What is a Vasectomy?
Vasectomy is a form of male birth control. It’s done by cutting and sealing the vas deferens, the tubes that carry sperm. Vasectomy is a straightforward, low risk procedure that should be considered a “permanent” method of birth control. While vasectomy reversal may be an effective means of reversing a vasectomy and reinstating fertility, a patient should not consider this procedure as enabling his vasectomy to be “temporary” sterilization.
The Vasectomy Procedure
A vasectomy is an out-patient procedure and usually takes approximately 30 minutes. You may be given an oral medicine to reduce anxiety and make you sleepy. Local anesthesia is then injected into the area. The doctor will make one to two small openings in your scrotum through which the two vas deferens will be cut and tied, sealed, or clamped. Electrocautery may be used to seal the ends with heat cauterization. The vas deferens is then placed back into the scrotum and the skin is closed with a few stitches that will dissolve in a couple of days.
After a short recovery at the doctor’s office, the patient is sent home to rest for one to two days. Applying cold packs may help ease swelling and discomfort, as well as wearing a jock strap or snug underwear.
Patients are advised to take it easy for the first few days, after which they can resume normal activities.
Sexual activities may be resumed once the patient feels comfortable to do so, however, a backup method of birth control is necessary until a follow-up sperm count confirms zero sperm in the semen. A follow-up semen sample should be taken three months after the procedure.