If you’re thinking about getting a vasectomy, you may want to consider the following questions:

You should understand that a vasectomy is considered a permanent sterilization procedure. While it can often be reversed, the decision to have a vasectomy should not be made assuming that it can be reversed. Reversal is a complicated and time-consuming surgical procedure that requires very specific expertise. So, do not rush into this decision.

Are you (and your partner) sure you don’t want to have children/additional children?

Are you comfortable with a permanent form of contraception?

Would you prefer your partner not be on hormonal contraceptives (such as the pill) or an IUD?

Would fool-proof contraception improve your sex life?

Is the thought of having an accidental pregnancy stressful?

Is the worry about pregnancy affecting the quality of your erections?

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Frequently Asked Questions

Recovery and when can I start enjoying it?

How will I feel after a vasectomy? The good news is that since a no-needle, no-scalpel vasectomy is performed with a single small incision in the skin, and minimal manipulation of the structures in the scrotum, the recovery is usually quite easy. Most men return to work the next day or, if the procedure is performed on a Friday, on Monday. Tenderness and swelling of the surgical site and bruising of the scrotum are usually minimal. Ice should be applied intermittently for the first 24 hours.

Resuming Sex: You can resume sex five to seven days after the vasectomy. However, you must continue to use contraception until it is shown you have no sperm in your ejaculate. Six weeks after the vasectomy, you will be asked to produce a semen specimen, which will be evaluated. If there are no sperm, you can begin unprotected intercourse.

What can I expect during the procedure?

In performing a no-scalpel vasectomy, the vas deferens is pushed up against the skin. After anesthesia has been given, it is grabbed through the skin in a small ring shaped clamp. Thus, only the vas deferens and a small amount of tissue around it is isolated, rather than the whole cord. A sharp clamp is used to make a small hole in the skin, and the vas deferens grabbed, and pulled out. It can then be divided, cauterized, and the two sides isolated from each other, prior to putting them back in the scrotum. The incision is so small, that most patients cannot find it. No stitches are needed to close it. Usually, both of the tubes can be grabbed through the same small opening.