Vasectomy

Vasectomy is a form of male birth control that cuts the supply of sperm to your semen. It’s done by cutting and sealing the tubes that carry sperm. Vasectomy has a low risk of problems and can usually be performed in an outpatient setting under local anesthesia.

Before getting a vasectomy you need to be certain you don’t want to father a child in the future. Although vasectomy reversals are possible, vasectomy should be considered a permanent form of male birth control. 

Your doctor can do the procedure in their office. They may call it male sterilization. Your friends might refer to it as “the snip” or “getting snipped.”

How does a vasectomy work?

 

Sperm leaves the testicles through two tubes called the vas deferens, and mixes with other fluids to make semen. The sperm in your semen can cause pregnancy if it gets into a vagina. 

A vasectomy blocks or cuts each vas deferens tube, keeping sperm out of your semen. Sperm cells stay in your testicles and are absorbed by your body. Starting about 3 months after a vasectomy, your semen  won’t contain any sperm, so it can’t cause pregnancy. But you’ll still have the same amount of semen you did before. There just won’t be any sperm in it.

Vasectomies don’t change the way having an orgasm or ejaculating feels. Your semen will still be the same after a vasectomy — it just won’t be able to get anybody pregnant.

Is a vasectomy effective?

Vasectomies are very effective at preventing pregnancy — but not right away. It takes about 3 months for your semen to become sperm-free.

A few months after your vasectomy, your doctor will do a simple test called a semen analysis to check for sperm in your semen. Your doctor will tell you when there’s no sperm in your semen and the vasectomy has been successful. You shouldn’t have unprotected sex until your doctor says it’s safe.

A vasectomy is really effective because it’s designed to be permanent, and you can’t forget to use it or mess it up. It prevents pregnancy round the clock for the rest of your life. So once your doctor says there’s no longer sperm in your semen, that’s pretty much it — you don’t have to do anything else to prevent pregnancy. Vasectomies are get-it-and-forget-it birth control.

There’s a very slight chance that the cut ends of your vas deferens can grow back together after a vasectomy, which means you could cause a pregnancy. But this is rare.

Possible Side Effects of a Vasectomy

The procedure is very safe. Complications aren’t common, but if they happen, they can include;

• swelling
• bruising
• bleeding inside the scrotum
• blood in the semen
• infection

Long-term issues that occur due to vasectomy are rare. They include:

• fluid buildup in the testicle
• chronic pain
• pregnancy
It’s uncommon for a vasectomy to heal spontaneously, but it can happen. If it does, your sexual partner may be at risk of pregnancy.

The procedure won’t affect your;
  • testosterone level
  • erections
  • climaxes
  • sex drive
  •  or any other part of your sex life. 
A vasectomy may not be a good choice for you if:
  • You may want to have a child biologically in the future.
  • You’re being pressured by your partner, friends, or family.
  • You hope a vasectomy will solve temporary problems  — such as marriage or sexual problems, short-term mental or physical illnesses.

Recovery After a Vasectomy

Once you’re home, take it easy:

Rest for at least 1 day. You should recover completely in less than a week. Many men have the procedure on a Friday and return to work on Monday.

You’ll probably feel sore for a few days. Treat swelling and pain with an ice pack. You can also wear a jockstrap for support.

When Can You Have Sex Again After a Vasectomy?

Give it a few days. Use birth control until you get a test that shows that your semen is free of sperm. You can get this test once you’ve had 10-20 ejaculations after the vasectomy.
If the results show there’s still sperm in your semen, the doctor will ask you to come back later to take the test again. That’s the only way to know if you’re in the clear.