Definition:
A vasectomy is surgery to cut the vas deferens, the tubes that carry a man’s sperm from his scrotum to his urethra. The urethra is the tube that carries sperm and urine out of the penis. After a vasectomy, sperm cannot move out of the testes. A man who has had a successful vasectomy cannot make a woman pregnant.
Alternative Names:
Sterilization surgery – male; No-scalpel vasectomy; NSV
Description:
Vasectomy is usually done in the surgeon's office using local anesthesia. You will be awake but not feel any pain. - After your scrotum is shaved and cleaned, your surgeon will give you a shot of the anesthesia into this area to numb it.
- Your surgeon will then make a small incision (cut) in the upper part of your scrotum, and tie off and cut apart the vas deferens. Your surgeon will use stitches or a skin glue to close your incision.
You may have a vasectomy without an incision. This is called a no-scalpel vasectomy (NSV). - Your surgeon will find the vas deferens by feeling your scrotum and then give you a shot of the anesthesia into this area to numb it
- Your surgeon will then make a tiny hole in the skin of your scrotum and seal off the vas deferens. The surgeon will either by pull your vas deferens through the tiny hole or insert a clip into the hole to seal it. You will not need stitches.
Why the Procedure Is Performed:
Vasectomy may be recommended for adult men who are sure they want to prevent future pregnancies. A vasectomy makes a man sterile (unable to get a woman pregnant). It does NOT prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). A vasectomy is not recommended as a short-term form of birth control. The procedure to reverse a vasectomy is a much more complicated operation. Vasectomy may be a good choice for men who: - Are in a relationship, and both partners agree they have all the children they want. They do not want to use, or cannot use, other forms of birth control.
- Are in a relationship, and their partner has health problems that would make pregnancy unsafe for her
- Are in a relationship, and one or both partners have genetic disorders that they do not want to risk passing on to their children
Vasectomy may not be a good choice for men who: - Are in a relationship, and one partner is unsure about their desire to have children in the future
- Are in a relationship that is unstable, going through a stressful phase, or is very difficult in general
- Are thinking about having the operation just to please their partner
- Are counting on fathering children later by storing their sperm or by reversing their vasectomy
- Are young and still have many life changes ahead
- Are single when they want to have a vasectomy. This includes men who are divorced, widowed, or separated.
- Do not want, or have a partner who does not want, to be bothered by having to use other forms of birth control during sexual activity
References:
Cook LA, Pun A, van Vliet H, Gallo MF, Lopez LM. Scalpel versus no-scalpel incision for vasectomy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007 Apr 18;(2):CD004112. Dassow P, Bennett JM. Vasectomy: an update. Am Fam Physician. 2006 Dec 15;74(12):2069-74. Peterson HB. Sterilization. Obstet Gynecol. 2008 Jan;111(1):189-203.
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