Quick Facts
Vasectomy
- Sterilization in men to prevent pregnancy
- Safe and effective
- Covered by most insurances
- $900 without insurance
- Meant to be permanent
Vasectomy
Our Vasectomy Specialists
Vasectomy
A vasectomy is a simple procedure that makes a man unable to father children. It’s nearly 100% effective (99.85% to be exact). It takes about 15 minutes to perform in a urologist’s office, and it’s usually covered by health insurance.
You’ve probably heard chilling or funny tales about vasectomies. They’re fun to tell. But in reality, most men say that their vasectomy experience was quicker, easier, and more tolerable than they ever expected.
A vasectomy is meant to be permanent and should only be undergone with a full understanding of the procedure and after thoughtful consideration.
Testing and Treatment
Vasectomies are usually done in your urologist’s office, but they may also be done at a surgery center or in a hospital. You and your urologist may decide if you need to be fully sedated (put to sleep) for the procedure. If you need to be sedated, you may have your vasectomy at a surgery center or hospital. The need for sedation is based on your anatomy, how nervous you are, or if you might need other surgery at the same time. You may be asked to sign a form that gives your urologist permission to do the procedure. Some states have special laws about the type of consent and when you need to sign it.
In the procedure room, your scrotal area will be shaved and washed with an antiseptic solution. Local anesthesia will be injected to numb the area, but you’ll be aware of touch, tension, and movement. The local anesthetic should block any sharp pain. If you feel pain during the procedure, you can let your urologist know so you can get more anesthesia.
Conventional Vasectomy
For a conventional vasectomy, one or two small cuts are made in the skin of the scrotum to reach the vas deferens. The vas deferens is cut and a small piece may be removed, leaving a short gap between the two ends. Next, the urologist may cut the ends of the vas and then tie the cut ends or put some tissue in between them. These steps are then repeated on the other vas, either through the same cut or through a new one. The scrotal cuts may be closed with dissolvable stitches or allowed to close on their own.
No-Scalpel Vasectomy
For a no-scalpel vasectomy, the urologist feels for the vas under the skin of the scrotum and holds it in place with a small clamp. A tiny hole is made in the skin and stretched open so the vas deferens can be gently lifted out. It is then cut, tied or seared, and put back in place.
What are the Risks?
Right after surgery, there’s a small risk of bleeding into the scrotum. If you notice that your scrotum has gotten much bigger or you are in pain, call your urologist right away. If you have a fever, or your scrotum is red or sore, you should have your urologist check for infection. There is a small risk for post-vasectomy pain syndrome. This occurs in 1 or 2 men out of 100 vasectomies. Post-vasectomy pain syndrome is a pain that can follow a vasectomy. It isn’t clear what causes this in many cases, but it’s most often treated with anti-swelling meds. If this occurs, see your urologist as sometimes the specific cause can be treated with medicine or a minor procedure.
Studies show men who have had a vasectomy are not at a higher risk for any other medical conditions such as heart disease, prostate cancer, testicular cancer, or other health problems.
After Treatment
After your vasectomy, you may be uncomfortable for a few days. To reduce your pain, you may need mild pain medication to take care of any pain. Severe pain may suggest infection or other problems and you should see your urologist. You may have mild pain like what you’d feel like several minutes after getting hit “down there.” A benign lump (granuloma) may form from sperm leaking from the cut end of the vas into the scrotal tissues. It may be painful or sensitive to touch or pressure, but it isn’t harmful. Most of the time, you don’t feel pain and this usually gets better with time.
Your urologist will give you instructions for care after a vasectomy. Most men go home right away after the procedure. You should avoid sex for 3-7 days or activities that take a lot of strength. Swelling and pain can be treated with an ice pack on the scrotum and wearing a supportive undergarment, such as a jockstrap. Most men fully heal in less than a week. Many men are able to return to their job as early as the next day if they do desk work.
Sex can often be resumed within a week after the vasectomy, but it’s important to know that a vasectomy doesn’t work right away. After the vasectomy, new sperm won’t be able to get into the semen, but there will still be lots of sperm “in the pipeline” that takes time to clear. You should follow up with your urologist for semen analysis to check for sperm in your ejaculate. During this time, you should use other forms of birth control.
The time it takes for your ejaculate to be free of sperm can differ. Most urologists suggest waiting to check the semen for at least 3 months and/or 20 ejaculates. One in 100 men will still have sperm in their ejaculate at that time and may need to wait longer for the sperm to clear. You shouldn’t assume that your vasectomy is effective until a semen analysis proves it is.
Frequently Asked Questions
Plan to spend 2 days at home recovering. Most men have the procedure on a Friday afternoon and return to desk work on Monday. Guys whose jobs keep them on their feet should take 2 days off and arrange for 3 additional days of desk/light duty.
A vasectomy does not affect a man’s testosterone level, sex drive, body hair, voice, and other masculine traits. The operation has no effect on his sexual response. Erections, climaxes and ejaculation remain the same after the procedure. The only difference is that your ejaculate material will not contain sperm, but you and your partner will not notice a change in the amount of fluid ejaculated.
Request an appointment now
Getting an accurate diagnosis can be one of the most impactful experiences that you can have — especially if you’ve been in search of that answer for a while. We can help you get there.
