Vasectomy

Vasectomies have become extremely popular in men between the ages of thirty and forty. It is one of the most effective methods of birth control. The procedure is preferred over a tubal ligation by many couples because it is much less expensive, and has a much faster recovery time associated with it. The procedure does not have to be done at a hospital, as a tubal ligation does, but can be performed in a skilled physician’s office.

There are two different types of vasectomies. The first type of vasectomy is called a “no-scalpel” vasectomy. This involves going into the physician or specialist’s office and having the vasa deferentia, which is the tube that allows sperm to go from the testes to the opening outside of the body, cut and sealed. The second, less popular option is having the vasa deferentia completely removed, which creates total sterilization with no chance of reversing the procedure.

Some men worry that they will not be able to have an erection or enjoy sex after a vasectomy is completed. This is not true. The ability for blood to travel to the penis is not impaired, and testosterone is still produced, which means that sexual desire will not change. The procedure only stops the sperm from being able to exit the body. Instead, the sperm is absorbed harmlessly by the body. This is not abnormal, as at least half of the sperm created by a man is absorbed by the body regularly. Sperm is actually only a very small part of ejaculate, which means that the texture and appearance will remain the same after the procedure is completed.

Most men will only feel pain for a few days, and will be completely back to normal within a week or less. There is a way to reverse the procedure should the man’s situation change. This is called a vasovasestomy and involves microsurgery. It does not always result in restored fertility, however, so any man who is considering getting a vasectomy should consider it permanent.