Addressing 7 Vasectomy Myths

Alright guys, it’s time now to talk about the big V! When you hear about different birth control methods, whether through word-of-mouth, billboards, newspapers, TV or radio, you seldom hear anything about vasectomy. We want to talk to you about vasectomy now, explain away the myths and fears around it and shift the birth control discourse from the most common approach of what women should do to what men can do.

So what’s a vasectomy?

It is a simple, 15-minute non-drug permanent sterilization procedure for men. It’s performed under localized anesthesia and involves sealing off or cutting a portion of the sperm-conveying tubes (called vas deferens) in order to stop sperm from reaching the ovum when ejaculation occurs. If you are a man who has had all the children you wanted to have or are sure that you will never want to have any children in the future, vasectomy is a safe and cost-effective way to sterilize yourself.

Lots of questions

Yet, if you are like most men, you have probably heard the horror stories associated with vasectomy and you are worried that things may go wrong for you. Will it reduce my sexual pleasure? Will it turn me into a “eunuch” — a sad miserable man looking back constantly to his youthful years with nostalgia? And what if disaster strikes late in my life, or my life plans change, and I decide to have children? Can I reverse it? These and many more questions can make you have doubts about having a vasectomy. But it turns out these fears are baseless myths that shouldn’t stop you from a vasectomy.

What are the most frequent myths about vasectomy?

1. It will be intolerably painful

Honestly, for most men, the idea of the whole procedure can seem quite awkward. And since most of us have the habit of protecting our testicles from any type of direct assaults, a vasectomy seems like a real intrusion into a protected zone. But the truth is doctors who conduct vasectomies have gone through many years of study and training. They know what they are doing. They use the latest minimally invasive techniques to perform the procedure, ensuring that you feel no pain. The procedure is done under local anesthetic, so you will probably only have to worry about the needle going in. After that, you will remain aware of the procedure as it goes on but you will feel no pain or uncomfortable sensations.

2. Your penis won’t work

That’s wrong, mate. In reality, the procedure isn’t done anywhere near your penis — except of course if it’s causing an obstruction and the urologist has to move it out of the way. The snip is entirely about your balls and affects only those little tubes inside your balls that are called the vas deferens. Remember too that when you have sex and reach orgasm, the fluid that comes out, called ejaculate, is 97 percent semen and only 3 percent sperm. After vasectomy, you will still achieve orgasm and produce this ejaculate, except it won’t contain sperm and you won’t be able make your partner pregnant. That means your erections will remain exactly the same and your penis will stay as sensitive during sex as it was before the vasectomy. Likewise, your ability to enjoy sex and achieve orgasm will remain unchanged, though now you’ll be able to do so without having to worry about making anyone pregnant.

3. You will no longer ejaculate

That’s wrong, too. If you ejaculated before the snip, you’ll continue to do so after. Semen, the main component of ejaculatory fluid, is produced in the seminal vesicles and the prostate, which aren’t cut or blocked off during a vasectomy. And since only a small portion of fluid comes from the testicles with sperm, the overall volume of your ejaculate will reduce only slightly after a vasectomy — you won’t even notice it. Likewise, because the muscle contractions that propel fluid out during ejaculation typically come from the pelvis, your ejaculations won’t be affected by a vasectomy.

4. Your sperm production will shut down

Not true. Vasectomy doesn’t block sperm production and you’ll continue to make sperm after the snip. The only difference is that sperm will no longer reach semen and form part of the ejaculate. Because the sperm will go nowhere after a vasectomy, it will live for 3-5 days and decay naturally in the body. This is the same thing that happens naturally in men if they don’t ejaculate every 5 days or so. They produce sperm continuously but the sperm goes nowhere and is reabsorbed naturally in the body.

5. You can’t reverse it once it’s done

No, you can if you want. Vasectomy can be reversed through a surgical procedure called vasovasostomy (vasectomy reversal). During the procedure, the vas deferens (tubes) are reconnected, with each tube re-joined as it was before the snip in order to create a passageway for sperm, allowing sperm to again be present in semen. A successful reversal procedure restores your fertility and you can again make your partner pregnant. But when considering a vasectomy reversal, you need to consult an experienced urologist. That will ensure that no tissues are irreparably damaged during the reversal procedure.

6. Even if it’s reversed, you’ll remain impotent

Not really. With microsurgical advances currently used in vasectomy and vasovasostomy, the reversal has become more precise and more successful. So while vasectomy reversal is still technically expensive and demanding, doctors can now successfully restore a man to his pre-vasectomy condition. Although many men think that vasectomy can make them impotent, they should know that the procedure has no effect on blood flow to the spongy veins of the penis. These veins cause an erection. A vasectomy tends to make love-making more pleasurable and fun through the exhilarating feeling accompanying the ejaculation of spermless semen and also by erasing the fear of pregnancy.

7. It’s harder than a woman getting her tubes tied

A nice try indeed, but still wrong. Tubal ligation is performed under epidural or general anesthesia and typically takes longer than the 10-20 minutes required for a vasectomy. Tying a woman’s tubes also comes with a much more serious complication rate than a vasectomy. So why not just take the simpler route to contraception and block the source of sperm in order to remove the burden of birth control from women instead of looking for excuses to pressure women with contraception? After all, vasectomy is more effective than tubal ligation, costs much less and guarantees better results. In fact, for partners and couples considering family planning, vasectomy is a great cost-saving and effective solution to consider.

What if you are just one of those men who want to have multiple sexual partners without any additional responsibilities? Well, vasectomy works for that too. If you get a vasectomy, you can enjoy your lifestyle without having to worry about the possibility of fatherhood.

Want to know more about vasectomy? Speak with your partner and assess whether you have had all the children you want. Once you are sure of your decision, visit your doctor to discuss this birth control method. For more information on vasectomy and vasectomy reversal, visit the “St Pete Urology” site.

What It Actually Feels Like To Get A Vasectomy

You are married and got the number of kids you always wanted. You also have decided that your family is now complete, right? So, a vasectomy it is, then. For you know that three months after a vasectomy, you will be almost 100 percent sure of no pregnancy. And that it is reversible, with 40-90 percent success rate. That’s great. Now you can go for it and enjoy wonderful times together thereafter with your spouse — no more kids to worry about.

Ready to go?

Well, yes. But there is a problem. You don’t know what it feels like to have a vasectomy and that worries you. Will it hurt? What if something goes awfully wrong down there? How long will it take to get back to 100 percent? The Internet provides answers, but you can’t tell which answers are correct. You find several men saying the experience was so easy that they were able to run a marathon the day after. But others are complaining that their experience made them feel less of a man.

Learning from others

Both sound too extreme. You want to clear the gray areas; you want true, non-medical real-talk. You want to hear from a man who has had a vasectomy and can understand your concerns. Let’s talk about what you will experience, or rather what I experienced.

What is a vasectomy?

A vasectomy is a method of birth control that prevents pregnancy by stopping the supply of sperm to your semen. The tubes (vas deferens) carrying sperm from the epididymis to your ejaculatory ducts are sealed to prevent sperm from moving and getting into the semen. So you continue to ejaculate semen that doesn’t contain sperm and can’t cause pregnancy.

How is a vasectomy done?

Your doctor cuts open your scrotum to access the testicles (two balls inside your scrotum) and locate the tubes (vas deferens). Starting with one testicle, the urologist removes a tube, cuts a chunk out of it, closes the cut ends, puts the now-two tubes back into the testicle and stitches it shut. After that, the doctor turns to the other testicle and repeats the process. The entire procedure takes 10-30 minutes and you are free to go home. While you remain awake throughout the procedure, a local anesthetic applied to your scrotum makes sure you are numb down there. So you can engage in a chat with your doctor as the procedure goes on.

Does it hurt?

Yes, but not as much as you imagine. Initially, pain occurs when the anesthetic is applied. As the anesthetic is applied, you will feel as if someone is whacking your balls with a rubber band many times, resulting in deep, nauseating discomfort. But after that, everything down there becomes numb, though you may still feel the tugging, pulling and pressure during the procedure.

Can it go wrong down there?

Like any surgical procedure, a vasectomy comes with risks, such as infection and hematoma (bleeding in your balls). But overall, it is a safe and effective procedure. Your doctor will discuss with you all the risks of the procedure before you agree to it. And you will sign a waiver document for risks such as impotence, heart attack, bleed out, stroke and death. If you are worried that a vasectomy will trigger prostate cancer, this is the time to chat about it with your urologist. Of course studies have shown that there is no link between prostate cancer and vasectomy.

What about anxiety?

Anxiety can be a terrible part of a vasectomy. But many urologists prescribe medications to relieve anxiety, commonly a single Xanax prescription. If your doctor gives you this, don’t hesitate to take it. It will help you drift away mentally and relax, ensuring you are free from anxiety during the procedure. My urologist did not give me any such medication and I must confess that anxiety was the worst part of my experience.

What of post-op pain?

For a few days after the procedure, you have a dull, generalized soreness down there, accompanied by some low-grade stomachaches. With prescribed pain medication, you feel okay. I took Tylenol regularly plus rest and a couple of beers and felt fine. But the most serious post-op pain occurs when you catch one of the stitches with your underwear. It really hurts. I fell down like a potato sack, and believe you will too. Make sure you don’t catch one of these stitches.

How long will it take for you to recover 100 percent?

It’s different for each person. The doctor will tell you something like 10-14 days, but it may be longer or shorter for you. You definitely should keep off your feet for the first 24-48 hours and keep yourself on ice. You can start to shower after 48 hours, but that won’t be fun. I was able to walk around with slight problems after a couple of days, and started running again after a week with little soreness. I was able to resume my normal activities by day three, but that was because I felt pain-free and was quite bored after two days. Monitor your body well for pain and other complications before you get back to normal activities.

When can you begin to have sex?

The invasive stitches on your balls will remain tender and physically strange for a couple of days. This will make you quite anxious and less prepared for sex. My doctor said, “Go for sex when you are ready.” For me that was around 10 days after the procedure. Your case could be different. So don’t worry too much about it because you will get back to your old self pretty quickly once you and your spouse begin to ignite the flames of passion in the bedroom.

Where can you undergo the procedure?

Depends on which city you live in. But you should go for a doctor with years of experience performing the procedure. A place offering no-scalpel, open-ended vasectomy is great. Mine was done at St Pete Urology and it was great. The urologist was frank and friendly, and we explored a lot of questions before the procedure. Want more information on safe vasectomy? Visit the “St Pete Urology” site.

Is It Ok to Work Out After Getting A Vasectomy?

So you are thinking of having a vasectomy? And you fear it could disrupt your imminent project, work plan, business venture or regular workout routine? You really enjoy what you do and you can’t stand several days away from it. Your fears may be justified considering how long it often takes to recover from various medical procedures. But when it comes to a vasectomy, you really don’t need to worry. A vasectomy will keep you out for a far shorter time than you imagine. And in no time you will be back doing what you like.

Scalpel-Free Open Ended Vasectomy

Previously, vasectomy involved an incision in the scrotum using a scalpel, followed by blocking both ends of the tubes (vas deferens) with a clip, suture or diathermy. This closed-ended technique required stitching of the incision, which increased the risk of infection and complications, like congestive epididymitis (tenderness due to pressure build-up). However, things have since changed and the no-scalpel, open-ended procedure is now the norm. This technique only requires a tiny puncture in your skin using special forceps, followed by closing the upper part of your vas with a suture while leaving open the end of the tube connected to the testicle. In only 15-20 minutes, the procedure is done and you are out to begin your recovery.

Less Strenuous Activities

If all goes well, you can be back to your desk job soon after the procedure. But for a fitness routine or a more physically demanding job, you may require a few days off to recover before returning. Typically, the number of days you need depends on the type of activity you intend to undertake. For instance, you should not engage in activities requiring standing and walking all day or carrying loads greater than 10-15 kg until after one week. Likewise, for non-contact sports such as swimming, golf and tennis, you need 2 weeks before you can return. For cycling, you should take 2 weeks off before engaging in stationary cycling, at least 3 weeks before getting back to road cycling, and at least 4 weeks before you can engage in mountain biking.

More Strenuous Activities

Before you can engage in more strenuous activities, you need more time off to recover. For instance, contact sports such as soccer, rugby, martial arts, hockey or powerlifting will require at least a month off. If you fall in the powerlifting category, you may be tempted to use these four weeks off to build your one-rep max, but you must resist such temptations. In fact, you must avoid all sorts of heavy weights that come with low repetition sets, such as squats, leg press and heavy deadlifts. Such exercises can cause a massive build-up of internal pressure, which may lead to internal bleeding at the operation site and potentially result in a scrotal hematoma. A scrotal hematoma is a nasty lump that can be as big as a grapefruit in your scrotum and may take up to 2 months to resolve.

Sexual Intercourse

You can resume normal sexual intercourse one week after a vasectomy. But you should use contraception such as condoms for at least 3 months and until after your semen has been double-checked and found to be completely sperm-free. Ever heard of pregnancies after a vasectomy? Sex within 3 months after a vasectomy may still result in pregnancy because your semen may still contain sperm. So use contraceptives until your doctor confirms that your semen is sperm-free.

Work With Your Urologist

To prevent any problems and reduce the time you need to be off before resuming normal work, follow post-care instructions strictly and pay attention to your doctor’s guidance. By using a cold pack during the first 3-4 days after the procedure and avoiding strenuous activities until your body has healed properly, you will prevent potential complications (such wound reopening, pressure build-up and infection) and speed up your recovery. Fortunately, the most likely issue after a vasectomy is often just a mild ache that goes away in a few days and can be contained with Paracetamol.The other complications, such as hematoma, infection and sperm granuloma (a pea-sized lump on the cut end of your vas deferens) are quite rare.

At St Pete Urology, we offer the painless, no-scalpel open-ended vasectomy procedure. And we guarantee that you recover swiftly and get back to your most cherished activities very quickly. Have questions still? Find out more about safe, painless vasectomy by visiting the “St Pete Urology” site.

Can You Get a Vasectomy Undone?

If for some reason, such as a remarriage or loss of a child after a vasectomy, you choose to have children, can you get a vasectomy undone? Certainly yes! In fact, you can have a vasectomy undone even after a period of time as long as 25 years. However, at St Pete Urology, we are aware that some people may misuse this procedure. For this reason, we are committed to open and informative discussions with our patients before they have a vasectomy, ensuring they know that vasectomy is a permanent birth control method which they should undergo only when certain that they no longer want to have children. We also inform them of the option of vasectomy reversal but only as an ideal option when there is a drastic change of circumstances and a pressing need to have children after a vasectomy.

Outpatient procedure

Vasectomy reversal is often done as an outpatient surgery performed under localized, regional or general anesthesia. Executed with the help of an operating microscope and taking 3-4 hours, vasectomy reversal involves reconnecting the two severed ends of the vas deferens to allow sperm to be transported out of the body. Most men are eligible for a vasectomy reversal, but we usually go through the procedure in detail with our patients to ensure it is right for them.

Techniques for reversing a vasectomy

Before embarking on a reverse vasectomy, the urologist checks for sperm within the vas deferens. The presence or absence of sperm determines the type of surgery performed by the doctor. For instance, if sperm is found within the vas, the urologist will simply need to put the two ends of the vas deferens back together in order to restore male fertility. This procedure is called vasovasostomy, a sewing back together of the severed ends of each tube that carries sperm. In other cases, a blockage closer to the testicle may prevent sperm from reaching the vas. This calls for a more complicated surgery called vasoepididymostomy, which bypasses the blockage. Vasoepididymostomy involves connecting the vas deferens directly to the epididymis (a small organ located at the back of every testicle and which holds sperm).

High success rate

A vasectomy reversal is a more complex procedure that requires more expertise and experience than the original vasectomy. Therefore, it is important that you work with a surgeon who performs vasectomy reversals on a regular basis and who has a track record of success with both types of reversals. When properly performed, vasectomy reversal has a high success rate of 80-95 percent. In fact, the return of sperm (potency rate) is as high as 95 percent, while pregnancy rates vary from 50-70 percent. However, the likelihood to achieve pregnancy after a reversal depends on various factors, including experience of the surgeon, length of time since the vasectomy was done, tissue or tube damage that occurred during original vasectomy, and fertility status and age of your female partner.

Recovery after a reversal

After reversal surgery, it takes 5-14 days to recover. Vasectomy reversal is a minimally-invasive procedure that will not have a heavy toll on your body so you may only expect some soreness in the scrotal area, but this can be relieved with pain medication. However, sexual intercourse and heavy lifting should be avoided during the first 4 weeks after surgery. Your doctor will assess the success of reverse vasectomy by examining your semen 6-8 weeks after the operation. Sperm quality will return to normal 3-6 months after reversal surgery.
At St Pete Urology, we have state-of-the-art facilities, experienced urologists and a patient-centered multidisciplinary approach to ensure your vasectomy reversal is an absolute success. For more information, visit the “St Pete Urology” site.

Are vasectomies permanent?

You may have made the permanent decision to go for a vasectomy so you do not father any more children. But now, the circumstances of your life have changed and you and your partner want a baby. Can you reverse your condition? Well, yes.

Vasectomy reversal surgery can allow you to father a child again. In the U.S. about 600,000 vasectomies are performed each year, but 5 percent of men also seek a vasectomy reversal surgery annually. While there is no guarantee that your fertility will be restored after reversing a vasectomy, the American Urology Association has confirmed that 75-99 percent of men will have sperm return to their semen after the reversal and 30-75 percent of female partners become pregnant following the reversal.

Vasectomy Reversal Procedure

Surgery to reverse a vasectomy is a risk and takes longer to complete than the initial vasectomy procedure, usually 2-4 hours when performed by an experienced urologist. The urologist will apply a local anesthesia or just use general anesthesia. With the help of a powerful surgical microscope, the urologist will reattach the previously severed sperm ducts or vas deferens, with various incisions made on the scrotum to expose the ends of the vas deferens that were severed. The task takes a patient and skilled surgeon to reattach the ends successfully. After reversal surgery, a jockstrap and dressing is applied to create pressure on the incisions. Intermittent ice packs and pain medication are prescribed to reduce swelling and discomfort. The stitches will dissolve in ten days.

What Results Should You Expect?

A critical factor that determines the success of a vasectomy reversal is how long ago the original vasectomy procedure was performed. For instance, if you opted for vasectomy reversal 3-10 years after the original vasectomy, you have up to 97 percent chance of success in rebuilding your vas deferens and at least 50 percent chance of impregnating your partner. Waiting for more than 15 years reduces pregnancy rates to 30 percent. Secondly, one of the effects of a vasectomy is that your body may actually stop recognizing its own sperm, developing antibodies against them. If this occurs, there is a very low chance that vasectomy reversal will restore your ability to impregnate your partner. The urologist will help you determine if this has occurred.

Even though vasectomy reversal is a tempting option, a vasectomy should always be considered permanent. Remember, pregnancy success rates after a vasectomy reversal are very low, influenced by length of time since the original vasectomy, your general health and age, your partner’s fertility, presence of sperm antibodies, and the technique used for reversal. Therefore, you must never take a vasectomy as a sort of experiment that you will reverse in the future. Similarly, results for a vasectomy reversal are not immediate, often taking up to 15 months for sperm to reappear.

Talk to your urologist to determine if you can reverse your vasectomy. For more information on reversing vasectomies, visit the site, St Pete Urology.

What is the success rate of vasectomy?

Do you have the number of children you’ve always wanted? Have you decided that parenthood is not for you? If you feel ready for a family planning method that will free you from ever worrying about unexpected pregnancies again, vasectomy may be the permanent birth control method for you. During a vasectomy procedure, the surgeon will cut the tube known as the vas deferens in order to stop sperm from getting into semen and causing pregnancy.

How reliable is vasectomy?

Success rate of vasectomyVasectomy is a more reliable method of preventing pregnancy than any other method of birth control. For instance, in comparison to the female equivalent called tubal ligation (a surgery performed to tie off the fallopian tubes and prevent an egg from meeting sperm cells) there are zero fatalities per 100,000 vasectomies but about 4 deaths for the same number of tubal ligations. The cost of a vasectomy is $700-900 while tubal ligation is about $2,500, and the overall failure rate of vasectomy is 1 in 1000 as opposed to tubal ligation’s rate of 1 in 200. Vasectomy is simpler, safer and has a shorter recovery time than tubal ligation.

What is the success rate of vasectomy?

Vasectomy has a success rate of more than 99%. It is generally agreed that a 1 in 2000 failure rate with vasectomy is vastly better than the 1 in 200 cases of tubal ligation. In fact, according to a 2005 review of total failures with vasectomy, it was reported that only 183 failures occurred in 43,642 vasectomies (just 0.4%), with 60 pregnancies occurring after 92,184 vasectomies (0.07%). Nevertheless, a vasectomy may fail if your surgeon misses the vas deferens during the operation or, in extremely rare cases, if the tube grows back. If tube re-growth occurs, the vas deferens will be much smaller than it was before the vasectomy.

In some cases, sperm can cross from one cut end of the vas deferens to the other, particularly during the first 3 months of the procedure. This is why your urologist will advise you that the procedure is not immediately effective and you must use another form of contraception until you have provided two semen samples that are sperm free, typically 2-3 months after a vasectomy. If your urologist finds sperm after repeated tests of your semen, you may have to repeat the procedure. About 1% of vasectomies are repeated before they become fully effective.

Will vasectomy affect your performance?

After many years of study, vasectomy has not been associated with any physical or health problem. It will not affect your virility as it does not change the production of the male hormone, testosterone. Therefore, your sex drive, erection, ejaculation, sexual pleasure and male characteristics will remain unchanged. In fact, 30% of men have reported improved sexuality after vasectomy, an improvement attributed to reduced worries about pregnancy. Following vasectomy, sperm production will continue but at a reduced rate and the sperm produced will die and get absorbed by the body as it normally happens in men who do not ejaculate their sperm.

Remember, a vasectomy means you will not be able to father a child, at least not without the huge cost and complications of reversal surgery. Therefore, you must never undertake vasectomy lightly. Before you and your partner choose this method of birth control, you should both consider it carefully. Talk to your doctor about the pros and cons of the procedure, the technique to be used, and whether it is appropriate for you. Want to know more about vasectomy? Visit St Pete Urology in St Petersburg, Florida.

What are the risks of getting a vasectomy?

Vasectomy is a popular and effective method of family planning. It carries less risk than the equivalent of tubal ligation in women, and it provides greater efficacy. In fact, it stands out as one of the best and safest forms of contraception provided that the patient fully understands potential risks associated with the procedure. For example, a common concern with vasectomy is that a man might later change his mind about wanting to have children. Although vasectomy can be reversed, there is usually no guarantee that the reversal will be a success and the reversal surgery is also more complicated and expensive. Therefore, before you opt for a vasectomy, be certain that you do not want to father a child in the future.

So what risks are associated with a vasectomy? For most men, vasectomy does not cause noticeable side effects and rarely causes complications. Nevertheless, while vasectomy is safe and highly effective, some problems might occur after surgery and over time.

Surgical Risks

Following the procedure, most men experience mild pain, discomfort, bruising and mild swelling, all of which disappear within two weeks. However, certain problems may require the attention of a health care provider. Bleeding or hematoma (blood clot) inside the scrotum or bleeding under the skin may cause painful swelling and requires urgent medical attention. As with any surgery, the area operated on may become infected. Scrotal redness, tenderness and fever are signs of infection.

Delayed Risks

The risk of delayed problems is quite small, but they do occur. One such possibility is the presence of a granuloma (lump in the scrotum) formed from leakage of sperm out of the vas deferens and into the tissue. Another is post-vasectomy pain syndrome, a chronic pain in the testicles that occurs in a small percentage of men. A spermatocele is an abnormal cyst that develops in the epididymis and a hydrocele is a fluid-filled sac that may form around the testicle and cause swelling in the scrotum.

Vasectomy failure, although extremely rare, is known to happen. There is a 1-in-1000 risk that a vasectomy will fail. If this occurs, pregnancy may occur and a repeat procedure may be necessary.

Some men have certain unfounded concerns about vasectomies. It is important to know that a vasectomy will not affect sexual performance or cause permanent damage or severe pain to your sexual organs, nor will it increase your risk of testicular or prostate cancer or heart disease.

At St Pete Urology in St Petersburg, Florida we have offered vasectomy services for many years. We have a team of experienced, board-certified urologists and medical staff to guarantee a successful procedure. At St Pete Urology, you will get an initial consultation, treatment, recovery advice and aftercare assistance 24/7. For more information, visit St Pete Urology at our clinic or online.

What happens during a vasectomy procedure and how does it work?

Vasectomy is considered a permanent birth control method because it prevents the release of sperm during ejaculation. During a vasectomy, the tube (vas deferens) from each testicle is carefully clamped, sealed or cut to prevent the mixing of sperm with ejaculated semen. The testicles will continue to produce sperm but the female egg cannot be fertilized without sperm in the semen. Since the tubes are sealed off before the seminal vesicles and prostate, a man will still ejaculate the same amount of fluid.

So what happens during a vasectomy?

  • (a) The testicles and scrotum are first cleaned with antiseptic and may be shaved.
  • (b) You may be given an intravenous (IV) or oral medicine to minimize anxiety and make you sleepy. If given the medicine, you may not remember much of what happens during the procedure.
  • (c) The urologist will locate each vas deferens by touch and then inject a local anesthetic into the area.
  • (d) The doctor will make 1 or 2 small openings on the scrotum. Then through an opening, the 2 vas deferens tubes are cut, tied and stitched, or sealed. Scar tissue from the operation will help block the tubes.
  • (e) The urologist will then replace the vas deferens inside the scrotum and close the skin with stitches that dissolve on their own. A vasectomy procedure takes 10-30 minutes and can be done in a clinic or office of a urologist, general surgeon or family medicine doctor.

How does vasectomy work?

The scrotum will be numb for 1 to 2 hours after the surgery. You are expected to apply cold packs to the area and get as much rest as possible while lying on your back. Wearing a jockstrap or snug underwear will protect the area and ease the discomfort. You may experience minor pain and swelling for a few days, but rarely anything more serious. After two days you can resume light work, but must wait for at least a week for heavy lifting and strenuous work.

While you can resume sexual intercourse as soon as you feel comfortable, waiting for a week is advisable. Remember, your sperm count will not be zero and you can still get your partner pregnant, so use an alternative birth control method such as condoms until follow-up sperm count tests show no sperm in the semen, usually two months after the procedure.

Vasectomies are 99.85% effective, with only 1 or 2 women in 1000 getting pregnant after their partners have undergone the procedure. It will not interfere with your sex drive, sensation of orgasm, ability to ejaculate or ability to have erections. However, it is a permanent birth control method that must only be considered by those who do not want to have children in the future. For more information on vasectomies, visit St Pete Urology in St Petersburg, Florida.