Reversal of vasectomy.

Vasovasostomy to reverse a previous vasectomy for sterilization was attempted for 27 men, the procedure being technically impossible in only one case. A testicular biopsy was performed at the time of operation and a number were investigated for cell-mediated immunity to sperm and for the presence of circulating sperm-agglutinating and cytotoxic antibodies. The first 17 cases have been studied and of these there have been 11 pregnancies, ten of which have already come to term with the birth of normal infants, including one set of twins. Of the rest, two are known to have oligozoospermia and four have been lost to follow-up, although two of them were euspermic when last examined. In spite of these encouraging results, it is considered that there are no grounds for alterning the present basis of vasectomy counseling which is that the operation is likely to be irreversible.