Vasectomy is a form of permanent sterilization for men. The procedure involves cutting and sealing the tubes (vas deferens) that deliver sperm into a man’s ejaculatory fluid so he is no longer able to fertilize his partner’s eggs. The surgery is usually done under local anaesthesia. There are several vasectomy techniques currently in use, but the general procedure remains the same:
Vasectomy recovery is usually very quick, with most men resuming normal activities within a few days. The majority of swelling and bruising will subside within a week, although some men may recover more slowly.
In general, sexual intercourse can be resumed a week after the procedure. A man’s sexual functions and performance remain completely unchanged after a vasectomy. He’ll still have normal orgasms and ejaculations. Since sperm only make up 2% to 5% of the ejaculate, so the difference in ejaculatory volume won’t be noticeable to a man or his partner.
There are hundreds of thousands of vasectomies performed every year most doctors consider it to be one of the safest and most effective forms of permanent birth control available.
However, like any surgical procedure, there are risks involved with having a vasectomy. Complications are uncommon, but it is important that men understand the potential risks such as infection and scrotal hematoma.
A small percentage of men experience chronic pain or discomfort after a vasectomy. This is known as post-vasectomy pain syndrome (PVPS). The exact causes of this pain are mostly unknown, but in most cases treatment for the condition is available.
While vasectomy is reversible, the reversal procedure (vasovasostomy) is expensive and more complicated. Vasectomy reversal also has a variable rate of success that depends heavily on the man’s age, years since his vasectomy, and other factors. Men should not look at vasectomy as something they can easily “undo” later in life, but rather as a permanent birth control method.
Most men report the procedure as uncomfortable. The worst part for most is the anesthetic being administered (about the same as an injection at the dentist) and the hair growing back afterwards itches.
The satisfaction with the procedure is generally high. The chief causes of regret are: The results of an ill-considered decision (often due to making the decision under pressure), Changes in circumstances some years later (such as the death of a child or remarriage), and “post vasectomy pain syndrome” (PVP). It’s worth adding that satisfaction rates are highest amongst men who were the ones who suggested vasectomy first.
Yes. Your testes still produce testosterone so there is no reduction in your masculinity. Some major studies indicate that the level of testosterone in vasectomised men seems to decrease more slowly with age, so vasectomised men seem to have higher levels of testosterone longer into their lives than the non-vasectomised.
Yes. What you ejaculate contains normally 3-5% sperm. The rest is seminal fluid produced by the seminal vesicles/prostate gland. After vasectomy you ejaculate about 95-97% of what you did prior to vasectomy.
Unlikely. Some diagrams suggest the vas deferens are the only things connecting our testicles to the rest of us. In fact, the vas tubes are just one part of a complicated group of structures called the spermatic cord. The spermatic cord is not severed during vasectomy. The spermatic cord contains arteries and veins, the cremasteric muscles (which cause your testicles to pull up when you are cold or anxious), bunches of nerves, lymphatic vessels, etc. It is these structures together that support the testicles in the scrotum. The vas deferens are thin, hard tubes mixed up in all of this, and they are the only things cut during vasectomy. We have a detailed explanation of the spermatic cord structure, and www.maleinfertility.com have an excellent video clip of the NSV procedure that clearly shows exactly how the vas deferens is separated from the rest of the spermatic cord prior to cutting it.
No contraceptive method is totally risk free. Maybe not having sex is the exception – and I guess someone’s done research into the harmful practice of sexual abstinence! This comparative table lists the risks and benefits of the various contraceptive and sterilization methods. For many of us vasectomy represents the least risk alternative.
Vasectomy is usually done under a local anaesthetic, and a tubal ligation is done under a general. Vasectomy is less intrusive, statistically more reliable, and has less long term complications.
No. Vasectomy is a form of male birth control that prevents pregnancy. To protect yourself and your partner against sexually transmitted diseases you need to use condoms.
It’s possible, but the statistics available suggest the chances of this happening are very low – specifically in 0.030% of cases (according to the “Well connected” link in the useful links sections). Another study by the BCMA says that “DNA-confirmed paternity with apparent azoospermia after vasectomy has been documented with an incidence of approximately 1 in 4000”. We have a page that discusses the topic in greater detail. Vasectomy is the most reliable form of birth control available, if it worries you, get regular semen analysis done to give you peace of mind.
NO KIDDING! This question has been asked a few times in the forums, and is in the top ten keywords used to search this site! The threads in the forums came to the conclusion that there is no difference, except for one lady who said her husband’s sperm smelled different after he had had a reversal. We also address the questions of volume, color and consistency of semen after a vasectomy in our online survey along with many other important issues. Men who have had a vasectomy say that it doesn’t affect the qualities mentioned, nor does it affect the consistency or adhesive properties. I.E. it will still stick to dresses, body hair and gum up shower trays and make just as much mess as it always used to.