Vasectomy Information for You and Your Partner

The main question a man should ask himself is: Would you like to father another child in your lifetime?
If you answer YES....keep on reading but perhaps you should not consider this procedure at this time. If you answer "NO" we are here to help you.

If you are not certain or you answer "maybe" sperm freezing or delaying the procedure should be an option for you.

Until recent years, few people questioned the long-term safety of vasectomy. A couple considering vasectomy was more likely to ask a doctor about the operation itself, its effectiveness, or how it might change their sexual relationship.

Vasectomy is generally permanent. Although new techniques for reversing vasectomies may increase the odds that fertility will return, there are no guarantees.

The only condition seen markedly more often in the vasectomized men was epididymitis, a local inflammation near the site of the operation. This complication, which was previously known, occurs mostly within the first year after vasectomy. Treated with heat, it usually clears up in a week.

Otherwise, men with vasectomies were just as healthy as other men, if not more so.

The Risks of Vasectomy

The vasectomy operation is quick, safe, and inexpensive. Usually it is performed in a doctor's office or clinic and takes only 10 to 15 minutes.

Instead of making an incision, the no-scalpel technique uses a sharp! nstrument (instead of scalpel) to puncture the skin.

The scalpel leasion which is not necessary longer than 5 mm compaired with 3-5 mm "non scalpel" leasons, gives advantage to, if required, histological preparation as proof for successfull surgical procedure.

After giving the man a local anesthetic, a doctor generally makes one in the middle or seldom two small incisions-one on either side of the scrotum. We locate the two thin tubes that carry sperm, seals them off, and thats it. Usually no sutures or stitches are needed. Once leaving the office and ice pack to the scrotum should be used for about 6 hours.

Recovery from the vasectomy operation is rapid, and serious complications are rare. Swelling, bruising, and pain -- the most common complaints -- occur in about half of men after vasectomy. The discomfort subsides within a week or two and usually responds to treatment with ice packs, mild pain killers, scrotal support and rest. Men are generally advised to avoid strenuous work or exercise for about 2 days after the operation.

A minority of men develop a small lump of inflammatory tissue called a granuloma near the incision site. Granulomas, caused by sperm leaking into surrounding tissues, usually stay so small that they don't cause symptoms. If they do cause pain, it is generally treated with bed rest and mild pain killers.

Fewer than 3 in 100 men develop complications such as infection, hematoma (bleeding under the skin), or epididymitis (inflammation of the tube that collects sperm from the testes).

Before a man has a vasectomy, it is very important that he and his partner receive thorough counseling that permits them to ask questions and express any fears they may have. This forces a couple to become sure of their decision; without it, some anxieties are likely to remain. Vasectomy counselors are urged to explain all other methods of birth control, in addition to giving full details on the benefits and possible drawbacks of vasectomy.

When is it Safe to Have Unprotected Sex?

It does NOT offer immediate protection from unwanted pregnancy, however the reproductive tract is not clear of sperm for several weeks, and other forms of birth control must be used until a semen sample, generally checked after 15 to 20 ejaculations and it shows no sperm. The most common reason for vasectomy failure is probably unprotected intercourse before all sperm have cleared the reproductive tract.

Permanent Procedure:

Although this is an advantage to most men who have the operation, it is a drawback for a very small percent of them.

Approximately 2 in 1000 men who have vasectomies regret it later and wish to have the operation reversed. The main reasons for requesting a reversal are remarriage, death of a child, or an improvement in finances followed by a wish for another child. Fewer than 10 percent of men who request reversals do so because of physical or psychological problems following vasectomy.

Reversal Operations: No Guarantees
In contrast to the original operation, the vasectomy reversal is a complicated, delicate and expensive procedure that is not covered by medical insurance. The difficulty lies in trying to reconnect the sperm-carrying tube's inner canal, which is the size of a pinpoint. And although new surgical techniques are improving the chances of success, no doctor can guarantee that a reversal operation will result in both the reappearance of sperm in the semen and, ultimately, the achievement of pregnancy.

Pregnancy rates following vasectomy reversal range from 16 to 85 percent. Success depends on several factors, including the ability of the surgeon performing the reversal, the way in which the original operation was performed, and the time lapsed since vasectomy.

Sperm bank

We are often asked about the possibility of storing frozen semen in sperm banks before vasectomy, as a safety measure. Few men follow up on this, however. While it is possible to bank sperm and later establish pregnancy, it can be costly. About 20% of the thawed sperm becomes non-viable. We believe that individuals who want to bank sperm probably shouldn't have a vasectomy, because they most likely have doubts about giving up their ability to father a child.

Sex After Vasectomy: No Difference

After vasectomy, a man can safely resume having sex (using another form of birth control until his semen is free of sperm) as soon as he feels comfortable. Because the sperm from the area sealed off by vasectomy make up only 5% or a fraction of the total fluid ejaculated, he should notice no difference in the amount of fluid nor in its appearance. The size of the testicles remains unchanged as well.

Does it reduce testosterone levels?

Two common worries about vasectomy are that it will reduce a man's sex hormone levels or take away his ability to have sex. These myths have no biological basis, however, because vasectomy only prevents the escape of sperm from the reproductive system, not the release of testosterone, the male sex hormone, into the bloodstream.

Both sperm and testosterone are produced in the testicles, but they leave by different routes. Sperm move through a series of ducts that channel through the reproductive organs to the outside of the body, while tiny veins in the testicles transport testosterone into the bloodstream.

So when vasectomy seals the tubes that carry sperm, it doesn't affect the transfer of testosterone into the bloodstream. Therefore there is no physical reason for a loss of sex drive or other sexual characteristics.

How much does it cost?

Cost of the vasectomy includes the procedure, supplies, post vasectomy visits (if needed and up to 90 days from the procedure) and semen check (as many as needed) to ascertain that there is no sperm present.

Semen check for sperm by law is performed by an independent lab at an additional expense if it is not covered by your insurance. Vasectomies are performed daily during routine office hours if you wish to schedule an appointment please contact Urology Consultants by phone or fax as listed below.