Vasectomy Reversal Specialist

J. Abram McBride, MD

Men's Health Specialist located in Colorado Springs, CO & Durango, CO

The purpose of a vasectomy is to permanently prevent a man from getting his female partner pregnant. But in the hands of a skilled microsurgeon like J. Abram McBride, MD, most vasectomies can be reversed. The success of a vasectomy reversal depends on your surgeon’s experience and training. Fellowship training is the gold standard, and Dr. McBride completed his fellowship in microsurgery and male reproductive medicine at the renowned Baylor College of Medicine. To learn if you’re a good candidate for vasectomy reversal, call his office in Colorado Springs, Colorado, or book an appointment online.

Vasectomy Reversal Q & A

What should I know about vasectomy reversal?

When you get a vasectomy, a tube called the vas deferens is cut, a small segment removed, and then the two ends are closed.

This procedure effectively stops sperm from leaving the testes and traveling through the vas deferens to the urethra, where they combine with semen just before ejaculation.

After a vasectomy, the testicles continue to produce sperm, but your body naturally absorbs them. After you have surgery to reverse the vasectomy, sperm once again leave the testicle and go through the vas deferens to mix with semen. As a result, your fertility is restored.

What happens during vasectomy reversal?

The procedure to reverse a vasectomy is called microsurgery for a good reason: Dr. McBride must reconnect tubes that are roughly one-hundredth of an inch in diameter, or even smaller.

There are two procedures Dr. McBride may use to reverse your vasectomy:

Vasovasostomy

During a vasovasostomy, the preferred method for vasectomy reversal, Dr. McBride reconnects the two ends of the vas deferens.

Vasoepididymostomy

During a vasoepididymostomy, Dr. McBride connects the vas deferens to the epididymis. The epididymis is a long tube that allows sperm to mature before they reach the vas deferens.

Sometimes the epididymis becomes blocked after a vasectomy, so sperm can’t travel into the vas deferens. To restore your fertility, Dr. McBride connects the top part of the vas deferens directly to the epididymis.

Vasoepididymostomy is a more complex surgery for several reasons, including the fact that the epididymis is roughly half the diameter of the vas deferens. The longer it has been since your vasectomy, the more likely you are to need a vasoepididymostomy.

What is my recovery like after a vasectomy reversal?

After a vasectomy reversal, most men can get back to their normal routine within one week. If your job is strenuous, however, Dr. McBride may recommend taking more time off. As a general guideline, you need to take it easy and not have sex for several weeks.

It may take 4-12 months to get your partner pregnant after a vasectomy reversal. However, this is the typical amount of time it takes most fertile couples to get pregnant, even when the male partner has not had a vasectomy.

To learn more about having your vasectomy reversed, call J. Abram McBride, MD, or schedule an appointment online.