6 Things You Need to Know Before Having a Vasectomy

Are you thinking about going down the road of vasectomy but having anxiety about the procedure? Know these basic things about vasectomy to better prepare yourself!

If you and your partner are looking for a permanent birth control solution, vasectomy is the only safe and healthy option out there. It’s a very brief procedure that permanently takes away a man’s ability to get a woman pregnant. And no, vasectomy doesn’t, in any way, affect your ability to perform sexually. In this fairly simple procedure, doctors either cut or block two tubes inside your scrotum, which prevents semen and sperm from mixing together. Vasectomy is 99% effective in most normal cases and doesn’t pose any health risks to the individual going through it.

You can consider vasectomy as an outpatient procedure with little downtime. If you are considering vasectomy as a birth control option, you and your partner should know a few things to better prepare for the procedure. So, here are 6 things you must know before having a vasectomy.

Doctors recommend vasectomy as a permanent birth control solution because it is the safest and the most effective option out there. Studies have reported that only 2 out of 1000 couples get pregnant after having a vasectomy. This means, that this procedure is 99% effective and poses no health risks whatsoever.

The procedure is very simple, and you will be in and out in about 30 minutes. Usually, a vasectomy is performed in an outpatient surgery center under local anesthesia, which means you will be awake during the procedure and only your scrotum will be numb. The doctor will create a small round incision on one side of your scrotum to pull the vas deferens out. He or she will then remove a small section of the tube and clamp it. This procedure will then be repeated on the other side. A vasectomy typically is a comfortable procedure; however, you may feel some discomfort due to tugging and pulling. The incision in this procedure is so small that it doesn’t require any stitches.

There is a taboo around vasectomy, and most men think that it will somehow take away their ability to perform sexually. Well, we are telling you that a vasectomy should not affect your sex drive in any way. This procedure simply aims to prevent semen and sperm from mixing together and will not affect your ability to get an erection or orgasm.

Moreover, your ejaculation will also look and feel the same, but there won’t be any sperms if you see it microscopically. If, after the procedure, you observe any kind of change in your sexual functioning, contact your doctor immediately.

Most men are concerned about the recovery period when they are thinking about getting a vasectomy. Well, vasectomy has a very brief downtime. Generally, you can return to your normal work routine after two to three days. But your workout routine and sex life should wait for about a week. You will have some bruising and swelling at the puncture site, but it should also go away within two weeks.

The sperm count in your ejaculate will just not diminish right away after the treatment. In fact, it’s a gradual procedure. You will have to rely on other birth control options until your ejaculate is completely sperm free. Your ejaculation will go to testing, and when it comes back 100% sperm free, your doctor will give you an okay sign. Usually, it takes about 2 months for a vasectomy to take effect and completely sterilize a man.

The sperm analysis is usually conducted at monthly intervals until the sperm count becomes negative in the semen.

Anything in your life can make you desire children in the future after having a vasectomy. Although a vasectomy is quoted as a permanent birth control solution, you should know that it can be reversed. However, there are other alternatives that are usually chosen over a reversed vasectomy.

Doctors do not usually recommend a reversed vasectomy to their patients because it is a complicated procedure that takes about six to seven hours, and still, pregnancy won’t be guaranteed.

If you and your partner decide to get pregnant after having a vasectomy, there are better and more effective methods other than a reversed vasectomy. You can opt for counseling to know what will work best for you. Usually, doctors recommend surgical sperm extraction in combination with in vitro fertilization to couples who have had a vasectomy. Surgical sperm extraction involves obtaining sperms through a tiny incision in the testes or epididymis. This method has a 98% success rate.

A vasectomy can greatly change your life. Therefore, the decision to have a vasectomy shouldn’t be taken in a rush. Involve your partner in a conversation and discuss whether having a vasectomy is the best option for you. A vasectomy would be the right option for you if:

• You are certain that you do not want children in the future.
• Your wife shouldn’t get pregnant due to some medical condition.
• You carry some sort of genetic disorder that might affect your children.