Is the low fertility rate after vasovasostomy caused by nerve resection during vasectomy?
Cross-sections of human spermatic cords and vasectomy specimens were prepared and the number and cross-sectional area of nerves were determined. On average, about one-half of all nerves in the near neighborhood of the vas deferens were resected during vasectomy. The total cross-sectional area of the nerves along the vasectomy specimens amounted to about one-half of the total area in the spermatic cord samples. The data support the hypothesis that removing nerves to the vas deferens during vasectomy could result in poor functional results after vasovasostomy, i.e., that powerful contraction of the proximal vas deferens and epididymis could be lacking. PIP: The possibility that an aspect inherent in the surgical technique of vasectomy is responsible for the low rate of fertility after vasovasostomy was investigated by studying the localization of nerves in the neighborhood of the vas deferens in the spermatic cord and by determining whether and to what extent nerves are resected during v
