Vasectomy
Vasectomy is a small operation a man can get to prevent sperm from getting into his semen when he ejaculates. When no sperm enters a woman, this prevents pregnancy. However, one is still able to ejaculate and have an orgasm after the procedure. This procedure is considered a form of birth control and is known to be one of the most effective methods.
Theoretically vasectomy is reversible. However, it doesn’t always work. Therefore, one should only consider this operation when he is sure that he doesn’t want to have any/more children. This procedure is also known as male sterilization.
Purpose
Since a vasectomy is an effective and permanent way to prevent pregnancies, it is preferred by men, who are certain that they will not want children. Men who undergo this procedure, don’t need to take birth control steps such as putting on a condom before having sexual intercourse.
Vasectomy doesn’t have any lasting affects on one’s sexual performance.
Compared to female sterilization, vasectomies are easier and less expensive. For couples who have decided not to have children, it is recommended to discuss their options with a doctor.
Preparation
Before doing a vasectomy, it is important to discuss with your doctor if it is the right form of birth control for you.
First you will need to understand that vasectomy is permanent and it is not a good choice if there is a chance that you might want to father a child later on in future.
If you are in a relationship, you need to discuss with your partner and how she feel about this decision. Also discuss with your doctor regarding any other forms of birth control available for you.
Vasectomy is generally performed by urologists, but sometimes they are also performed by family medicine or general medicine practitioners. The procedure is generally done at a doctor’s office or sometimes at a surgery center.
A few days before the procedure, you might need to stop taking certain medications such as aspirin as well as blood-thinning medications. On the day of the procedure, it is very important for you to take a shower. Make sure to wash the genital area properly.
Procedure
The surgery shouldn’t generally take over 30 minutes. First your doctor numbs the surgery area using a local anesthetic. Then he/she makes an incision in the upper part of your scrotum after the area is numb. Or if he/she is using the no-scalpel technique, then a puncture will be made instead of an incision.
Then your doctor will locate the tube that carries semen from your testicle, which is termed as vas deferens. Then part of the vas deferens will be withdrawn through the incision or puncture. Then the vas deferens will be cut where it has been pulled out of the scrotum. It will be then sealed with the use of surgical clips, heating or any other method. Then your doctor will return the ends of the vas deferens back to your scrotum.
After this, the incision will be closed. Glue or stitches might be used; but in some cases, the wound may be left to close on its own over time.
Recovery
After you reach home, you need to rest for a minimum of 24 hours. Within less than a week you should recover completely.
Although you might feel sore for some days, you can try treating the swelling and the pain with an ice pack. You can choose to wear a jockstrap as well for support.
Give it a few days before you have sexual intercourse again. Until a test shows that your semen is free of sperm, it is recommended that you still use birth control. This test can be performed after you have had 10-20 ejaculations after your vasectomy.
If results show that there is still sperm left in your semen, then your doctor will be asking you to come later to take the test again.
Risks
A potential concern with vasectomy is that sometimes a person can change his mind about wanting to father a child. Although reversing a vasectomy is possible, there is no guarantee that it will work. Reversal surgery is not only more complicated and expensive, but in some cases, it also turns out to be effective.
Though other techniques such as in vitro fertilization can allow a person to father a child even after a vasectomy, usually these techniques are quite expensive and not always effective.
Therefore, before you go through a vasectomy, you need to be certain that you don’t want a child in the future.
For most men, there usually aren’t any noticeable side effects. Serious complications occur quite rarely.
Few side effects that may occur include:
- Bleeding or a blood clot (hematoma) inside your scrotum
- Blood in your semen
- Infection at the surgery site
- Bruising of your scrotum
- Swelling
- Mild pain or discomfort
Sometimes, there might be delayed complications which can can include:
- Chronic pain
- Fluid buildup in the testicle, which can cause a dull ache which can get worse with ejaculation
- Pregnancy, in the event that the vasectomy fails, although this is rare
- Inflammation caused by leaking sperm (granuloma).
It is also notable that although vasectomy is an effective method of birth control, it will not protect you and your partner from sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS. Therefore you might want to consider using protections such as a condom during intercourse, even after you undergo a vasectomy.