What To Expect With A Vasectomy
A vasectomy is an option that a man may chose when he wishes to not be able to make a woman pregnant. This is a permanent choice for birth control in which the man is unable to impregnate any female after the vasectomy.
The vasectomy procedure is an operation involving cutting the tubes called “vas deferens”. The reason the tubes are cut is so that the sperm cannot reach the semen.
The vasectomy typically is done in the doctor’s office or as an outpatient in a hospital or surgical center. The operation itself, takes about 30 minutes. The man is awake during the procedure. A local anesthetic is used to numb the male’s scrotum. Once the area is numb, the doctor will cut a small opening on one side of the scrotum and pull out part of the vas deferens on that side. The male will normally feel some tugging or pulling sensations during the procedure at this point. The ends of the vas deferens will be stitched shut to seal them. Sometimes instead of stitching another method of sealing the ends may be used such as searing them with heat. The other side of the scrotum is then done in the exact same manner. At the end of the procedure the doctor will close both of the openings with stitches. The stitches will disappear by themselves after 3 to 10 days.
There is a no-scalpel vasectomy in which a small puncture (hole) is made in the scrotum instead of an incision. The hole does not require stitches to heal.
Vasectomy is the safest, most effective method of birth control. Statistically only 15 out of 10,000 who have used vasectomy as a birth control method will experience a pregnancy during the first year of the procedure.
Males should not use this method of birth control unless they are 100% sure that they do not ever want to have a child.
Males who have an active infection on or around the genitals may need to wait until the infection clears. A doctor would be able to advise a male with a genital infection of the possibilities involving the suitability of a vasectomy.
Males with a bleeding disorder should not have a vasectomy. Consult with your doctor if you desire birth control and have a bleeding disorder.
Vasectomies can be undone; called a “reversal”. The reversal surgery is expensive, and not usually covered by insurance. The reversal must be performed in a hospital. After a successful vasectomy reversal males may be able to ejaculate sperm after the surgery, but the sperm may not be able to fertilize an egg; making pregnancy impossible. This is why a vasectomy is considered to be a permanent birth control option.
As with any birth control option there are many factors to consider when making your choice. Partners should be consulted and all the options carefully researched. Doctors are excellent sources of information regarding what benefits and risks are associated with each birth control option. Any surgery no matter how minor has risks that should be understood as part of the decision-making process. The male should be instructed before the day of the operation about any preparations including how to clean the genital area. It is usually advised that someone else drive the male home from the procedure and that the male bring with him a jockstrap.
Recommended Reading
- The Vasectomy Procedure Explained In Easy Terms
- The Facts About Vasectomy Reversal Surgery
- Questions Women Ask When A Couple Contemplates A Vasectomy
- Changing Your Mind After The Vasectomy Is Done
- What Happens When You Have A Vasectomy
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