Vasectomy

by Editorial Staff and Contributors

Definition

Sperm passes from the testicles to the penis in tubes called the vas deferens. A vasectomy is a surgery that blocks these tubes. This makes a man unable to make a woman pregnant.

Male Reproductive Anatomy

Reasons for Procedure

A vasectomy is done as permanent birth control. This option is for men who are sure they will not want to father a child in the future. There is a surgery to reverse a vasectomy. However, the reversal is not always successful.

Possible Complications

Problems from the procedure are rare, but all procedures have some risk. Your doctor will review potential problems, like:

Infection
Swelling
Bruising
Bleeding
Chronic pain in and around the testicles
Sperm granuloma—lumps caused by an immune system response to sperm leaking from the reproductive organs
Ability to still make a woman pregnant

Before your procedure, talk to your doctor about ways to manage factors that may increase your risk of complications such as:

Smoking
Local infections
Bleeding disorders
Prior surgery in that area

What to Expect

Prior to Procedure

The doctor will review previous tests. Talk to your doctor about your medications. You may be asked to stop taking some medications up to one week before the procedure.

In the days leading up to your procedure:

Arrange for a ride to and from the procedure.
Wear comfortable clothing.
Take any medication as ordered by your doctor. A mild sedative before the procedure may be advised.
Shower before leaving home.
You may be asked to trim your scrotal hair.

Anesthesia

Local anesthesia will be used. It will numb the area. You may also be given medication to help you relax.

Description of the Procedure

There are 3 techniques for a vasectomy:

Conventional approach —One small cut will be made in the skin on each side of the scrotum. The vas deferens will be pulled through the openings. The tubes will then be cut. A small piece of the tubes may also be removed. The ends of the tube will be sealed off with stitches, clips, or an electrical pulse. The vas deferens will then be placed back into the scrotum. The incision will be closed with stitches.
No-scalpel vasectomy —The doctor will locate the vas deferens under the scrotal skin. A clamp will be attached to hold it in place. A special tool will be used to punch a small hole in the skin. The hole will be stretched open to pull the vas deferens through. The tubes will then be cut and sealed as above. The holes will heal without stitches.
Vas clip vasectomy —The vas deferens will be exposed in either of the 2 manners above. Special clips will be placed around each vas deferens and cinched in place. The clips will block the flow of sperm beyond the position of the clip.

How Long Will It Take?

Conventional vasectomies take about 30 minutes. No-scalpel procedures take about 20 minutes.

Will It Hurt?

Anesthesia prevents pain during the procedure. You can expect some soreness for a few days. Take pain medications as directed by your doctor.

Post-procedure Care

Heavy lifting and other treatment may be limited for a few weeks.

A vasectomy may not make you sterile right away. Birth control should be continued until tests show the surgery was successful.

Call Your Doctor

Contact your doctor if your recovery is not going as you expect or have problems such as:

Signs of infection, including fever and chills
Redness, swelling, increasing pain, excessive bleeding, or discharge from the incision site
Difficulty urinating
Pain that you cannot control with the medications you were given

If you think you have an emergency, call for emergency medical services right away.

RESOURCES:

Reproductive Facts—American Society for Reproductive Medicine
http://www.reproductivefacts.org

Urology Care Foundation
http://www.urologyhealth.org

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Health Canada
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca

Men's Health Centre
http://www.menshealthcentre.net

References:

Sharlip I, Belker A, Stanton H, Labrecque M, Marmar J, Ross L, Sandlow J, Sokal D. American Urological Association Vasectomy Guideline. Updated 2015. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)

Vasectomy. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:
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Accessed December 18, 2020.

Vasectomy. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development website. Available at: https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/vasectomy/Pages/default.aspx. Accessed December 18, 2020.

Vasectomy. Planned Parenthood website. Available at: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/birth-control/vasectomy. Accessed December 18, 2020.

6/2/2011 DynaMed Plus Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.dynamed... : Mills E, Eyawo O, Lockhart I, Kelly S, Wu P, Ebbert JO. Smoking cessation reduces postoperative complications: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Med. 2011;124(2):144-154.

Last reviewed November 2020 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Adrienne Carmack, MD
Last Updated: 12/20/2020

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