Vasectomy

Vasectomy is a permanent method of birth control for males. In this procedure, the vas deferens from each testicle is clamped, cut, or sealed in a manner so the sperm cannot mix with the semen that is ejaculated from the penis. The testicles carry on the production of sperm, but the sperm are reabsorbed by the body naturally.

The success rate of vasectomy is 99.85 percent, but it usually takes 10 to 20 ejaculations to completely clear sperm from the semen after the procedure.

You may be given some oral or intravenous (IV) medicines to reduce anxiety, before the vasectomy procedure. Then a local anaesthesia will be injected into the area. Your doctor will make one or two small openings in your scrotum. The two vas deferens tubes are cut and the other two ends of the vas deferens are tied, stitched, or sealed. Electrocautery method may be used to seal the ends with heat. After that, the vas deferens is replaced inside the scrotum and the skin is closed with stitches.

Vasectomy recovery time is less and you will be able to return to work in 1 or 2 days, but avoid heavy lifting for a week.

Complications of vasectomy may include inflammation, swelling or bruising, granuloma and in rare conditions failure of the procedure.