- Overview
- Vasectomy is a permanent form of male contraception. It is safe, effective, and widely used. About 500,000 men choose vasectomy for contraception each year.
- Vasectomy stops the transport of sperm into the ejaculate. It does NOT affect a man’s ability to have an erection, achieve orgasm, or impact the ejaculate volume/appearance.
- Vasectomy does not prevent sexually transmitted diseases
- The procedure
- 95% are performed in the office setting with local anesthesia. The procedure takes 20-30 minutes. Small incision(s) are made in the scrotum. The vas deferens (carries sperm from the testicles to the ejaculatory duct) are transected, clipped, and cauterized (sealed by heat). The skin incision(s) are then closed. The patient is able to drive himself home immediately after the procedure.
- Risks
- 1% risk of scrotal hematoma (bruised, swollen scrotum)
- 1% risk of testicular pain lasting more than a few weeks
- 1% risk of swelling of the epididymis caused by congestion of sperm
- 0.01% risk of recanalization (cut end of the tubes reconnect) resulting in fertility
- Recovery
- You should stay off your feet for 1-2 days after the procedure – you can return to normal day-to-day activities afterwards
- Ice the scrotum for 15-20 minutes every few hours for the first 12-24 hours
- No exercising or ejaculations for 1 week after the procedure
- It takes ~12 weeks and ~20 ejaculations to clear viable sperm from the remainder of the ejaculatory ducts. You should have a confirmatory semen analysis performed ~3 months after the vasectomy. Couples should use another form on contraception until sterility is confirmed.
Vasectomies are offered for patients in Twin Falls, Idaho, at Magic Valley Urology.