Vasectomy
What
is it?
Vasectomy is a surgical
procedure that sterilizes males by stopping the
flow of sperm from the testicles to the penis.
While a man who has had a vasectomy can no longer father
children, the procedure has no effect on his sex
drive, ability to achieve or maintain an erection,
or ability to reach an orgasm.
Although this procedure can be reversed,
there is no guarantee the reversal will be
successful. Therefore,
vasectomy is considered a permanent method of
birth control.
Who
needs this procedure?
Men who no longer wish to be
able to father children have vasectomies.
In most cases, vasectomies are 99%
effective in preventing conception.
In fact, vasectomy is one of the most effective forms of birth
control and is safer and less expensive than tubal
ligation, the procedure to sterilize a female by
cutting the fallopian tube.
How
do I prepare for this procedure?
If you have a partner, you
should discuss vasectomy and agree that it is the
best form of birth control for both of you. This
procedure is performed by a urologist, a doctor
who specializes in diseases of the urinary tract
and the male urogenital system.
He or she will do a complete physical exam,
take your medical history, and explain any risks
or side effects.
You will need to sign a consent form
showing you understand the procedure and giving
the doctor permission to perform the operation.
How
is this procedure performed?
Vasectomies are performed in
the urologist's office using a local anesthetic.
You will have the area around your scrotum (the
sac that holds the testicles) shaved, cleaned, and
numbed.
Then, the doctor will make a small incision in the scrotum. He
or she will remove a section of each vas deferens.
The vas deferens are the tubes that carry
sperm from the testicles to the penis.
The open ends of the vas deferens are sewn
closed with permanent sutures so they can’t grow
back together.
During the procedure you may feel a pulling
or tugging sensation, but should not feel any
pain.
You may want to ask your doctor about the “no scalpel”
method of vasectomy. The
doctor makes a small puncture in the scrotum
instead of an incision.
The vas deferens are then cut and sealed in a similar way.
What
can I expect after the procedure?
You will be able to go home
after the procedure is done, but plan to spend a
day or two resting.
You may have some pain in the groin area
for three to four days after the operation. You
may also have some swelling and bruising, with
some blood or yellow liquid oozing from the
incisions your doctor made in the scrotum.
You can decrease pain and swelling with ice packs on the area,
and take over-the-counter pain medication, such as
aspirin or acetaminophen, for pain.
Many men find that wearing an athletic
supporter or tight underwear helps with
discomfort. Follow
your doctor’s orders for restricting physical
activities and sexual intercourse.
About two months after the procedure, you
will need to provide your doctor with two
different semen samples to check for living sperm.
Semen is the fluid that you ejaculate during sex.
You will need to use some method of birth
control until these samples show that there is no
sperm remaining in your semen.
This usually takes 4 to 6 weeks or 15 to 20
ejaculations.
After a vasectomy, the testicles will still
produce sperm.
However, the sperm no longer has anywhere to go, so it will
be absorbed by the body.
You will still ejaculate during
intercourse, but the semen will not contain sperm.
Self-care
tips
You should have no
complications if you follow your doctor’s
recommendations for recovery.
Contact your doctor if you develop fever,
difficulty urinating, a great deal of bleeding at
the incision, or extreme swelling of the
testicles. While
men who have had a vasectomy show no increased
risk for testicular cancer, all men should perform
regular self-examinations of the testicles for
lumps. Also
be sure to have regular prostate exams.
This information has been designed as a comprehensive and quick reference
guide written by our health care reviewers. The health information written
by our authors is intended to be a supplement to the care provided by your
physician. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for
professional medical advice.
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