Vasectomy remains one of the easiest and cost effective methods of permanent contraception. Many men opt for the outpatient procedure so that they can watch March Madness or The Masters Golf tournament.
In Central Oregon, I find that the most common time for the procedure is at the end of the year when a family’s deductible is met, and in between active seasons—at the end of ski season, and before the summer starts in earnest. No matter when the procedure is done, know that all vasectomies are not created equally. You should choose your surgeon as one who does a minimally invasive technique, has a very high volume, and has testimonials from patients, who have been there before you.
I perform the no-needle, no-scalpel vasectomy in my office, and typically perform 150 or more of these procedures each year. The procedure is usually accomplished in 15 minutes. A single 1\4 inch opening, is created in the midline of the scrotum using a local anesthetic that is administered as a high pressure aerosol. This truly sets the patient experience apart from older techniques using needles and two incisions.
The procedure consists of dividing the tubes that transport sperm from the testicles to the ejaculation fluid. The tubes (vas deferens) are sealed with tiny clips. By dividing the vas, no sperm can reach the semen, which is ejaculated from the penis during sex. Since there is no sperm in the semen, a woman’s egg can’t be fertilized – and the procedure has nearly 100% success rate. With this technique, most men will not feel significant pain during the procedure.
After a vasectomy, a man’s hormones remain normal, and there is no noticeable difference in his ejaculate volume, since sperm make up only a tiny part of the semen.
The testicles will continue to make sperm, but they are simply reabsorbed by the body.
After the procedure, men are instructed to go home and lay flat in bed and apply an ice pack or a pack of frozen peas on top of the scrotum for 30 minutes of each hour. However, many will feel some minimal discomfort for a couple of days after the procedure. Most men can return to all activities including sexual intimacy within 5-7 days after the procedure.
Bottom Line: The No-needle, no-scalpel vasectomy is a quick, painless way to permanently create sterility in patients or couples who are ready.
