to grow his family, we can restore your fertility and help you experience a fast vasectomy reversal recovery time following treatment at our Houston, TX, urology practice. If you are interested in a vasectomy reversal and want to learn more about the procedure, schedule a consultation today.

If Dr. Lipshultz finds that you do not have sufficient fluid and sperm in this area, it may indicate that your reproductive system has been obstructed in the region closer to the testes. In this case, he may recommend an epididymovasostomy. This procedure involves attaching the abdominal side of the vas deferens directly to the epididymis, the sperm duct on the back of the testicle where sperm cells mature.

Discomfort and Recovery

Recovery from a vasectomy reversal is relatively swift, but because the surgery itself is more complex than the original vasectomy, you can expect a slightly longer period of discomfort and recovery.

But even with a longer recovery period, pain or discomfort is relatively mild and generally disappears within a few days.

A vasectomy reversal involves reconnecting the vas deferens, the tubes that connect to the testicles and allow sperm to be released in the semen during ejaculation.  Ideally, it is performed by a microsurgeon who specializes in vasectomy reversal.

If you have questions about recovery from a vasectomy reversal, urologist Larry Lipshutz is a world-renowned expert in urological microsurgery and male reproductive medicine who can answer all your questions. He provides services in greater Houston, serving patients from Dallas and other areas of Texas, and can explain the surgery and how vasectomy reversal pain can be managed, ensuring you understand the recovery process.

The surgery itself is performed through a small incision, less than an inch, in the scrotum. In the first few days after surgery, it is common to experience some discomfort. However, you will be given post-surgical instructions that will explain simple steps you can take at home to manage discomfort and speed recovery.  

Managing Pain after Surgery

The day of surgery you should plan on resting at home after the procedure. Allow a minimum of 24 hours for this; however, a 48-hour period of rest is preferable. Discomfort after surgery can include swelling, bruising, or discoloration in the scrotal area. To minimize discomfort:

  • Elevate your legs.
  • Stay off your feet as much as possible.
  • Use ice packs to reduce swelling in the scrotal area.
  • Wear a support garment to support your scrotum and ease discomfort and swelling.
  • You can expect some discomfort to linger for the first 48 to 72 hours, but it should be well controlled by over-the-counter medicine.

The principal risk in the first 24 to 48 hours is bleeding inside the scrotum. This is rare, but can be very uncomfortable. Bed rest during the first 48 hours reduces the risk.

Next Few Days

You should continue to wear a support garment, such as a jock strap, for the first week after surgery to ensure proper healing and to avoid discomfort.

Normal, light daily activities can be resumed within a few days after surgery, but excessive walking or running should be avoided during the first two weeks. Lifting should be avoided as well.

First Few Weeks

Excess activity during the first two weeks can increase the risk of swelling and discomfort. Patients should limit activities for two to four weeks after the vasectomy reversal. This includes lifting items that are over 15 pounds, straining, prolonged standing, or exercise.  Your doctor will advise you on whether to continue wearing a jock strap during the first weeks after surgery.

If you experience pain in the lower abdomen or groin area, this can be a sign of inadequate scrotal support or that you need to cut back on your activity level. Patients should also refrain from ejaculating for two to four weeks to avoid leakage or scarring.

Most people can gradually resume normal activities, even moderately strenuous ones at around four to five weeks, at which point sexual intercourse can resume.

Results

Dr. Larry Lipshultz’ success rates speak for themselves:

  • Vasovasostomy patients enjoy a 95% patency rate, and a 75% pregnancy rate.
  • Epididymovasostomy patients have a 65% patency rate, and a 50% pregnancy rate.

Best Way Vasectomy Reversal Results

A vasectomy is a male sterilization procedure in which the sperm ducts are severed in order to prevent sperm from entering the ejaculate. About 5% of vasectomy patients eventually choose to undergo a vasectomy reversal to restore their fertility.

Success rates for a vasectomy reversal can vary. One of the best ways to ensure a successful procedure is to choose a world-class male fertility specialist like Dr. Larry Lipshultz. He has delivered exceptional vasectomy reversal results at his Houston, TX, practice to patients from around the world. Contact our office today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Lipshultz.

Vasectomy Reversal Procedures

There are two vasectomy reversal techniques that can restore your fertility. The more common surgery is called a vasovasostomy. During this procedure, your surgeon will reconnect the surgically severed tubes (vas deferens) that propel sperm into the ejaculate. If there is insufficient sperm on the side of the vas deferens connected to the epididymis (the organ on the back of the testicles where sperm mature), another technique, called an epididymovasostomy, may be recommended. This procedure involves connecting the urethral side of the vas deferens directly to the epididymis.

Evaluating the Results of a Vasectomy Reversal

About three months after your surgery, you doctor can check your ejaculate for the presence of sperm. The patency rate, or the return of sperm to the ejaculate, is a key way to evaluate the success of a vasectomy reversal. Another method of measuring efficacy is pregnancy. Patients should keep in mind that becoming pregnant depends on other factors, such as the age and fertility of the partner.

Improving Your Chances for Successful Results

The results of vasectomy reversal can vary. The experience of the surgeon, the type of surgery performed, and the amount of time that has passed since your vasectomy are the three main factors that can affect your outcome.

Dr. Lipshultz is recognized internationally for his contributions over the last few decades to the field of male fertility. As a pioneer in microsurgical techniques, he has performed thousands of surgeries, and has trained dozens of fellows. By choosing a skilled surgeon, you can drastically increase your chances of a successful procedure. His success rates speak for themselves:

  • Vasovasostomy patients enjoy a 95% patency rate, and a 75% pregnancy rate.
  • Epididymovasostomy patients have a 65% patency rate, and a 50% pregnancy rate.

For those who undergo vasectomy reversal, the chance of pregnancy depends on several factors. The length of time since a vasectomy must be considered, as the longer it has been since this procedure, the less likely there will be a return of large numbers of sperm in the ejaculate. However, there is no length of time after which a reversal cannot be successful.  We have seen excellent results >30 years after a vasectomy. The physical examination performed by your physician can detect the presence of a “sperm granuloma” at the site of the vasectomy, which actually has a positive influence on the chance for successful vasectomy reversal.

Even in the event of successful return of sperm in the ejaculate postoperatively, maternal age must be considered. The pregnancy rate for a typical fertile couple with a maternal age of 30 years is approximately 20% per ovulation even with the return of normal semen parameters. The chance of pregnancy decreases to 5% per ovulation for females age 40.

The findings in the operating room dictate what kind of procedure must be undertaken; either vasovasostomy (VV) or epididymovastomy (EV). If there is sperm present in the vas at the time of the operation, a VV is performed and the chance of subsequent pregnancy is approximately 75%. If there is no sperm found in the vas at the time of the operation, but the fluid from the vas appears clear (a good finding) then the pregnancy rate is 50%. In cases where there is no sperm found in the vas, and the fluid appears thick (a negative finding) than a VE must be performed. In these cases, the chance of pregnancy is 45%.