A vasectomy (also known as male sterilization) is a procedure that prevents pregnancy by blocking sperm from entering semen. Without sperm, a woman’s egg cannot be fertilized, which results in pregnancy.
The procedure involves cutting and sealing off the vas deferens, two tubes in the male anatomy that carry sperm from the testicles to the urethra. With these tubes closed off, sperm is prevented from reaching the semen. Ejaculation, therefore, just contains semen, and sperm is reabsorbed into the body.
Vasectomies are common procedures with nearly 5% of all married men of reproductive age having one. An estimated 500,000 vasectomies are performed each year.
Why You Should Consider a Vasectomy
If you’re looking for a permanent solution to the issue of birth control, a vasectomy is a simple and more effective option than other forms of permanent birth control. If you’re considering a vasectomy, here are a few benefits of the procedure:
1) Simple Procedure
Compared to female sterilization (tubal ligation), a vasectomy is a pretty simple (and quick!) procedure. Performed at a doctor’s office or outpatient center, the procedure only requires local anesthesia and is usually complete in 10-30 minutes.
2) Quick Recovery
The average recovery time from a vasectomy is less than a week with full recovery time around 8-9 days. In fact, some men schedule their procedure on Friday and return to work on Monday with few restrictions.
3) Lower Cost
The cost of a vasectomy is thousands of dollars cheaper than tubal ligation because of the comparative simplicity of the procedure. Most health insurance companies fully cover vasectomies.
4) Low Risk of Complications
Major complications from a vasectomy are rare. Side effects are also usually limited to mild pain or discomfort and swelling after the procedure.
How Effective is a Vasectomy?
Other than a low risk of complications and a quick recovery time, another benefit of a vasectomy is its effectiveness. In fact, vasectomies are one of the most effective forms of birth control.
While no form of birth control is 100% effective, vasectomies are pretty close. The long term effectiveness rate for vasectomies is over 99% and only 1-2 women per 1,000 get pregnant after their partner’s vasectomy in the first year.
One reason they are not 100% effective is because sperm is not completely blocked right away. Your doctor will conduct a simple test after about 8 weeks to see how much sperm is still present in your semen. In all, it usually takes about 8 weeks or 20 ejaculations for sperm to be eliminated completely.
Vasectomy failure is extremely rare and usually happens within the first year after the procedure. The best thing you can do to prevent a pregnancy after your vasectomy is to use another form of birth control until your semen is tested.
It’s Permanent. . . Kind Of
You shouldn’t decide to get a vasectomy on a whim as they should be performed on men who have decided once and for all that they don’t wish to father any more children. With their over 99% effectiveness rate, fathering a child again with a vasectomy is against the odds.
However, sometimes life circumstances change, and men with vasectomies may decide they would like the opportunity to father another child. In this case, vasectomy reversals are possible. The chance of impregnating a woman after a reversal is highest the closer the reversal occurs after the initial procedure.
If you’re interested in a permanent solution when it comes to birth control, the specialists at Norman Urology Associates can help you make the right decision for you and your family. Contact us today to schedule a consultation where we will discuss the benefits and side effects of a vasectomy and help you decide what’s best for you.