Thinking About a Vasectomy? Here’s What You Should Know

Thinking about a vasectomy is downright uncomfortable for most men, usually because they envision scalpels and needles used in a sensitive area. But vasectomies have come a long way.

Under the skilled care of Jaime Dodge, MD, at Aletheia Integrative in Lincoln, Nebraska, you can get a quick, discrete vasectomy in the office. More importantly, he specializes in performing no-scalpel vasectomies. 

And a scalpel-free procedure is just the start of the good news about vasectomies. Here, Dr. Dodge explains six crucial facts you should know before getting a vasectomy.

Vasectomies depend on unsurpassed effectiveness

Vasectomies are the most effective type of birth control, even preventing pregnancy better than female sterilization. 

While all birth control methods can fail, pregnancy only occurs in 1 out of 10,000 vasectomies. However, a vasectomy doesn’t prevent pregnancy for the first few months after the procedure. 

Forget about scalpels

Most men don’t realize they can have a no-scalpel vasectomy. We also don’t use needles for the anesthetic. 

After spraying an aerosol anesthetic on the scrotum, we use a specialized tool to make a tiny puncture hole and then gently pull a small section of the vas deferens — the tube carrying sperm from the testicles to the urethra for ejaculation — out of the scrotum.

For the next step, we cut the vas deferens, remove a small piece, and carefully seal the two ends, ensuring both sides are entirely separated and closed. Though your testicles keep producing sperm, the pathway to the urethra is blocked.

Expect a short recovery

You can expect to have some discomfort after a vasectomy, but it’s so minor you only need to apply ice packs and take Tylenol®. Most men rest for a day and fully heal in a few days. However, we typically recommend avoiding sex, heavy lifting, and exercise for about a week.

Use temporary birth control

After a vasectomy, the side of the vas deferens that connects to the urethra holds residual sperm. That means your partner can get pregnant until all the remaining sperm gets ejaculated.

You should use another form of birth control until we check your sperm count. The sperm count drops to zero in about three months for most men.

Do not worry about the rumors

Our patients frequently worry about rumors that getting a vasectomy interferes with having an erection, ejaculation, and sexual pleasure. The truth is that a vasectomy doesn’t cause any of those problems.

A vasectomy doesn’t affect your testosterone levels or virility. As already mentioned, you still produce sperm. 

Most importantly, you continue having erections and healthy ejaculations with semen that doesn’t contain sperm.

The bottom line is this: Cutting the vas deferens doesn’t affect any of the physiological functions responsible for having and enjoying sex.

Having a vasectomy also doesn’t diminish your libido. If anything, your sex drive may increase when you don’t have to worry about pregnancies.

Consider a vasectomy to be permanent

Though vasectomy reversals are often successful, you should always consider it to be a permanent sterilization procedure. 

Reconnecting the vas deferens requires advanced microsurgery. The results depend on variables like the experience of your surgeon and how long it has been since your vasectomy.

The chances of reversing your vasectomy decline as more time goes by after your vasectomy. And there’s no guarantee your partner will get pregnant after a successful reversal. Pregnancy rates range from 30% to 90%, depending on the procedure.

We’re here to help if you’re considering a vasectomy and have questions about what to expect. Book online or call Aletheia Integrative today to schedule an appointment.