- Blog
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by AK Team
WHAT IS VASECTOMY?
Vasectomy is a surgical sterilization process in which a part of vas deferens (tubes that carry sperm) is cut out or tied off preventing the sperm to enter into the ejaculate. The sperm cannot enter into the egg and hence pregnancy is prevented by this method.
Vasectomy is a form of male birth control that cuts the supply of sperm to your semen. It’s done by cutting and sealing the tubes that carry sperm. It has a low risk of problems and can usually be performed in an outpatient setting under local anesthesia.
Before getting a vasectomy you need to be certain you don’t want to father a child in the future. Although vasectomy reversals are possible, vasectomy should be considered a permanent form of male birth control.
Vasectomy offers no protection from sexually transmitted infections
TYPES OF VASECTOMY
- INCISION : Cut method
In this method the a cut is made in the skin of scrotum and through these cuts the tubes that carry sperm (vas deferens) are cut off or tied together. At time a tine part of this tube is removed and then tied or blocked with surgical clips.
- NO SCALPEL METHOD :No cut method
In his method no cut is made in the scrotum to reach the vas deferens instead a small puncture is made to reach the vas deferens and then they are tied off or blocked preventing the sperm to enter the ejaculate
This no cut method is more preferable than the incision method and there is no blood lost in this method and there are less chances of complication
BENEFITS OF VASECTOMY
Vasectomy is clearly the most beneficial method of sterilization as it involves no bleeding (as in tubal ligation method in women)
Following listed are some of the benefits of vasectomy :
- Vasectomies are more effective
- Reliable birth control preventing unplanned pregnancy
- No need for general anesthesia
- Lower health risks
- Lower cost than all other forms of birth control
- It is a one – time cost
- The procedure is often covered by insurance
- Does not affect sexual pleasure
- It is a fast procedure
- The speed of recovery is really fast
- The procedure is done in the doctor’s office rather than an operating room
- No scalpel vasectomies are available
- The procedure is almost always reversible
SIDE EFFECTS OF VASECTOMY
Although it is a safe method of contraception but some people may experience or some other issue afterwards
SHORT TERM SIDE EFFECTS
- Pain
Immediately after the procedure one may experience some pain which is natural and the patient is adviced to abstain from sex for about a week
- Infection
Some people may experience infection at the site of the surgical procedure which may cause swelling and pain
Doctors may prescribe some antibiotics for the same
- Bleeding
There might be excessive bleeding after the surgery which can make additional treatment necessary
- Pregnancy
It usually take around 3 months for the semen to be completely lack of sperm and if during this period the man has intercourse there are chances for his partner to get pregnant
- Swelling
Swelling and irritation around the scrotum are common
LONG TERM SIDE EFFECTS
- Recanalization
It happens when the vas deferens grows back to create a new connection and then the sperms that are produced are able to enter the semen again which may cause pregnancy
- Failed vasectomy
Sometimes the surgery fails and the person has to repeat the entire procedure or has to go with other methods of sterilization
- Pain
After the surgery a fluid may be build up in the testicle that causes pain during ejaculation
- Epididymitis
Epididymis is a duct which is located behind the testicles that allow the sperm to go into the vas deferens.
After the surgery, as the vas deferens is blocked the sperms cannot enter there and get stuck in the epididymis causing pain and its inflammation.
DOES VASECTOMY PROVIDE PROTECTION AGAINST STDs?
Vasectomy just blocks the sperms to enter the semen. It does NOT prevent you from sexually transmitted diseases including HIV. Neither vasectomy nor any other method of sterilization in men and women provide protection against sexually transmitted diseases. For this one has to use protection for example condoms to prevent the transfer of sexually transmitted diseases
CAN VASECTOMY BE REVERSED?
Yes, vasectomy Is a reversible process that is it can be reversed if a couple wants to conceive again or due to any other reason .
In this process that cut out vas deferens are reconnected so that the sperm can enter the semen again increasing the chances of pregnancy.
However, the rate of conceiving after pregnancy is inversely directly proportional to the time difference between the surgery of vasectomy and the reverse vasectomy, i.e. lesser the time gap between both the surgeries more are the chances of conceiving .
DOES VASECTOMY INCREASE THE CHANCES OF PROSTATE CANCER?
Despite vasectomy’s simplicity and effectiveness, debate exists over whether vasectomy may increase the risk of prostate cancer, the most common malignancy in men.
According to most of the researches vasectomy does not increase the chances of prostate cancer.
Still this topic is debatable as some researches also say that prostate cancer is counted as the long term side effect of vasectomy.
HOW EFFECTIVE IS VASECTOMY?
Vasectomy is one of the best and most effective methods of sterilization as it a permanent method so once it is done you don’t have to worry about contraception again . It does not have any side effects, i.e. it does not affect your sex drive or the ability to have sex. You’ll still be able to ejaculate it’s just that the ejaculation will not contain sperm so there are no chances of causing pregnancy.
Only one or two cases out of 1000 have been heard of failure of vasectomy so there are very minimal or infact no chances of its failure .
SUCCESS RATE OF VASECTOMY
After abstinence, vasectomies are considered the most effective method of birth control due to their long-term success rate of over 99%. In fact, only 1-2 women out of every 1,000 end up pregnant within a year of their partner receiving a vasectomy.
