Vasectomy

What is a Vasectomy?

• Vasectomy is a form of male birth control that cuts the supply of sperm to your semen.
• It is done by cutting and sealing the tubes that carry sperm.
• A vasectomy has a low risk of problems and can usually be performed in an outpatient setting under local anesthesia.
• Vasectomy is nearly 100 percent effective in preventing pregnancy.
• The cost of a vasectomy is far less than the cost of female sterilization (tubal ligation) or the long-term cost of birth control medications for women.

Many men worry that a vasectomy could cause serious problems — but these fears are unfounded. For example:

• A vasectomy won’t affect sexual performance. A vasectomy won’t affect your sex drive or your masculinity.
• A vasectomy will not affect a man’s virility or his testosterone level. 
• He will still produce sperm. It will just not be able to get into the semen.
• There will be NO impact on his libido, sex drive, or sexual activity.
• According to the American Urological Association, there are no long-term health risks, including the risk for prostate cancer.
• It is the most dependable form of birth control with 99% effectiveness.

The Procedure

• A small (1-2cm) incision is made
• Your vas deferens (the tube that carries your sperm) is moved into position and pulled out of this incision. This is isolated and a portion of this is removed.
• The ends are clipped and sutured away from each other to prevent them from re-attaching.
• The incision is closed

• A vasectomy is nearly 100% effective in preventing pregnancy
• A vasectomy doesn’t provide immediate protection against pregnancy. Use an alternative form of birth control until your doctor confirms there are no sperm in your semen. Before having unprotected sex, you’ll need to wait several months or longer and ejaculate 15 to 20 times or more to clear any sperm from your semen.
• We will do a follow-up semen analysis 3 months after surgery to be certain that no sperm are present.

What to expect

Day of Surgery

• You will receive numbing medication during the procedure
• The procedure will take 30-45 minutes for the entire visit
• You will receive instructions for future semen sample and care before you leave

Postoperatively

• Eat a normal diet. Ensure you are drinking 8-10 glasses of water a day
• As the numbing medication wears off, you will have mild pain at the operative site. You may take Tylenol or ibuprofen for this as needed; follow dosing on the bottle.
• Walk around as able.
• Slowly increase your activity. No heavy lifting for 3-5 days after your procedure
• You may return to sexual activity after 7 days or when you feel up to it.
• You may return to work the following day
• Wound care
  • All sutures used will be buried under the skin and absorbable.
  • It is very common to have bruising/swelling of your scrotum. Wear a jockstrap or tight-fitting briefs, as well as apply ice for 20 minutes every few hours for the first couple days.
  • You may have some fluid collections after your procedure (which feels like lumps, and harden as they heal), which your body will reabsorb, but this process takes weeks to months to completely resorb.
  • Do not bathe, soak incisions, go in hot tube, pool or lake/ocean for 2 weeks.

Patient Informatio & Documents

At Brightside Specialty Clinics, vasectomies are performed by Dr. Swenson. Contact 701-877-2020 for an appointment.