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A vasectomy is a fairly popular form of permanent birth control. About 50 million American men have had one, and roughly a half-million elect to get one in any given year. And unlike birth control for women, this option for men comes with minimal immediate side effects (think a day or two of soreness) and no long-term health or sexual effects.
All of that said, getting a vasectomy is a major decision. Here at the Center for Urology in Altamonte Springs, Florida, Abraham Woods, MD, can help you determine if this is the right path for you. As a vasectomy specialist, Dr. Woods is uniquely positioned to help men explore this option and answer any questions.
One of the main queries we get is about whether a vasectomy can be reversed. So let’s take a closer look.
Yes, technically, vasectomies are reversible. During a vasectomy, Dr. Woods disconnects the tubes (the vas deferens) that carry sperm from your testicles. To reverse the procedure, he reconnects those tubes.
Just like a vasectomy, this reversal procedure can be performed using minimally invasive surgical techniques. It’s an outpatient procedure, meaning you can go home the same day, and most men get back to work in a few days or less.
That doesn’t mean you should consider a vasectomy as a temporary birth control measure, however. In fact, Dr. Woods generally recommends against considering this option unless you’re sure that you don’t want to father children in the future.
For starters, reversing your vasectomy doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be able to father children again. While most men who reverse a vasectomy in the first decade after their procedure can impregnate their partners, after the 10-year mark, reversal success rates fall.
Plus, getting your vasectomy reversed can come with more risks than the original vasectomy itself.
In addition, your insurance may not cover your reversal. If you think you might want to go this route down the road, know that it would likely require you to pay out of pocket.
All of this said, a vasectomy is a highly effective family planning method — and it does have the potential to be reversed if your life circumstances change down the road. Generally, however, Dr. Woods only recommends the procedure for men who feel confident they don’t want more kids.
To learn more about vasectomy, its reversibility, and anything else you’d like to know, schedule a consultation with Dr. Woods. To get started, call the Center for Urology office Monday through Friday, or book your consultation online anytime.
