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.
D003714:Denervation; D004822:Epididymis / Q000294:innervation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000209:etiology*; D013085:Spermatic Cord / Q000294:innervation; D013243:Sterilization Reversal; D014649:Vas Deferens / Q000294:innervation*; D014659:Vasectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*