Have you and your partner decided you’re finally done having children? If you’re in search of an excellent way to do it, you might want to consider getting a vasectomy, commonly known as the “little snip.”
There’s a good reason more than 500,000 men opt for vasectomies every year in the United States: the procedure is safe and nearly a foolproof method of preventing pregnancy, boasting an almost 100-percent effectiveness.
Below are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about vasectomy to give you a general understanding of the procedure.
What Is a Vasectomy?
Vasectomy is a male birth control option that involves your urologist cutting and sealing the tubes that carry sperm from your testicles to your urethra (vasa deferentia), thereby preventing sperm from reaching your semen during ejaculation.
Vasectomy is an outpatient surgery, meaning you can return home right after the procedure
How a urologist performs a vasectomy depends on his preferred technique. There are currently two available techniques for vasectomy, as outlined below.
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Traditional Vasectomy
In this procedure, after your urologist anesthetizes the skin parallel and adjacent to your scrotum, he proceeds with creating two small cuts on each side thereof to access the vasa deferentia. From there, your urologist cuts a small portion of each vas deferens, and stitch, tie, or seal its end using heat (electrocautery).
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Keyhole Vasectomy
Unlike the traditional technique, keyhole vasectomy doesn’t involve incisions, thus also referred to as no-scalpel vasectomy. Instead, your urological uses locking forceps with a sharp tip to (hemostat) to puncture through the skin of the scrotal sac from which he accesses each vas deferens. However, the tubes are cut and sealed in the same way as with the traditional approach.
With its minimally invasive nature, the keyhole technique involves a quicker recovery and lower risk of complications.
Is Vasectomy Painful?
Vasectomies are a generally well-tolerated procedure. Since the area gets anesthetized beforehand, you may only feel slight pain and some tugging during your surgery.
Does Vasectomy Affect My Sexual Drive?
Vasectomy doesn’t interfere with the production of testosterone (the male hormone); thus, it has no effect on your sex drive or performance.
Does Vasectomy Cause Damage to My Reproductive Organs?
There’s little to no risk of damage to your reproductive organs. Urologists are highly trained to employ all necessary measures to reduce patients’ risk of complications.
Is Vasectomy Reversible?
Although vasectomy is a permanent method of contraception, circumstances that lead to the consideration of it can change. Roughly 6 percent of men who get vasectomies worldwide change their minds and opt for reversals.
The success rate of a vasectomy reversal depends on how long it has been since the procedure: about 75 percent within the first 3 years; around 50 percent 4 to 8 years; and around 40 percent after 9 to 14 years.
Vasectomy in Phoenix, Arizona
At Ironwood Urology, Dr. Desiderio Avila, Jr., our board-certified urologist and men’s health expert, has performed thousands of successful vasectomies and vasectomy reversals over the course of his career, earning the trust and confidence of countless men in Phoenix and beyond.
Be one of Dr. Avila’s most satisfied patients today by calling our staff at (480) 961-2323. Alternatively, you may use our appointment request form, and our staff member will contact you to schedule your visit.
