The Patient Characteristics and Birth Outcomes of Vasovasostomy

Kim, Jun Seok; Kim, Young Jung; Nam, Deok Hyun; Shin, Bo Sung; Park, Kwang Sung

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of the patients who had undergone vasovasostomy and to analyze the reasons for an increase in the number of these operations.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
From January 1999 to April 2007, 105 patients were analyzed by examining their medical records and conducting telephone surveys. The patients were divided into two groups before and after insurance payments for a vasovasostomy. Analysis of the differences between the two groups was performed by grouping the patients who had a vasovasostomy before July 2004 and those who had a vasovasostomy after July 2004.
RESULTS
Among the 105 patients, 35 patients (0.58/month) had a vasovasostomy before receiving their insurance payment. However, the number of operations increased by more than 4 times (70 patients, 2.33/month) after insurance repayment (p<0.05). After the payment, the proportion of patients willing to have a vasovasostomy due to changing their mind increased, whereas the proportion of patients willing to have a vasovasostomy for remarriage and loss of a child decreased (p<0.05). The overall patency and birth rates were 87.6% and 76.1%, respectively (43 boys and 37 girls). Among such factors as the age of the patient and his spouse, the duration of ligation and the presence of seminal fluid and sperm, the duration of ligation was the only factor that showed relevance to the anatomical patency (p<0.05). There were no variables that showed significant relevance to the pregnancy rate.
CONCLUSIONS
The main reason of vasectomy reversal was to have another child. The numbers of vasovasostomies were influenced by the medical insurance payment. The duration of ligation affected the anatomical patency rate. The overall patency rate was 87.6% and the birth rate was 76.1% in this study.