Vasectomies: 101
A vasectomy that can be performed at Z Urology, is a procedure that causes a man to no longer be able to get a woman pregnant. It involves cutting or blocking two tubes, called the vas deferens. This assures that sperm can no longer get into the semen.
Path to Improved Health
Vasectomies actually may be the safest, most effective form of birth control. About 1 or 2 out of 1,000 couples get pregnant the first year after a vasectomy is performed.
A vasectomy is usually done in a doctor’s office or in an outpatient surgery center. The operation typically takes about 30 minutes. You will be awake during the procedure and your doctor will give you a local anesthetic in the surgical area. The doctor will then remove a small section of the vas deferens, and seal it with small clamps. They do this on both sides. The punctures are so small that it heals without stitches.
How Should One Prepare for the Operation
There is not much prep that is necessary. Make sure the genital area is clean. Your doctor may give you instructions on how to clean the area before you come in. Your doctor may suggest you bring someone to drive you home after surgery.
What Can I Expect After the Operation
You may have some pain, swelling, and bruising in the area where the surgery was performed. The bruises should slowly lighten and be gone in about one-two weeks. You should feel totally back to normal within 1-2 weeks as well. The doctor will give instructions to follow after surgery. Instructions may include:
- Wearing tight-fitting underwear or a jockstrap to support the scrotum
- Using an ice pack to help with pain and swelling
- Getting plenty of rest
- Limiting yourself to light activity until you heal
When Can I Go Back to Work
If you have a desk job, you can expect to return to work after a couple of days. If you do physical labor, or walk or drive a lot, you will speak with the doctor about when you can go back to work.
Will the Vasectomy Work Right Away
No, not right away. You will need to ejaculate as many as 15 to 20 times or wait up to 3 months before the sperm will be cleared from both of the vas deferens. For that reason, if you are trying to avoid pregnancy, have your partner keep using birth control. The doctor will ask you to bring in samples of your ejaculation two or three months after the procedure. Only after having a sperm-free sample will you be considered unable to get a woman pregnant.
Can a Vasectomy Be Reversed
Yes, vasectomies can be undone or reversed. The surgery is a bit more difficult and is typically performed in a hospital.
What are the Risks of a Vasectomy
Problems that might occur after your vasectomy include bleeding, infection, and mild inflammatory reaction to sperm that may have gotten loose during the surgery (called sperm granuloma).
Another risk is that the ends of the vas deferens may find a way to create a new path to one another. This doesn’t occur very often. But if it does, you could be able to get a woman pregnant.
What Happens to the Sperm
Once sperm can’t get through the vas deferens, your testicles will make lesser sperm. Your body typically will absorb the sperm that are made.
Will a Vasectomy Affect My Sex Life
The great news is that after you have healed from the vasectomy, your sex life shouldn’t change at all. You’ll still ejaculate almost the same amount of semen as you did before, and you won’t notice any change in your sex drive.
When to See a Doctor
Call Dr. Z if you have any of the following:
- You have a fever
- You have swelling that won’t go down or keeps getting worse
- You have trouble urinating
- You can feel a lump forming in the scrotum
So there is no time like RIGHT NOW to schedule the vasectomy that you have been thinking about. Just pick up the phone and call Z Urology, with offices in South Florida. Call today!
Z Urology provides state-of-the-art urologic care in the South Florida area with a focus on both male and female urology. Our practice specializes in all urologic procedures, specifically, minimally invasive methods. Our three locations to choose from are located in Fort Lauderdale, Coral Springs and Pompano Beach.
We at Z Urology specialize in bladder issues, erectile dysfunction (ED), prostate issues, urinary incontinence, sexual dysfunction, stone disease, BPH, male infertility, pyeloplasty, Peyronie’s disease, and ureteral reimplantation.
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