Best Life Microsurgery Clinic · Stockton-on-Tees

Vasectomy Reversal Success Rates — What You Really Need to Know

Success rates vary widely between surgeons and clinics. On this page Mr Jesuraj explains the factors that matter most, what our outcomes look like, and how to interpret success rate figures honestly — so you can make a truly informed decision.

86.5%

Overall patency

1,000+

Patients & growing

18 yrs

Avg interval treated

Int’l presentations

Understanding the Numbers

What Does “Success” Actually Mean?

When you read a success rate for vasectomy reversal, it’s important to know exactly what is being measured — because the figures can mean very different things.

Patency Rate

This measures whether sperm is present and motile in your semen after surgery. It is the direct measure of surgical success — did the reconnection work? Patency rates are the most reliable indicator of a surgeon’s technical skill and are the figures quoted by leading specialists.

Pregnancy Rate

This measures whether your partner achieves a confirmed pregnancy after the reversal. Pregnancy rates depend not only on the surgery but also on your partner’s age and fertility, the time since your vasectomy, and factors beyond the surgeon’s control. A clinic quoting only pregnancy rates — not patency rates — should be questioned carefully.

At Best Life Microsurgery Clinic, Mr Jesuraj reports patency rates transparently — based on real patient data presented at international peer-reviewed conferences. We believe you deserve honest numbers, not marketing claims.

The Single Biggest Factor

How Long Since Your Vasectomy?

The time between your vasectomy and your reversal — the obstructive interval — is the strongest predictor of outcome. The longer the gap, the higher the chance of a secondary blockage in the epididymis, requiring a more complex procedure. The published ASRM benchmark figures below show how patency rates trend with interval. Our own clinic data — presented at the AUA 2024 — achieved 86.5% patency at an average interval of 18 years, demonstrating that excellent outcomes are achievable well beyond what many clinics will attempt.

Interval since vasectomy	Published patency	Notes
Less than 3 years	97%	Best outcomes; VV almost always possible; pregnancy rates up to 76%
3 to 8 years	88%	Excellent results; standard VV for most patients
9 to 14 years	79%	Good results; some patients need VE for secondary blockage
15+ years	71%	Gradual decline — but reversal remains worthwhile. Our mean patient interval is 18 years with 86.5% patency.

Published benchmark source: American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) / Vasovasostomy Study Group.

Peer-Reviewed & Publicly Presented

Our Own Outcomes — Real Data, Internationally Presented

Most clinics quote success rate ranges taken from published medical literature. At Best Life Microsurgery Clinic, we go further: our own patient outcomes have been formally accepted and presented at three major international urology conferences. These figures are not estimates or industry benchmarks — they are the audited results from the patients treated here, scrutinised by the international urological community.

We have now treated well over 1,000 patients — representing more than 2,000 individual reversal operations — making this one of the largest single-surgeon vasectomy reversal series in the United Kingdom.

Presentation 1 of 3

Day-Case Vasectomy Reversal Under Local Anaesthesia:

Evaluating Feasibility, Safety and Effectiveness

Mukherjee A, Jesuraj N, Shaw W, Jesuraj M · Best Life Clinic, Stockton on Tees, UK

86.5%

Patency rate

647

Procedures reviewed

18 yrs

Mean post-vasectomy interval

98%

Bilateral completion

All 647 procedures were performed under local anaesthesia as a day case using a unique single-incision technique — patients went home the same day. There were no major complications. Local anaesthetic was adequate in 100% of cases. Mean male age was 43 years; mean female partner age was 32 years. Patients resumed normal activities within 1–2 weeks.

Known positive pregnancy outcomes were recorded in 19% of cases during the follow-up period — a figure that reflects known outcomes only and does not capture all pregnancies that occurred beyond the study window.

Presented at:

American Urological Association (AUA) Annual Meeting

San Antonio, Texas · May 2024 · Poster MP42-18

Presentation 2 of 3 — Redo Reversal Outcomes

Vasal Fluid Microscopic Appearance and Grade as a Prognostic Marker for Patency in Redo-Vasectomy Reversals:

A Retrospective Review of Surgical Outcomes

Mubarak M, Mukherjee A, Jesuraj N, Shaw W, Jesuraj M · Best Life Clinic

82%

Patency — redo cases

Patients in series

10 yrs

Mean obstructive interval

48.8

Mean patient age (yrs)

An 82% patency rate in redo reversal is exceptional. These patients had already had one failed reversal — performed elsewhere — and came to Mr Jesuraj for a second attempt. Operating through existing scar tissue at the reconnection site is significantly more complex than a primary reversal. The majority (63.8%) underwent bilateral vasovasostomy. A key finding was that the Silber scale grading of vasal fluid did not reliably predict outcome — meaning that intraoperative appearances should not be used to deny a patient a redo attempt.

Presented at:

Sexual Medicine Society of North America (SMSNA) Annual Meeting

25th Annual Fall Scientific Meeting · October 2024

Presentation 3 of 3 — Unique Scientific Contribution

Abdominal and Testicular Vasal Diameters as Predictors of Vasectomy Reversal Success:

Insights from a Single-Surgeon Office-Based Cohort

Mubarak M, Mukherjee A, Jesuraj N, Shaw W, Jesuraj M · Best Life Microsurgery Clinic

85.3%

Patency rate

535

Records reviewed

8.7 yrs

Mean obstructive interval

41.8

Mean patient age (yrs)

A World-First Contribution to the Field

At Best Life Microsurgery Clinic, Mr Jesuraj routinely measures the internal diameter of the vas deferens during every reversal operation — a practice not widespread in vasectomy reversal surgery globally. This study is the first to demonstrate that abdominal vas diameter is a statistically significant positive predictor of patency (p<0.05), while testicular vas diameter shows a trend towards significance.

This finding means that intraoperative vas diameter measurements can help refine outcome predictions for individual patients — a level of precision available only at centres that measure routinely. This is Mr Jesuraj’s unique contribution to the international evidence base for vasectomy reversal.

Presented at:

Sexual Medicine Society of North America (SMSNA) Annual Meeting

26th Annual Fall Scientific Meeting · 2025

A note on pregnancy rates: We report patency rates — the presence of motile sperm in the ejaculate following surgery — rather than overall pregnancy rates. Pregnancy depends on factors well beyond the surgery itself, including your partner’s age and fertility. Quoting pregnancy rates without this context can be misleading. Patency rate is the true measure of surgical success, and the figure every patient should ask any clinic to provide.

Why Technique Determines Outcome

Not All Vasectomy Reversals Are Equal

The surgical technique used has a profound effect on your outcome. There are three broad levels of skill and technology in the UK — and the difference in results is significant.

BASIC

Without an Operating Microscope

Performed by feel and naked-eye sight, or with only basic magnification loupes. Thicker stitches, less precision, higher risk of scar tissue formation at the reconnection site. Not considered the standard of care. Success rates can be considerably lower than published benchmarks.

INTERMED

Microscope Used, Larger Sutures

An operating microscope is used, but the surgeon uses thicker stitches (8-0 or 7-0 nylon rather than the gold standard 10-0). Results are better than the basic approach but still fall short of the finest outcomes achievable with true microsurgical technique.

GOLD

Advanced 3-Layer Microsurgery — Mr Jesuraj’s Technique

Using a high-powered operating microscope and ultra-fine 10-0 nylon sutures, Mr Jesuraj performs a meticulous 3-layer anastomosis: the inner mucosal layer first, then the muscularis, then the outer layer. Globally recognised as the gold standard, this approach maximises patency and minimises scar tissue. It is the only technique performed at Best Life Microsurgery Clinic.

★ All 1,000+ patients treated here have received this technique.

Important: When comparing clinics, always ask which technique is used and what suture size is employed. A low price often reflects a less precise technique. The consequences of a failed reversal include additional procedures, further cost, and lost time.

The Full Picture

Other Factors That Affect Your Chances

Beyond interval and technique, several further factors influence outcome. Mr Jesuraj discusses all of these personally at consultation.

Your partner’s age & fertility

Female fertility declines from the mid-30s. If your partner is under 35, overall pregnancy prospects following a successful reversal are significantly stronger.

How your original vasectomy was performed

Methods that remove more vas, use cautery, or are performed very low can complicate reversal. Mr Jesuraj reviews original operation notes wherever possible.

Whether this is a redo reversal

Mr Jesuraj is a specialist in failed and redo reversals — achieving 82% patency in this group (SMSNA 2024). Please do not assume nothing can be done.

Anti-sperm antibodies

After vasectomy, the body may develop antibodies against sperm. High levels can impair motility even after a successful reversal — this can be assessed and managed.

Surgeon volume & experience

High-volume, fellowship-trained microsurgeons consistently achieve superior outcomes. Mr Jesuraj performs reversal as a core specialist practice — not as an occasional procedure — with over 1,000 patients treated.

Choosing the Right Path

Vasectomy Reversal vs IVF — A Factual Comparison

Both vasectomy reversal and IVF with sperm retrieval are valid paths to parenthood. The right choice depends on your circumstances — Mr Jesuraj will give you honest, individual guidance at consultation.

Factor	Vasectomy Reversal	IVF with Sperm Retrieval
Typical cost (UK)	One-off surgical fee	£5,000–£8,000+ per cycle
Conception method	Natural conception each month	Laboratory fertilisation, embryo transfer
Impact on partner	None — natural process	Hormone stimulation, egg retrieval procedure
Time to pregnancy (avg)	12–18 months	8–12 months (per cycle)
Best suited to	Partner under 37, interval under 15 yrs, no female fertility factors	Partner over 38–40, female fertility concerns, very long interval
Multiple children possible?	Yes — natural fertility restored	Each child requires a new cycle

In the absence of female fertility factors, vasectomy reversal is often more cost-effective per live birth than IVF — particularly if more than one child is desired. Read our full reversal vs IVF guide →

Two Types of Reversal

VV or VE: What Will Be Decided on the Day?

The choice between these procedures is made during surgery — it cannot be determined beforehand. Once the vas is opened, Mr Jesuraj examines the fluid under the microscope to assess whether sperm is present and flowing freely.

VV	Vasovasostomy (VV) — the standard reversal If sperm is found in the vasal fluid, the two ends of the vas deferens are reconnected directly. This is the simpler of the two procedures and carries the highest patency rates.

Vasoepididymostomy (VE) — for secondary blockages

If no sperm is found, a secondary blockage in the epididymis is indicated. Mr Jesuraj then connects the vas directly to the epididymis, bypassing the obstruction. This is a technically demanding procedure that only specialist microsurgeons can perform. It is one of the key reasons to choose a high-volume specialist over a generalist urologist.

Your Next Step

What Happens at Your Consultation?

Your consultation with Mr Jesuraj is a private, unhurried appointment — not a generic overview. He will review your full history (when your vasectomy was performed, how it was done, any previous reversal attempts), give you a realistic personalised success estimate based on your specific obstructive interval, explain which type of procedure is likely, and answer every question you have. Appointments are not time-pressured. Write down your questions before you come.

Appointments are typically available within one to two weeks. We also offer initial telephone or video consultations for patients travelling from outside the North East of England — many of our patients come from across the UK, Ireland, Europe and beyond.

Best Life Microsurgery Clinic · Stockton-on-Tees

Ready to Understand Your Personal Chances?

Every patient’s situation is different. The best way to get an accurate success rate estimate for your specific case is a consultation with Mr Jesuraj. Appointments are typically available within one to two weeks.

Book Your Consultation → View Pricing →

Phone

01642 450510

contact@bestlifeclinic.org

WhatsApp & Text

+44 7984 448243

Monday – Friday · 9am – 5pm