Call Us: (954) 714-8200
Select Page
Everything You Need to Know About Vasectomy Side Effects

Everything You Need to Know About Vasectomy Side Effects

A vasectomy, which is performed here at Z Urology, is a type of permanent sterilization that prevents pregnancy by stopping sperm from entering the semen. The procedure involves cutting or blocking the vas deferens, which are the two tubes that carry sperm from the testicles to the urethra.

It is a very effective form of male contraception but is not 100% reliable. Approximately 1–2 out of every 1,000 women still get pregnant in the year following their partner’s vasectomy. Although the procedure is safe, some people may experience pain and other issues afterward.

In this article, we look at the vasectomy in more detail, including common side effects, risks and complications, recovery, and when to see a doctor.

Short-term side effects

It is advisable to abstain from sex for at least a week following a vasectomy.

Below, are some common side effects of a vasectomy procedure:

1. Pain

Immediately following a vasectomy, one may feel tenderness, pain, or pressure in the scrotum or pelvic area. Because of this, one should abstain from sex until the pain goes away, which is usually after about a week.

2. Infection

Some develop an infection at the site of the surgical procedure. The infection can cause intense pain and swelling. Doctors can prescribe antibiotics to treat the symptoms of a bacterial infection.

3. Bleeding

Excessive bleeding during or after surgery can increase pain and may make additional treatment necessary.

4. Pregnancy

It usually takes about 3 months for the semen to be completely free of sperm. As a result, it is still possible for a woman to get pregnant immediately after her partner has a vasectomy.

5. Swelling

Swelling and irritation in the scrotum are common. In some cases, the scrotum may look bruised or discolored.

Long-term Consequences and Risks

Most long-term consequences of a vasectomy are positive. Some people report improvements in their sex life, which may be due in part to decreased anxiety about unintentionally getting a partner pregnant.

However, there are potential risks following the procedure, including:

1. Recanalization

Recanalization happens when the vas deferens grow back to create a new connection, causing the vasectomy to reverse itself. The sperm are then able to get back into the semen, meaning that one becomes fertile again.

2. Failed Vasectomy

Sometimes, a vasectomy may fail. In this case, one may need to repeat the surgery or find another birth control option.

3. Regret and Uncertainty

Some may regret having a vasectomy and feel uncertain about whether they might still want children, particularly if they start a new relationship. Vasectomies are usually reversible, but the likelihood of success depends on the type of vasectomy and the skill of the reversal surgeon, among other factors.

4. Cancer

The risk of a person getting cancer after a vasectomy is very small. A 2019 study that followed more than 2.1 million Danish men for 38 years and found a small but statistically significant increase in prostate cancer among men who had vasectomies.

5. Decreased sexual function

Some worry that they will have weaker or less pleasurable orgasms following a vasectomy. However, a vasectomy does not affect sexual function unless one has an injury during the procedure or develops postvasectomy pain syndrome.

Complications

Some people experience serious complications after a vasectomy, but it is rare.

Below, are possible complications:

1. Infection and Bleeding

Infection and bleeding following the procedure are usually treatable, although in rare cases, they may prove dangerous or even fatal. A severe untreated infection or an antibiotic-resistant infection can spread to other areas of the body. Likewise, excessive bleeding may necessitate a blood transfusion or even threaten a person’s life. During the procedure, a surgeon may accidentally damage the testicular artery. This injury can cause bleeding in, or damage to, the testicles, as well as short- or long-term pain.

2. Postvasectomy pain syndrome

A more common complication is post-vasectomy pain syndrome, which causes a person to have long-term pain in the scrotum. The area may ache or be very sensitive. Post-vasectomy pain syndrome can affect sexual function and orgasm.

Although some treatments may lessen the pain, no specific treatment is totally effective, and some people live with long-term testicular pain. According to American Urological Association guidelines, 1–2% of men who have a vasectomy develop chronic pain.

3. Damage to Nerves and Sexual Function

Uncomplicated vasectomies do not cause impotence. However, both damage to nerves in the groin and postvasectomy pain may affect sexual function.

Recovery

Most take about a week to recover from a vasectomy.

The following self-care tips may help with pain:

  • Wearing snug-fitting underwear, such as briefs, to reduce movement and irritation
  • Applying an ice pack to the affected area to reduce pain and swelling
  • Taking pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen
  • Avoid having sex in the days following the procedure

If sex is still painful after a week, you should wait until the pain reduces. When there are surgical complications, such as infection or bleeding, recovery may take longer. You should follow the doctor’s recommendations for recovery. If a doctor prescribes antibiotics, you should make sure that they finish the full course of treatment even if symptoms improve.

What to Expect After the Procedure

You may feel groggy after the procedure if it took place under general anesthesia. It will be unsafe to drive, so one should make alternative arrangements to get home.

If the medical team uses a local anesthetic instead, there will be no grogginess. However, the initial numbing injection may hurt or pinch, and one may notice pain and swelling that gets worse over several hours. The pain usually lasts a few days to a week. Most people find that home treatments effectively manage the pain.

There is still a risk of pregnancy until a doctor confirms that there are no sperm in the semen. People wishing to avoid pregnancy should use birth control until then. A few months after the procedure, a doctor will test the patient’s semen for the presence of sperm. This test is the best way to confirm the success of the vasectomy.

When to See a Doctor

Contact a doctor if you are experiencing:

  • Fever above 100°F
  • Sudden swelling of the scrotum, which becomes very tender
  • Pus coming out of the wound
  • Unbearable pain that does not respond to medication
  • Pain that lasts longer than a week
  • Excessive bleeding
  • Pain that comes back after weeks or months

In Summary

Most people who have a vasectomy return to work and their usual activities within a few days and experience no serious complications. A vasectomy is generally very safe, and it is much safer than permanent sterilization procedures for females. However, a person considering a vasectomy should discuss the risks with their doctor. In particular, they should ask whether their health history makes them more vulnerable to any specific complications.

If you feel you are in need of a urologist in South Florida to aid in your decision and actual vasectomy procedure, this article highlighted, then contact Z Urology for a group that is dedicated to delivering world-class expertise in urology, along with an unwavering commitment to their patients. The three locations to choose from are located in Fort Lauderdale, Coral Springs, and Pompano Beach.

You can go to the website directly and set up an appointment or you can call 954-714-8200. Either way, you contact, you will be setting up to see the leading urologist office in all of South Florida. With an extremely talented and professional staff of doctors and more, you are in truly good hands with the doctors and nurses at Z Urology. Z Urology is your leader in urological care. Go ahead and call now!

Vasectomy Reversals Just as Successful in Men Over 50

Vasectomy Reversals Just as Successful in Men Over 50

Z Urology is proud to announce that findings in a new study have shown that vasectomy reversal is as viable in men over 50 as in those who are younger.

About 20% of American men who have had a vasectomy want to father children in the future. And about 6% will seek a vasectomy reversal, previous research shows.

However, it’s been unclear how a man’s age may affect his chance for a successful reversal.

Well to find out, researchers analyzed the outcomes of vasectomy reversal in about 3,000 men older than 50 (average age: 54) and 350 younger men (average age: 39). All of the procedures were performed by one surgeon.

After a vasectomy reversal, the partners of 33.4% of the younger men and 26.1% of the older men got pregnant.

 

What Did the Study Find

The study found that the chances of pregnancy were better when the woman was under 35 and/or the man had had his vasectomy fewer than 10 years before.

“When we did a statistical analysis and examined all these other factors involved, the data showed that age had no bearing on success,” said study lead investigator Dr. Mary Samplaski, a specialist who treats male infertility at Keck Medicine of the University of Southern California.

Researchers have noted that one reason older men were statistically less successful than younger men in getting their partners pregnant was that older men tended to have older partners.

The results are exciting for men looking to start families later in life who have had a vasectomy. The research is especially timely because anecdotally, fertility doctors are seeing an increase in the number of men interested in vasectomy reversals as couples focus on family planning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Couples wanting to get pregnant after a vasectomy procedure have two main choices: vasectomy reversal and sperm extraction with in vitro fertilization (IVF). However, IVF has risks, such as psychological distress and multiple births, and typically costs more than a reversal, making reversal a better choice for many couples.

If you feel you are in need of a urologist in South Florida to aid in the decision of a vasectomy or a vasectomy reversal, then contact Z Urology for a group that is dedicated to delivering world-class expertise in urology, along with an unwavering commitment to their patients. The three locations to choose from are located in Fort Lauderdale, Coral Springs, and Pompano Beach.

You can go to the website directly and set up an appointment or you can call 954-714-8200. Either way, you contact, you will be setting up to see the leading urologist office in all of South Florida. With an extremely talented and professional staff of doctors and more, you are in truly good hands with the doctors and nurses at Z Urology. Z Urology is your leader in urological care. Go ahead and call now!

Everything You Need to Know About Vasectomy Side Effects

Even for Men Over 50, Vasectomy Reversals Equally Successful

Studies have now shown that vasectomy reversals (at Z Urology) are as viable in men over 50 as in those who are younger. About 20% of American men who have had a vasectomy want to father children in the future. About 6% will seek a vasectomy reversal, previous research shows.

However, it’s been unclear how a man’s age may affect his chances for a successful reversal. The jury was always out on this.

In studies, researchers analyzed the outcomes of vasectomy reversal in about 3,000 men older than 50 (average age: 54) and 350 younger men (average age: 39). All of their procedures were performed by one surgeon. After a vasectomy reversal, the partners of 33.4% of the younger men and 26.1% of the older men got pregnant.

The study found that the chances of pregnancy were better when the woman was under 35 and/or the man had had his vasectomy fewer than 10 years before. On a side note, the odds were lower if the man smoked.

Researchers noted that one other variable was that older men in the study were statistically less successful than younger men in getting their partners pregnant because older men tended to have older partners.

The research is especially timely because fertility doctors are seeing an increase in the number of men interested in vasectomy reversals as couples focus on family planning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Couples wanting to get pregnant after a vasectomy have two choices: vasectomy reversal and sperm extraction with in vitro fertilization (IVF).

IVF has risks, such as psychological distress and multiple births, and typically costs more than a reversal, making reversal a better choice for many couples, Samplaski said.

These findings were recently published in the journal Urology.

If you are in need of a urologist in South Florida that can perform vasectomies as well as reversals, then contact Z Urology for a team that is dedicated to delivering world-class expertise in urology, along with an unwavering commitment to their patients. Our three locations to choose from are located in Fort Lauderdale, Coral Springs and Pompano Beach.

You can go to the website directly and set up an appointment or you can call 954-714-8200. Either way, you contact, you will be setting up to see the leading urologist office in all of South Florida. With an extremely talented and professional staff of doctors and more, you are in truly good hands with the doctors and nurses at Z Urology. Z Urology is your leader in urological care. Go ahead and call now!

The Effectiveness of a Vasectomy

The Effectiveness of a Vasectomy

 

Men all over the world consider different ways of birth control. When most people think of birth control, they usually think of the pills that women take in order to stop the pregnancy cycle. However, there are tons of different types of birth control. Condoms, IUDs, birth control implants, birth control shots and of course, a vasectomy. A vasectomy is a permanent form of birth control that involves removing or blocking the van deferens from being able to transport sperm from the testicles to the penis. Out of all of the birth control options, a vasectomy is one of the most effective forms.

 

Procedure of the Vasectomy

 

The first step of a vasectomy is finding a trusted Urologist to take care of one of the most sensitive parts of your body. Z Urology is home to fellowship-trained and very experienced South Florida urologists. Your traditional vasectomy consists of making a couple slits within the scrotum with a scalpel. Through these slits, the surgeon will enter the scrotum and remove the vas deferens within. Once the vas deferens have been removed, there will no longer be any transfer of sperm from the testicles to the penis. Your scrotum will then be stitched up and sealed in order for the surgery to complete and the recovery period to begin.

 

Recovering After a Vasectomy

 

As all surgeries, after a vasectomy you may experience pain and discomfort within the area. As long as this doesn’t become worse or an intense pain, then everything is going according to plan. The recovery period isn’t as long as you would assume. A wait period of 2 – 3 days is recommended after the completion of a vasectomy before returning to work. If pain is bothering, an ice pack is also recommended. Do not be shocked by having blood within your semen for the following few weeks. Your body must drain itself of the remaining semen in order to completely nullify the chance of pregnancy. After 8 – 15 weeks, your sperm count should be close, if not already, zero. Your urologist will help guide you through the recovery phase as well.

Vasectomy Doctors in Fort Lauderdale

Are you looking for a vasectomy doctor in Fort Lauderdale, Florida?

Well, then you have certainly come to the right website! At Z Urology our doctors are some of the most qualified in the business and our medical staff includes ivy league and fellowship-trained medical superstars. Who are experts in male vasectomy and who also perform tons of the procedures every single year. At Z Urology we take a modern approach to both male and female urological care. From the first time you step into our office, you will see the difference. Our waiting room is comfortable spacious and offers free wifi for your brief wait. Our medical staff is large and swarming and right there to help you at every turn. Our doctors are super smart and happy to answer all your medical questions about your potential vasectomy. In order, to help you decide if it’s the right birth control choice for you and your family. After your vasectomy consultation with one of our doctors, our scheduling staff will be happy to get your procedure on the surgical calendar for the best date that suits your life and commitments. At Z Urology we take pride in offering our patients a wide range of surgical dates and times for their convenience.

Wikipedia defines vasectomy as the following:

“Vasectomy is a surgical procedure for male sterilization or permanent contraception. During the procedure, the male vasa deferentia are cut and tied or sealed so as to prevent sperm from entering into the urethra and thereby prevent fertilization of a female through sexual intercourse. Vasectomies are usually performed in a physician’s office, medical clinic, or, when performed on an animal, in a veterinary clinic—hospitalization is not normally required as the procedure is not complicated, the incisions are small, and the necessary equipment routine.

There are several methods by which a surgeon might complete a vasectomy procedure, all of which occlude (i.e., “seal”) at least one side of each vas deferens. To help reduce anxiety and increase patient comfort, men who have an aversion to needles may consider a “no-needle” application of anesthesia while the “no-scalpel” or “open-ended” techniques help to accelerate recovery times and increase the chance of healthy recovery.

Due to the simplicity of the surgery, a vasectomy usually takes less than thirty minutes to complete. After a short recovery at the doctor’s office (usually less than an hour), the patient is sent home to rest. Because the procedure is minimally invasive, many vasectomy patients find that they can resume their typical sexual behavior within a week, and do so with little or no discomfort.”

If you are ready to consult about your vasectomy in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and put your reproductive mind at ease. Then call our office today and a member of the Z Urology medical staff will be happy to get you all set up. A vasectomy can be a big decision, even though it is reversible. So you want to make sure you have the best possible urological team by your side for the decision making process and the procedure itself. For most men who get a vasectomy the relief, it provides them is worth its weight in gold, and we have had tons of wonderful feedback from our clients over the years after they get them. To book your consultation for a vasectomy or any other urological issue you may be having. Please pick the location closest to you for your convince and then give us a call. Our medical staff is standing by and ready to help!

Main Phone: (954) 714-8200
Main Email: info@zurology.com

Coral Springs Location:

5850 Coral Ridge Drive, Suite 106
Coral Springs, FL 33076
Phone: (954) 714-8200
Fax: 954-840-2626

Fort Lauderdale Location:

2951 NW 49th Avenue Suite 308
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33313
Phone: (954) 714-8200
Fax 954-714-8222

Pompano Beach Location:

990 N Federal Hwy
Pompano Beach, FL 33062
Phone: (954) 714-8200
Fax: 954-840-2626

Office Hours:

Monday – Friday: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Se Habla Español
Nou Pale Kreyol