Vasectomy is a common birth control method for men. This procedure is considered one of the safest and most effective means of permanent male birth control. Because it is meant to be permanent, you should talk to your partner, consider your life goals, and weigh the advantages and disadvantages of the procedure before making a decision. Ask yourself if getting a vasectomy cause extreme changes in your lifestyle.
How Is A Vasectomy Performed?
Vasectomy is a procedure that prevents sperm from mixing with semen before it exits the body. The sperm is blocked from traveling through the vas deferens (or tubes), preventing it from reaching the urethra.
Several techniques can be employed to block sperm from mixing with semen. Advanced vasectomy techniques are minimally invasive, practically painless, and don’t require overnight hospital stays. During a no-needle, no-scalpel vasectomy, your scrotum will be shaved, sterilized, and anesthetized. Your doctor will use a small clamp to access the vas deferens before cutting and sealing it. There are no incisions, so stitches are not necessary.
What Are Some of the Lifestyle Adjustments After a Vasectomy?
Healing Post-Surgery
Healing and recovery after a vasectomy will differ depending on the method used. Advanced and no-scalpel techniques usually need a shorter time for recovery and decrease the possibility of postoperative complications. However, you may experience minor swelling or discomfort.
A patient in recovery after a vasectomy should get plenty of rest for a few days. Don’t engage in sexual activity, perform heavy lifting, or partake in rigorous physical activity.
Sex After a Vasectomy
You may resume sexual activity 7 days after undergoing the procedure. However, you still need to use contraception for at least 8 to 12 weeks. Sperm may still be present in the male reproductive system immediately after a vasectomy.
A vasectomy does not negatively impact your sex life. It does not affect your ability to have sex, libido, or pleasure. Likewise, it does not affect your ability to get an erection or ejaculate. The procedure does not affect your hormones or bodily processes, either. Overall, your sexual experience or health will not be affected, besides the assurance that you will not produce a child.
Contraception Use
The contraceptive benefit of a vasectomy is not immediate. For most men, sperm may still be present in the system for a few months. However, you can flush out the sperm through ejaculation over time. Doctors usually recommend using other contraceptives for 3 – 4 months after a vasectomy.
Your doctor can determine when you are no longer fertile through a post-vasectomy semen analysis. A few months after undergoing a vasectomy and once your semen is finally sperm-free, you and your partner can stop employing other contraceptives.
Reversibility of Effects
A vasectomy is meant to be permanent. After the procedure, you will be sterile. If you’re unsure about your plans for the future, you might want to think about it before getting a vasectomy. Discuss your plans and options thoroughly with your partner.
However, if you decide you want to have children after getting a vasectomy procedure, vasectomy reversal is possible. There are several surgery methods to choose from. In most cases, vasectomy reversal procedures should be done within 20 years of the original vasectomy procedure.
Vasectomy in Arizona
There are no significant lifestyle adjustments you have to adopt after a vasectomy. Aside from a short recovery term, you can still work, engage in physical activities, and have sexual intercourse as before. The only major change a vasectomy will bring is that you will no longer have to worry about an unplanned pregnancy.
At Ironwood Urology, we would like to help with your family planning needs. Our team, led by Dr. Desi Avila, can answer all your questions regarding vasectomy procedures, so you can come to a decision that makes you happy. You may reach our office by calling (480) 961-2323. You may also opt to schedule an appointment online.
