What is a vasectomy?

Vasectomy is a quick procedure to stop sperm from getting to the ejaculated semen from the penis. There is still sperm in the semen, but it is absent. The testicles continue to produce sperm after a vasectomy, but the body absorbs them. In the United States, more than 500,000 men opt for vasectomy as a form of birth control each year. Except for abstinence, a vasectomy is the most effective birth control method for preventing pregnancy.

In the testicles, sperm and male sex hormones are produced. The male reproductive cells known as sperm are produced in the testicles and are capable of fertilizing a female partner’s eggs, which may lead to the conception of a child. The base of the penis is where the testes are located in the scrotum. Through a coiling tube called the “epididymis,” sperm exit the testes and remain there until they are ready to be used. A lengthy tube known as the vas deferens connects each epididymis to the ejaculatory duct.

The vas deferens travels from the scrotum’s lower region into the inguinal canal (groin region). Following that, it travels to the pelvis and behind the bladder. The seminal vesicle and vas deferens merge here to form the ejaculatory duct. Semen is created when sperm and seminal fluid from the seminal vesicles combine during ejaculation. Your penis’s tip is where the semen exits after passing through the urethra. Pregnancy may result from ejaculation containing sperm.

Procedure of vasectomy

Vasectomies are frequently carried out in the office of your urologist, but they can also be done in a hospital or a surgery centre. If you need to be completely sedated (put to sleep) for the procedure, you and your urologist can decide on that together. You can get a vasectomy at a hospital or surgery center if you need to be sedated. Based on your anatomy, how anxious you are, or whether you might require additional surgery concurrently, sedation may be necessary.

You might be asked to sign a document authorizing your urologist to perform the procedure. The type of consent you must give and the requirements for when you must do so vary by state.

Your scrotum will be shaved and cleaned with an antiseptic solution in the procedure room. The area will be numbed with local anesthesia, but you’ll still feel touch, tension, and movement. Any acute pain should be reduced by the local anesthetic. Your urologist can administer more anesthesia if you experience pain during the procedure.

Conventional Vasectomy is a type of Vasectomy

To access the vas deferens during a traditional vasectomy, one or two tiny cuts are made in the scrotum’s skin. The vas deferens can be partially removed, leaving a tiny space between the two ends. Before continuing, the urologist may tie the vas’s severed ends together or place tissue between them. Then, through the original cut or a new one, these steps are repeated on the other vas deferens. The scrotal cuts can either be stitched up with dissolvable stitches or left to heal on their own.

No-Scalpel Vasectomy a Advanced Vasectomy

The urologist feels for the vas beneath the scrotum’s skin and clamps it in place during a no-scalpel vasectomy. The vas deferens are gently lifted out by creating a tiny hole in the skin and stretching it open. After being cut, tied, or seared, it is then reinserted.

What are the Risks & Complications?

There is a small chance of scrotal bleeding right after surgery. Contact your urologist right away if you feel pain or notice that your scrotum has grown significantly. Have your urologist check for infection if you have a fever or if your scrotum is red or sore. The possibility of post-vasectomy pain syndrome exists. Out of every 100 vasectomies, one or two men experience this. A pain that may develop after a vasectomy is known as post-vasectomy pain syndrome. In many instances, the exact cause is unknown, but anti-swelling medications are the most common form of treatment. Consult your urologist if this happens, as the precise cause may occasionally be treated with medication or a quick procedure.

According to studies, men who have undergone a vasectomy are not more likely to develop heart disease, prostate cancer, testicular cancer, or other illnesses.

After the Procedure

You might experience discomfort following your vasectomy for a few days. You might need a mild painkiller to treat any pain you are experiencing. You should visit your urologist if your pain is severe because it might be an infection or another issue. You might feel a little discomfort, similar to what you might feel several minutes after being struck “down there.” When sperm leaks into the scrotal tissues from the cut end of the vas, a benign lump (granuloma) may develop. While it might hurt or be sensitive to pressure or touch, it is safe.

You usually don’t feel any pain, and things usually get better over time.

You’ll receive instructions for after-vasectomy care from your urologist. Following the procedure, most men immediately return home. For three to seven days, you should abstain from sexual activity and strenuous activities. Applying an ice pack to the area will help reduce swelling and pain, as will donning a jockstrap or other supportive undergarments. Most men recover completely in under a week. If they work at a desk, many men are able to resume their jobs as soon as the following day.

Although it’s important to understand that a vasectomy doesn’t work immediately, most people can resume having sexual relations within a week of the procedure. After the vasectomy, fresh sperm won’t be able to enter the semen, but there will still be a lot of sperm “in the pipeline” that takes some time to clear. To check for sperm in your ejaculate, schedule a follow-up appointment with your urologist for a semen analysis. You may use alternative birth control during this time.

Your ejaculate can become sperm-free at different times. The majority of urologists advise waiting at least three months and/or 20 ejaculates before checking the semen. At that point, one in every 100 men will still have sperm in their ejaculate, and they may need to wait longer for the sperm to clear. Before a semen analysis demonstrates that your vasectomy was successful, you shouldn’t assume it was.