vasectomy
Is Vasectomy For You?
Vasectomy is a simple, safe, and effective surgical procedure that makes a man Sterile (unable to father a child). Because a vasectomy should be considered irreversible, it's a serious step to take. You and your partner should understand all the facts and share in the decision.
A Permanent Decision
Few decisions in life are permanent, but having a vasectomy is one of them. So, before you make this decision, you and your partner must be sure that you don't want any more children. Is there any circumstance that might make you change your mind? For instance, if you divorced or became a widower and remarried, would you want more children? If you choose to have a vasecotmy, you should have no doubts about these issues.
Facts
- A vasectomy does not affect your ability to have sex. Sterilization won't affect your ability to have erections or orgasms, and doesn't visibly change your semen.
- There is no conclusive evidence that vasectomy causes health problems. You may have heard that sterilization causes prostate cancer, heart disease, or other health problems, but there's no conclusive evidence that this is true. If you're concerned, your doctor can give you more information.
- A vasectomy does not protect you from sexually transmitted diseases.
- A vasectomy will not solve marital problems. The only aspect of your life that a vasectomy changes is your ability to father a child. Sterilization is not a solution for sexual or marital problems.
How a Vasectomy Works
When you have a vasectomy, the two vas deferens are cut to keep sperm from traveling from the testes to the penis. This is the only change in your reproductive system. The testes still produce sperm, but since they have nowhere to go, they die and are absorbed by your body. Your prostate and seminal vesicles still produce fluids, so your semen doesn't look or feel any different. Your male hormone level remains the same, so your hair distribution, the pitch of your voice, and your sexual drive don't change.
The Vasectomy Procedure
A vasectomy is an outpatient procedure that can be done in a doctor's office, clinic, or hospital. Several days before your vasectomy can be performed, you''ll be asked to read and sign a consent form that states you're aware of the possible risks and complications and understand that the procedure, though usually successful, is not guaranteed to make you sterile. Be sure that you have all your questions answered before signing this form.
Preparing For Surgery
Don't take any aspirin for three to five days before your procedure, and ask you doctor about any other medications you take. The day of your surgery, shower and thoroughly clean your scrotum. Your doctor may also ask you to shave your scrotum. Eat a light snack instead of a heavy meal before your surgery. Bring a pair of clean cotton briefs or an athletic supporter with you to the doctor's office or hospital. If you're nervous before your surgery, the doctor may give you some medication to help you relax.
During Surgery
You will be asked to undress and lie on the exam table. Sterile drapes are placed over you to help prevent infection. You're given injections of a local anestictic in your scrotum or lower groin. This anesthetic takes effect, one or two small incisions are made in the skin of the scrotum with a scalpel or a pointed clamp (no-scalpel method). Each of the vas ferens is lifted through the incision and cut, and a section may be removed. You may feel a pulling sensation during this process. The two cut ends are tied or clipped closed, or they may be sealed by heat (cauterized). The incision or incisions may be closed with one or more stitches.
After Surgery
If you have been given medication to help you relax, you will need to have someone drive you home. The local anethetic begins to wear off after and hour or so. Any discomfort you feel is usually mild. If you need it, pain medication can help.
Healing
Once you're home, you can do several things to aid your recovery:
- Stay off you feet as much as possible for the first two days to lessen the chance of swelling. An ice pack or bag of frozen peas can help keep swelling down.<
- Wear snug cotton briefs or an athletic supporter for support.
- Ask your doctor how long to wait before bathing (usually 48 hours).
- Wait until you doctor says it's okay to return to work.
- *Avoid heavy lifting or exercise for at least five to seven days after surgery.*
- Ask your doctor when you can begin having sex again. Remember that you must use another form of birth control until your doctor says you're completely sterile.
- Collect
the semen specimen at home and take to the lab of your choice.
**DO NOT BRING THE SPECIMEN TO DR. SCHOENFELD'S OFFICE.**
For about a week, your scrotum may look bruised and slightly swollen. You may have a small amount of bloody discharge from the incision site. You may also feel a little pain. These symptoms are normal.
Possible Risks And Complications
Even with a minor operation like vasectomy, problems can occur. If you experience any of the following or any other symptoms you're concerned about, call your doctor. The following complications might occur during the first few days after your surgery:
- Internal bleeding in the scrotum sometimes occurs, usually within two days of surgery. Symptoms include increasing pain, excessive swelling, a large black-and-blue area, or a growing mass.
- Infection may occur. Some signs of infection are fever, chills, drainage from the incision site, and a very painful incision site.
- Sperm granuloma is a lump at the site where the vas ferens is tied off. It's caused by leaking sperm. The lump usually dissolves by itself, but surgery is occasionally required to remove it.
- Congestion is a buidup of sperm in the epididymis. It may cause inflammation of the epididymis (epididymitis) and some aching about 3 to 12 weeks after surgery. It usually disappears without treatment.
- Sperm antibodies are a common response of the body to absorbed sperm. There's no evidence that these antibodies are harmful, but a large number of them may make it difficult to become fertile again, if you should ever change your mind.
- Spontaneous return of fertility occurs very rarely. This can happen if the cut ends of the vas ferens reconnect (recanalization). It's usually detected by a semen test after surgery, although it occasionally occurs after the semen test has been performed.
Sex After A Vasectomy
A vasectomy won't affect your sexual functioning. When you start having sex again, you'll still have erections and orgasms, and your sexual relations will feel the same as before. If you had a good relationship with your partner before vasectomy, it shouldn't change because of a vasectomy.
Until You're Sterile
It's absolutely essential that you continue to use some other method of birth control after your vasectomy until your doctor tells you that your sperm count is zero. To make sure no sperm are left in your semen, you'll have a postoperative semen exam. This exam is commonly done about six weeks after surgery and again about three months after surgery. You will need to continue having a semen analysis periodically during the first year. You usually collect the semen at home in a small jar, and take it to the lab of your choice. You're sterile only when these semen samples show no evidence of sperm.
**DO NOT BRING THE SPECIMEN TO DR. SCHOENFELD'S OFFICE**
After You're Sterile
After your doctor tells you you're sterile, you no longer need another form of birth control. You're free to have sex without the fear of unwanted pregnancy. However, keep in mind that a vasectomy does not protect you from sexually transmitted diseases. If you're not in a mutually monogamous relationship, practice safe sex by using condoms.
If You Change Your Mind About Having Children
Some unforeseen event in your life after your vasectomy may make you want to have more children. Although a vasectomy must be considered irreversible, a surgical procedure call a vasovasostomy might restore fertility. During this procedure, the cut ends of the vas ferens are reconnected to allow the free flow of sperm. It's a major operation that's expensive and not always covered by insurance. It's also not guaranteed to restore your ability to father a child. As an alternative, sperm banks can freeze sperm collected before yur vasecotmy and store it in case you want a child in the future. However, achieving pregnancy with stored sperm is also expensive and uncertain.
Other Birth Control Methods
- Condoms
- Birth Controll Pills
- Diaphram or Cervical Cap
- Spermicides
- Time-release Hormones
- Female Sterilization<
- Vaginal Sponge
- IUD
- Natural Family Planning
Choosing sterilization requires careful consideration. Once you've decided that vasectomy is right for you, you can enjoy newfound freedom and spontaneity. And you can feel comfortable knowing that your family won't get unexpectedly larger.
