Vasectomy is the most popular form of permanent birth control for men. It blocks the flow of sperm into the semen through the vas deferens (the tube that carries sperm from the testicles to the penis). This makes a man unable to have a baby.
Vasectomy is a simple outpatient procedure and very effective. Typically, recovery time is short.
Emory Healthcare Urology Services routinely performs several types of vasectomy. Talk with your doctor about which procedure is right for you.
These procedures typically take less than one hour. You will receive a local anesthetic and can request an oral medication for relaxation if you prefer.
After surgery, you should relax at home to reduce the risk of bleeding.
Follow your doctor’s instructions for recovery. They typically include:
To confirm that the vasectomy was effective, your doctor will check your semen. This usually happens eight to 10 weeks after the procedure. When two consecutive samples do not show sperm, you are sterile.
For more information, see the Vasectomy FAQs below.
No surgical procedure is completely risk-free. The risks of vasectomy include:
There is a small chance of failure when sperm returns to the ejaculate after the sperm count has been zero. Usually, the number of sperm is very low, and they appear damaged. The chance of pregnancy in this case is below 1%.
Very rarely, tubes in the vas deferens grow back together again, and pregnancy may occur. There is also a minimal chance of the vas deferens reconnecting, which can happen years after a vasectomy. Here, the tiny numbers of sperm are severely damaged and usually cannot fertilize an egg.
Vasectomy does not limit sexual pleasure or affect long-term health.
The main risk is bleeding in the first six to 12 hours. You should spend a quiet day at home resting.
You may feel discomfort in the scrotum (the sac that contains your testicles). Your doctor will give you a prescription for pain medicine. To limit swelling, you also can apply an ice pack during the first two days after surgery.
The day after your vasectomy, you should be able to move around without difficulty. Your doctor may recommend that you avoid heavy exercise for a few days. You also should not ejaculate for two weeks after the procedure.
Any bruising should disappear within seven days. You might feel a pulling sensation in the groin area for up to two to three weeks. Tight underwear will help ease this feeling.
If you have any questions after your vasectomy, talk with your doctor.
You will need to continue to use birth control during sexual intercourse until your doctor tests your semen for the presence of sperm.
Usually, your doctor will check your sperm count eight to 12 weeks after the procedure. When there are no sperm in two consecutive sperm analyses, you are sterile.
Speak with your doctor if you have questions or concerns.
Vasectomy is permanent, but doctors can reverse it. However, a reversal is more difficult and expensive. There is no guarantee that it will be effective. Plus, health insurance often doesn’t cover it.
You may consider banking (freezing) your sperm in case you want to have a child in the future. Companies provide this service. Ask your doctor about this option.
For men, vasectomy is the main form of permanent birth control. You also can use condoms.
Women have many options to prevent pregnancy. These include birth control pills, skin patches, injections and barrier devices, among others.
For permanent sterilization, women can have surgery to tie their fallopian tubes. This procedure is not as simple as a vasectomy.
Talk with your partner and your doctor and about the best birth control option for you.
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