Vasectomy
How Does a Vasectomy Work?
A vasectomy is a simple procedure where the tubes allowing sperm to exit the testes are isolated and blocked using various techniques. A small incision is made in the scrotum, or a puncture in the scrotal skin. It's a safe surgery, and one of the most cost-effective options for contraception (preventing pregnancy.)
What to Expect
How effective is a vasectomy?
No procedure completely guards against conception, but the chances of pregnancy after vasectomy are slim. It's more than 99.9% effective.
Who can't have a vasectomy?
There are only a few situations when a vasectomy isn’t possible or not recommended. This can include bleeding disorders and poor wound healing.
Typical vasectomy procedure
The actual vasectomy procedure only takes about 20 minutes and shouldn't hurt.
Patients are awake, and pain is controlled by injecting a local anesthetic that numbs the area. Doctors frequently give pain and/or anti-anxiety medication to take an hour before the procedure if a patient needs it. Patients shouldn't take additional over the counter or prescription medications before surgery.
Side Effects of Vasectomy
For most, vasectomies side effects are minimal and may include:
- Blood in semen
- Bruising of scrotum
- Mild pain or discomfort
- Minor bleeding
- Swelling
Complications are low, with an overall complication rate of only 2% or less. This can include hematoma (blood clot in the scrotum) and infection. Even less experience post-vasectomy pain syndrome and or require a repeat procedure.
Vasectomy Recovery
If you have significant discomfort after a few recovery days, tell your vasectomy doctor. They’ll take extra steps to help reduce pain.
Ice, compression and rest are the three main ingredients to recovery. Expect two-to-three days of limited activity. Preventing swelling is key. The better you are about self-care over the first 48 hours, the speedier your recovery.
- Ice. Use ice packs on the scrotum as often as possible, but don’t apply for more than 15-20 minutes at a time.
- Compression. Wear snug underwear or compression shorts for two or three days.
- Rest. Here’s your excuse to sit around and relax for a few days. Don’t exercise, walk for long distances or lift anything heavier than 15 pounds, including children.
After a few days, you can ease back into normal activities. Typically, it takes about two weeks before feeling 100% back to normal.
After about 48 hours, you can return to work. If your job requires strenuous activity, talk to your doctor about what’s best for you.
When to Call Your Doctor
If you experience any of these concerning symptoms after your vasectomy, call your doctor right away.
- Fever
- Excessive swelling
- Increased pain
- New lump in your scrotum
- Difficulty urinating
- Pain/burning during urination
Sex After Vasectomy
You can resume sexual activity one week after vasectomy, with a backup form of contraception. The procedure doesn’t produce immediate sterility. You can still ejaculate after a vasectomy, and it’s normal to have some blood in the semen for the first few ejaculations.
Vasectomy doesn’t affect sexual function or enjoyment. It shouldn’t impact your sexual performance, sex drive, ejaculation or erectile function. If you think it does, contact your doctor.
Sperm count drops gradually after a vasectomy. It may take 10 weeks or longer before all viable sperm are cleared out. It’s best to get your semen tested around eight-to-12 weeks after your procedure to make sure it’s sperm-free.
Ejaculation after a vasectomy should be the same as it was before the procedure. The only difference in ejaculation is the absence of sperm in the semen, and you can’t see sperm. So, you shouldn’t notice any differences.
The color of your semen shouldn’t change either. It’s normal for it to appear as a clear, white or gray color. Since it’s normal for some blood to appear in the first few ejaculations, the semen may appear slightly pink, red or brown. If that lasts for an extended time, contact your doctor.
Are Vasectomies Reversible?
Undoing a vasectomy is possible, but the procedure should be approached as a permanent form of male sterilization. This is because vasectomy reversal success rate isn’t 100%. The likelihood of sperm returning after vasectomy is affected by factors such as the duration of blockage and testicular function.
How Much Does a Vasectomy Cost?
How much a vasectomy costs depends on your insurance plan. Many insurance plans cover some, or all, of the procedure. Out-of-pocket costs are also much lower if the procedure is covered by insurance.
How Do I Get a Vasectomy?
To get a vasectomy, a recommended first step is to talk with your primary doctor and discuss whether this permanent form of birth control is right for you. Your primary care doctor will then refer you a specialist, called a urologist, who performs the procedure.