Vasectomy

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Vasectomy is a common urologic procedure that results in permanent birth control. Over 520,000 are performed annually in the U.S. It is an outpatient procedure that takes about 30 minutes and is done in the clinic/office.

During the procedure, a piece of the vas is removed and either clips or ties are applied. Some urologists turn the vas back or place the two ends in different levels. Ice pack, rest and pain medication are recommended after the surgery.

Patients must have protected intercourse your physician confirms there is no sperm in the semen. Sperm levels are checked after a specific number of ejaculations (15-20) or based on timeframe (6 weeks or more after vasectomy). The patient is not cleared for unprotected intercourse until the follow-up semen analysis shows no sperm.

Frequently asked questions

  • No. There have been some associations made that a vasectomy can lead to an increased risk of heart disease and Alzheimer’s. These have not been supported by adequate studies.

  • No. There is no connection between the two. Also, there is no connection with prostate cancer or any other cancers.

  • Yes, any affect on erections may be psychological – there are no changes hormonally that cause a problem. Some residual discomfort may play a role.

  • Yes. Any problems may be psychological. If he still has pain, that may lead to less desire.

  • Yes, the main fluid a man produces is “down stream” from the vasectomy.

  • Yes.

  • This is called “recanalization” and, unfortunately, the answer is yes, but rarely. The statistics range from a 1 in 1,000 to 1 in 10,000 chance. The reason is that there is a sort of “honeycombing effect.” This may be related to the technique of vasectomy performed and to the man being compliant with  instructions to have his semen checked to make sure there are no sperm. Fewer than 50% of men are checked to ensure they have no sperm. It is recommended the analysis not be performed until at least 15-20 ejaculations have occurred. Some doctors recommend a timeline, e.g., analysis after 6 weeks. The exact timeline is not completely clear.

  • Yes. Of the 520,000 or more men who have a vasectomy in the U.S. each year, approximately 6% feel that they have made a mistake or a change in their life situation causes them to consider reversing this permanent means of contraception. It is important to know that if a man is under age 30, he has a 12-times higher chance of wanting a reversal. See male infertility section.

  • This isn’t quite what everyone thinks. No scalpel does not mean “no pain.” No scalpel unfortunately doesn’t mean it is any less anxiety-provoking, nor any less of a procedure. In place of a scalpel is an instrument that stretches the skin to open it up, which still requires local anesthetic. The advantage is most times no stitch in the skin is required and the hole is small. Recovery may be better, but no real difference has been noted.

    As a patient, some time should be taken thinking about the options. It is an important milestone so it is important to get it right the first time. If a patient is unsure, vasectomy may not be the right option.

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