Vasectomy
Vasectomy is a type of male birth control that prevents semen from carrying sperm. The procedure is done by cutting and sealing the tubes that carry sperm.
Before getting a vasectomy, the patient needs to be certain they don’t want children in the future. Although a vasectomy may be reversed, the procedure should be considered a permanent form of male birth control.
It’s important to note that a vasectomy doesn’t offer protection from sexually transmitted infections.
Reasons for a Vasectomy
Vasectomy is a safe and effective form of birth control for men who don’t want children in the future. A vasectomy is nearly 100 percent effective in preventing pregnancy. It’s an outpatient surgery with a low risk of complications or side effects.
A vasectomy is less expensive than female sterilization (tubal ligation) or long-term birth control medication for women.
Men who have undergone a vasectomy don’t need to take birth control steps before having sex, such as putting on a condom.
It’s important to note that a vasectomy won’t:
- Affect sexual performance
- Cause any permanent damage to the sexual organs
- Increase the risk of cancer or heart disease
- Cause severe pain
What to Expect During the Procedure
Vasectomy takes 10 to 30 minutes to complete. To perform a vasectomy, the surgeon will:
Inject a local anesthetic into the skin of your scrotum to numb the treatment area.
Make a small incision in the upper part of the scrotum or make a small puncture in the scrotum, instead of an incision.
Locate the tube that carries semen from the testicle.
Withdraw part of the testicle through the incision or puncture and make a cut where it has been pulled out of the scrotum.
Seal the testicle by tying it, cauterizing, surgical clips, or a combination of methods.
Return the ends of the testicle to the scrotum and close the incision at the surgery area using stitches or glue. In some cases, the wound may be left to heal naturally.
Potential Risks of a Vasectomy
Some patients may later change their mind about wanting to father a child and regret undergoing a vasectomy. Though a vasectomy may be reversed in some cases, there’s no guarantee it will work. Reversal surgery is more complicated than vasectomy, expensive, and may be ineffective. After a vasectomy, patients may consider in vitro fertilization if they’d like to have a child. However, this technique is expensive and not 100% effective. Before undergoing a vasectomy, the patient must be certain they don’t want children in the future.
The procedure is not recommended for individuals with chronic testicular pain or testicular disease. In most cases, a vasectomy doesn’t cause any noticeable side effects. Serious complications after the procedure are rare.
Immediately after surgery, patients may experience the following side effects:
- Swelling
- Infection of the surgery site
- Blood in the semen
- Bruising of the scrotum
- Mild pain or discomfort
- Bleeding or a blood clot (hematoma) inside the scrotum
After a vasectomy, patients may also experience delayed complications, such as chronic pain, fluid buildup in the testicle, inflammation, pregnancy, an abnormal cyst, and a fluid-filled sac surrounding the testicle.
