Dr. Andre Gilbert
Blanchard Valley Urology Associates
November 18 was World Vasectomy Day, an opportunity to discuss vasectomy as an option for family planning. Vasectomy is a reliable form of contraception that cuts the pipeline that transports sperm from the testicles to the semen. This is the most effective, permanent option for birth control available to men. In fact, the risk of conceiving a child after vasectomy is less than 0.05%.
Sex drive and intercourse are unaffected by vasectomy, and no long-term health effects have been reported from this procedure. You do not experience a drop in testosterone from vasectomy. A minor surgical procedure, vasectomy is often completed in the urologist’s office in less than 30 minutes. For most men, having a vasectomy at the end of the week will allow them to be back to work on Monday with little effect. Many couples choose vasectomy because it is simpler, safer, less expensive and has far less of a recovery period than tubal ligation for women.
One type of vasectomy that can be performed in Findlay is the no-needle, no-scalpel vasectomy. In this procedure, no incision needs to be made to complete the vasectomy. Instead, a spray anesthetic is administered and a small puncture is made to disconnect and seal the van deferens (tube that carries sperm) to block the flow of sperm. No-needle, no-scalpel procedures have a number of benefits over traditional vasectomy including less discomfort (essentially painless), fewer complications, no stitches or sutures and a quicker recovery.
Vasectomy should be considered a permanent form of birth control, and couples should not choose this procedure lightly. Both you and your partner should agree that you have completed your family prior to considering this surgery.
To learn more, talk with your urologist.