Even though a vasectomy is a common procedure, you shouldn’t have it done without serious thought. You should consider it a permanent form of birth control.
At Midwest Regional Health Services in Omaha, Nebraska, our team provides comprehensive care for every step of the vasectomy process. Part of this process is talking through whether a vasectomy is the right choice for you and your partner.
Here’s what you need to know about vasectomies to help you make an informed medical decision.
A vasectomy is a form of male sterilization that prevents sperm from fertilizing an egg. The goal of the procedure is to keep the sperm supply away from semen by closing the sperm’s travel route through the vas deferens tube.
With traditional surgical vasectomy, your doctor makes a small incision in your upper scrotum, disconnects the vas deferens tube, and then closes the tube ends so they can’t reconnect. You receive stitches to close the incision.
Nonsurgical vasectomy involves a specialized instrument to create a small puncture wound. Your doctor gently stretches the skin forming an opening that allows access to cut the vas deferens.
The whole vasectomy procedure is fairly quick — only about 30 minutes. Most men find they can return to work after 2-3 days and can resume all normal activities within a week’s time.
You may have heard rumors and misinformation about male sterilization. These are some important facts about vasectomies that are helpful for you and your partner to consider.
Even though a vasectomy is a permanent form of birth control, the results aren’t immediate. In fact, it can take several months for your sperm count to diminish from your semen.
After your vasectomy, our team tests a semen sample to check your sperm count. It may take up to two months for it to be safe to have unprotected sex. Not waiting for your semen to be clear of sperm can result in an unplanned pregnancy.
It’s not uncommon for men to avoid going through a vasectomy due to fear of losing their sex drive or being unable to ejaculate. However, this is simply untrue.
You shouldn’t have any difficulty getting erections, ejaculating, or achieving orgasm. The only difference in sexual function is that your semen no longer contains sperm.
The first step to take when you’re considering a vasectomy is having an open and honest conversation with your partner. Because a vasectomy is considered a permanent form of birth control, it’s important for you both to be on the same page about future family planning.
In some cases, vasectomies can be reversed; however, it’s a much riskier procedure than the traditional vasectomy and it’s not always successful. It’s important to note that a vasectomy won’t protect you from sexually transmitted diseases.
A vasectomy might be the right choice for you if getting pregnant compromises your partner’s health or if one of you is a carrier for a complicated genetic condition that could risk a child’s quality of life. It also means your partner doesn’t need to take hormonal birth control.
If you’re considering getting a vasectomy and want to learn more about whether it’s a good choice for you and your partner, contact our team at Midwest Regional Health Services to set up a consultation.
