Vasectomy: Procedure, Side Effects, & Costs - Birth Control

Vasectomy- Each year, approximately 500,000 men in the United States undergo sterilization, a permanent birth control method. Of these, 8% choose to have their sterilization reversed.

But the trend in India is quite different. According to NFHS-4, only 0.3% of men underwent vasectomy, a 3.5% decrease compared to NFHS-1. Meanwhile, in the United States, vasectomy has increased by 26% since 2014.

Now the question arises: Why are people in India so afraid of sterilization? Do people think sterilization will affect their sex life? That is, do they fear that sexual desire will decrease? Questions like these motivate many men to consider a vasectomy. But what impact does a vasectomy have on sexual health? Are there any side effects? And if someone wants to reverse a vasectomy, is it possible?

In today’s article, we’ll answer these questions. So let’s get started!

What is vasectomy?

Vasectomy, or sterilization, is a method of contraception and birth control. It is a procedure that involves sterilizing a man. It is a permanent method of preventing pregnancy. And it is considered a reliable and cost-effective method compared to other birth control options.

The male reproductive system is like a high-speed highway, where the vas deferens is a vital passage for sperm. In a vasectomy, doctors block this passage.It prevents sperm from entering the semen during intercourse, reducing the chance of pregnancy by approximately 99.9%. This means you can enjoy rock-hard erections and a great sex life without the worry of having an unwanted baby.

Why Vasectomy ?

This procedure is recommended for people who want to remain sexually active but do not want to abstain in the future.

If you have any doubts about having children in the future, this method is not for you. You should explore other birth control methods and use them during sex. However, if you are absolutely sure, you may want to consider sterilization.

Benefits of Vasectomy

Vasectomy has many benefits, such as:

Permanent birth control: It’s a long-lasting method of birth control. Once you’ve made the decision, you can be free from the stress of condoms or temporary methods forever.

Cost-effective: Second, in the long run, this method is cheaper because you don’t have to spend money on repeated contraceptive measures.

Quick and minimally invasive: Third, the procedure is quick and recovery is also fast, which means you can easily return to your normal life.

Shared Responsibility: Another advantage is that contraception is often left to women, but after a vasectomy, you not only share pleasure and enjoyment in bed but also share responsibility.

The Science Behind Vasectomy

Now let’s understand the science behind it and how this procedure works. When a man and a woman come into physical contact, that is, become intimate, in simple terms, when they have sex, semen, which contains sperm, is released from the man’s penis.

If you look at the male reproductive system, you’ll see two main external parts: the penis and the scrotum. And if you look inside, there are parts like the seminal vesicles, prostate gland, urethra, vas deferens, epididymis, etc., which have different functions. Let’s start with the scrotum. It’s a sac-like structure that contains two testicles. These testicles produce sperm. Two tubes, called vas deferens, extend from the male’s testicles. These tubes carry sperm from the testicles to the penis.

These tubes carry a viscous liquid from the seminal vesicles and prostate gland, which combines with the sperm to form semen. This semen then passes from the male’s penis through the vagina into the female’s body. After this, the egg is fertilized, and the process of fertilization begins.

But when you have a vasectomy, the vas deferens is cut, tied, and blocked. This prevents sperm from reaching the penis or moving into the woman’s body during intercourse.

Step by Step Procedure

Now let’s understand how sterilization is performed and what the process entails.

Sterilization is a daycare procedure. This means the entire procedure is done the same day you go to the hospital, and you are discharged the same day. This is a completely safe procedure, requiring only permanent sterilization. The operation is minor and is performed under local anesthesia. The procedure takes approximately 10 to 30 minutes. If you are feeling anxious, you can tell your doctor so they can give you a relaxing medication.

If you take this medication, you will need a driver to take you home after the procedure. During the procedure, a small incision is made in the skin of the scrotum to access the vas deferens, the tube that carries sperm from the testicle to the ejaculate. The doctor then clips, cuts, and closes the tube. The tissue between the cut ends is sewn together so that the two ends do not rejoin. The small incision is closed with dissolvable stitches and a small bandage is applied. After the procedure, you will be advised to rest for the next 48 hours.

You may need to take light medication for a day or two, and then you will be advised not to lift heavy weights for 5-7 days after the operation. Avoid strenuous activities or lifting anything over 10 pounds. The stitches dissolve within a few weeks, so there is no need to return to the hospital to have them removed. You can have sex again after 10 days. After about three months, you’ll need to have a semen analysis to measure your sperm count. Before a semen analysis, you’ll need to ejaculate at least 20 times to remove any remaining sperm in the tract.

You understand, sterilization gives you the opportunity to have sex 20 extra times, and this is an opportunity where your partner won’t stop you from having sex, so enjoy it. Keep in mind that until your doctor confirms that there is no sperm in your semen, you should continue using another birth control method.

Side Effects of Vasectomy

Sterilization is a low-risk procedure. However, every procedure carries some risks. Similarly, sterilization itself can also carry some risks. Let’s understand them now.

Sterilization Failure: The first risk is sterilization failure. Although sterilization is 99.9% effective, it can fail in some cases. The chance of sterilization failure is 1 in 2,000 people, meaning it is very rare.

Infection: The second risk is infection. Sometimes there’s a chance of a mild infection after a vasectomy, but it’s nothing to worry about; it’s usually treated with antibiotics.

Hematoma: The third risk is that blood can sometimes accumulate in your scrotum. This doesn’t require surgery, but it can cause pain and swelling, and it can take weeks or months to completely heal.

Testicular pain: The next risk is pain. Sometimes you may experience pain in your testicles. There’s about a 3% risk of chronic testicular pain, which can range from mild to severe enough to interfere with daily activities. Men who have had scrotal surgery before or have a history of chronic pain, infection, or trauma are at higher risk of chronic pain.

These are some of the risks that come with vasectomy. But keep in mind that the chances of such risks are very low. Whenever you think about sterilization, first consult a good doctor and discuss your medical history and future risks.

Reversing a Vasectomy

Some men often regret having a sterilization. It’s been observed that men under 30, those whose partners are currently pregnant, or those who have been considering sterilization for less than a year are more likely to regret it.

A sterilization can be reversed, but it’s a more complex operation. It’s performed by an experienced urologist using a microscope, and it doesn’t guarantee you’ll remain fertile. The success rate depends on how long ago you had the sterilization. The success rate for reversing a sterilization is approximately 70%. The longer the sterilization has been in place, the more difficult it is to reverse.

Sperm Freezing

If you’re considering sterilization now, but you think you might want to have children in the future, as I mentioned earlier, I wouldn’t recommend sterilization. However, if you still want to undergo sterilization, you can take some precautions or extra precautions. You also have the option of preserving your sperm before undergoing sterilization. This technique is called cryopreservation, or simply sperm freezing. This process involves removing sperm from your body and freezing them for future use. If you want to save sperm for future use, these stored sperm can be used for intrauterine insemination or in vitro fertilization, but these procedures are more expensive.

If you don’t know anything about sperm freezing, please write in the comments section; we’ll create a detailed video on it. If you’d like to learn more about sperm freezing, you can watch the video by clicking the i button.

Sex Life

If we look at the data, we find that many men don’t want to be sterilized. This isn’t because they want to have children, but because they believe that after sterilization, they will become completely impotent, they won’t be able to engage in any sexual activity, or even if they do have sex, they won’t enjoy it, etc. So let’s understand the impact of sterilization on men’s sex lives.

If we believe science, data, and research, sterilization only prevents sperm delivery, but it doesn’t affect your sexual performance, erections, libido, or pleasure. You won’t notice any difference in your hard-on or orgasm quality.

Vasectomy doesn’t affect your sex drive or testosterone levels. It also doesn’t affect your ability to achieve an erection or orgasm. Your climax will be just as powerful, just without the welcome sperm. Even after a vasectomy, you’ll still have the same great sex in bed. Yes, it’s true that you may ejaculate less liquid after a vasectomy, but men often don’t notice the difference because the amount of sperm in the ejaculate is much lower.

A note from Kamarth

Now let’s get down to business. Look, life is too short, and living under unnecessary stress is pointless. If you’re 100% sure you don’t want children, sterilization is an easy, effective method. And don’t worry about pleasure at all. Even after sterilization, you’ll still feel the same raw passion and intensity during sex that you expect.

Some Additional Doubt

Question: How does vasectomy affect men?
Answer: In this procedure, the sperm has been blocked and provides permanent contraception without affecting sex drive.

Question: How painful is a vasectomy?
Answer: It may cause temporary soreness and swelling. However, it’s easily manageable with pain relievers.

Question: What are the disadvantages of a vasectomy?
Answer: It will take time to show its effectiveness, the chance of reversibility is low.

Question: Can you still get pregnant if a guy had a vasectomy?
Answer: Yes, there is some chance if you do not go for follow up testing or the tubes are reconnected.

Question: Do men still erect after a vasectomy?
Answer: Yes, as this procedure does not affect erection.

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References Link

University of Colorado Health: “Vasectomy vs. tubal ligation: Understanding permanent birth control options.”
Cleveland Clinic: “Vasectomy,” “Urologist,” “Post-Vasectomy Pain Syndrome,” “Vasectomy Reversal.”
American Urological Association: “Vasectomy: AUA Guideline.”
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development: “How is a vasectomy done?“
Fertility and Sterility: “Male Contraception.”
Urology Care Foundation: “What is a Vasectomy?”
Johns Hopkins Medicine: “Vasectomy.”
Mayo Clinic: “Vasectomy reversal.“

Vasectomy: Procedure, Side Effects, & Costs – Birth Control

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