At Premier Medical Group Urology Division, vasectomy is a simple 10-minute procedure performed in the doctor’s office using a local anesthetic.
At Premier Medical Group Urology Division, vasectomy is a simple 10-minute procedure performed in the doctor’s office using a local anesthetic.
A vasectomy is one of safest and most effective methods of permanent birth control. It is much safer and less expensive than the other most common contraceptive surgery, tubal ligation. The objective is to prevent sperm from entering the semen.
To understand vasectomy, it is helpful to understand the male reproductive system and how it functions. The testicles, or testes, are the sperm- and testosterone-producing organs. They are located in a sac at the base of the penis called the scrotum. Each testicle is connected to a small, coiled tube called the epididymis, where sperm are stored for as long as 6 weeks while they mature. The epididymis is connected to the prostate gland by a pair of tubes called the vas deferens.
The vas deferens is part of a larger bundle of tissue, blood vessels, nerves, and lymphatic channels called the spermatic cord. During ejaculation, seminal fluid produced by the prostate gland mixes with sperm from the testes to form semen, which is ejaculated from the penis.
In general, vasectomy is one of the safest simplest forms of birth control. The scalpel-free vasectomy is a less invasive technique with minimal down-time as part of the vasectomy recovery. In fact, most men return to work and full activity in just two days.
Before you make your decision, speak with your partner and make certain it’s what you both want. Most men choose vasectomy as a form of birth control because their family is complete. Other men chose vasectomy because it’s a reliable form of birth control.
During a conventional vasectomy, one or two half-inch scrotal incisions are made to gain access to the tubes. These incisions are later closed with sutures, which remain in place for about 5 days until they dissolve or are removed. An anesthetic solution can be injected with a tiny needle to reduce the pain of a vasectomy procedure by numbing the scrotal skin and the vas tubes, or a pressure spray applicator can be used to numb the skin and vas tubes without using any needles.
A scalpel free vasectomy procedure is an incision-less approach and is performed in the office in about 10 minutes. A surgical clamp is used to hold the vas deferens while a puncture incision, instead of a cut, is made with special forceps. The forceps then are opened to stretch the skin, making a small hole through which the vas deferens is lifted out, cut, sutured or cauterized, and put back in place. At Premier Medical Group Urology Division, we recommend the no-scalpel method because we find it is quicker and minimizes post-operative discomfort and the risk of bleeding and infection.
After vasectomy, it may be possible for the vas deferens to be sutured back together and sperm restored to the semen. This doesn’t always work, so vasectomy should be considered permanent. However, within the first 3 years of a vasectomy, reversal restores sperm to the semen in over 97% of cases. Even when the interval between vasectomy and reversal is 15 years or more, the sperm recovery rate remains about 70 percent. Find even more information about vasectomy reversal.
It’s important to wear an athletic supporter after a vasectomy procedure. A swollen scrotum is an extremely common side effect of a vasectomy. To reduce swelling, use an ice pack. Usually you need to wait 48 hours before bathing, and avoid heavy lifting or exercise for at least one week. To relieve discomfort during vasectomy recovery, Tylenol is recommended; do not take aspirin or ibuprofen. Stay off your feet as much as possible for the first 2 days. Lying down is suggested.
It can take numerous ejaculations before there is no active sperm in your semen. You need to use other birth control during this time to prevent pregnancy. After 20 ejaculations, the doctor will ask you to collect a sample of semen at home and bring it in to a lab to be checked under a microscope. Until this sample shows no indication of sperm, you are not sterile.
Many men make a full vasectomy recovery in as little as two days, but as with any surgical procedure, there are some risks. These can include bleeding, infection, and/or inflammation. Sometimes a small granuloma, a harmless lump, may develop, but there is no increased risk of testicular cancer.
In rare cases, the vas deferens reconnects itself warranting a routine post-procedure semen analysis. After your surgery, if you experience swelling, increasing pain in the scrotum, black and blue areas, lump, fever, chills, redness, or trouble urinating, call your doctor immediately.
A vasectomy does not affect your ability to have sex, erections, or orgasms. It does not change the visual appearance of semen. Nor does a vasectomy cause health problems related to the prostate or heart. Your sex drive will not be affected by a vasectomy. Your hormone levels remain the same.