Bear in mind that all surgeries carry some risk and there are complications that can arise during and after the surgery. Vasectomy reversal has become very popular and even though it is considered an elective surgery, millions of men choose to have it done everyday. Most of these men achieve a successful outcome and are very glad that they made the decision to have the surgery completed.

The success rate for vasectomy reversal runs around 98%. This alone is the determining factor for most men when deciding whether to have the surgery. They know that they most likely will not fall into the 2% failure category because the odds are definitely in their favor.

About 500,000 men each year have a vasectomy and about 5% of these men will eventually request a vasectomy reversal. There are a variety of reasons for their request including remarriage and the untimely death of a child. Successful reverse vasectomies allow couples to conceive their own biological child in a natural way. A reverse vasectomy involves reconnecting the two severed ends of the vas deferens so that viable sperm can now get through. If there are no sperm found at the surgical site, then the chances for success decrease somewhat.

The vasectomy reversal success rate can be measured if sperm are found in the man’s semen approximately six weeks following surgery. The vasectomy reversal success rate is generally very high but some individuals are better candidates than others. Also, the experience and educational training of the surgeon is also a deciding factor in a successful outcome. Vasectomy reversal surgery itself is more complicated and delicate than the original vasectomy because it involves reconnecting the severed vas deferens tubes.

The time that has passed since your vasectomy was performed strongly influences the success rate of your vasectomy reversal. If it’s been less than three years, the sperm return success rate is 97%. If it’s been three to nine years since your surgery, the success rate falls to 88%. If it’s been nine to fourteen years, the success rate is 71% and if it’s been longer than 15 years ago, the success rate plummets to 71%. The success rate is tremendously affected with the passage of time.

If your first vasectomy reversal fails, it is reasonable to consider a second surgery because this can often result in a successful outcome. The success rate drops only slightly when a second vasectomy reversal is performed. Again, the overall success rate depends on the experience of the surgeon you select, the type of technique he uses, and the number of years that have passed since your original vasectomy.

It is important to remember that even though your vasectomy reversal was successful, you have no guarantee that a pregnancy will result. That is why it is important to have the surgery performed as soon as you decide that you want more children. It may take several attempts for your wife or partner to become pregnant. Studies indicate that it takes an average of one year for a pregnancy to occur after a vasectomy reversal and it can often take two years or longer. Take a close look at the vasectomy reversal success rate before you decide that this is a step you want to take. Any surgery is serious and you must be completely committed before deciding to have a vasectomy reversal.