Cutting the Cord

April 19, 2010, By Jeff Waddle 1 comment

Mention the word ‘vasectomy’ to most men and you’re likely to see them wince at the thought. No doubt, getting your private parts snipped isn’t pleasant but a vasectomy doesn’t have to be a traumatic experience, either.

If you’re thinking that a vasectomy might be in your future, here’s what you need to know about it to make an informed decision.

A Common Procedure

Considering a vasectomy? You’re certainly not alone. Approximately 500,000 American males undergo vasectomies annually, making it a much more popular permanent birth control option than female sterilization procedures like tubal ligation that can involve longer recovery times and potentially more complications.

Vasectomies are over 99% effective and it’s a minor outpatient procedure commonly performed in a clinic or office by an urologist. Some family medicine doctors perform the procedure as well. Complications are rare, ranging from minor bleeding and inflammation to infection inside the scrotum. It’s also not terribly expensive (approximately $500) for a permanent birth control solution, and some insurance carriers will cover the cost.

How it Works

Simply put, a vasectomy cuts a tube (the vas deferens) in each testicle that prevents sperm from leaving your body with semen during ejaculation, thereby rendering you sterile. Even though you continue to produce sperm, it is harmlessly reabsorbed in your body.

A vasectomy will not:

• Dampen your sex drive
• Hamper your ability to achieve an erection
• Limit the amount of semen you ejaculate
• Decrease your production of testosterone.

You probably will have to abstain from sex for a few days after the procedure and just to be completely safe, you’ll want to use some other form of birth control like a condom until a post-vasectomy semen sample test proves your sperm count is zero. Otherwise, you can expect to continue ‘firing blanks’ for the rest of your life with no negative consequences.

The Big Day

Once you’re in your doctor’s office, the entire procedure will take only about half an hour. Typically, you’ll pop a pill or get an IV that will make you drowsy, and chances are you won’t remember much until it’s time to go home—make sure you’ve got a ride.

Your scrotum will be numbed with a local anesthetic in preparation for the small incision your doctor will make to cut and then tie-off the vas deferens so the tubes are permanently blocked. Scalpel surgery is the most common vasectomy method, but there are other techniques that employ clamps or a device called a vasclip, so discuss options with your doctor to find out what he or she suggests.

Once the anesthesia wears off, you’ll definitely feel discomfort and you won’t feel like doing much more than keeping an ice pack on your scrotum. If you’ve ever taken a shot to the testicles while playing sports, you’ll have a good idea of how you’ll feel for the rest of the day.

But, rest assured, it will get better soon. It’s possible to experience minor swelling and you’ll probably be a little tender, but things should essentially get back to normal for you after a couple of days. You probably won’t want to move a sofa or do any other strenuous activities until you’re completely pain free. Generally, take it easy for a few days and you should be fine.

What If You Change Your Mind?

A vasectomy is considered a permanent procedure, so make sure you have a heart-to-heart talk with your partner (and yourself) about whether you think you may ever want to father more children. Since circumstances in life can change, there are men who decide to reverse their vasectomies and undergo a procedure called vasovasostomy.

Though an outpatient procedure, vasovasostomy is substantially more complicated (and expensive) than a routine vasectomy. That makes sense, really, because it’s a lot easier to simply cut tubes than it is to reattach them, especially is they are as small and fragile as the vas deferens.

A vasovasostomy could take up to 4 hours and you can expect more pain, longer recovery time and a higher risk of complications than with a vasectomy. Things will usually get back to normal with you—including sex—in a few weeks.

A key factor in the success of a vasovasostomy is how long you wait to have your vasectomy reversed. You generally have a 50-50 chance of successfully reversing your vasectomy, but those percentages drop significantly after 10 years. The highest success rates occur within a 3-year window.

If the vasovasostomy fails or you just don’t want to go through the procedure, it might be possible to extract sperm for in vitro fertilization since your body continues to produce sperm after a vasectomy. But don’t count on it as an option because success rates are not good.

Chances of regaining your reproductive abilities after a vasectomy are dicey at best. That’s why it’s called a permanent birth control solution.

Jeff Waddle is a featured contributor to ManoftheHouse.com.