A vasectomy is a relatively minor operation that may be carried out at a doctor’s surgery or at an outpatient clinic. The procedure only takes about 30 minutes to complete and doesn’t involve a general anesthetic. There are two types of vasectomy currently offered, one involving an incision and another Chinese developed technique that doesn’t.

After a vasectomy, the man’s semen will not contain any sperm however his sex drive will not be affected. The testes will still produce sperm, but the sperm will be absorbed by the body in the same way the body absorbs excess sperm prior to having a vasectomy. It should be noted that a vasectomy is not always successful (about 1 percent failure rate) and the patient should continue use an alternative method of contraception until confirmation that you are sterile has been received from a doctor.

Procedure information
The doctor will make one or two small incisions into the scrotum after injecting a local anesthetic. The two tubes (vasa deferentia) that carry the sperm from the testes to mix with semen during ejaculation are lifted out through the incisions and cut. It is possible that the doctor will remove some of the tubes before he/she ties or seals them with an electric current. The incisions are then closed with stitches and after 30 minutes rest the patient is free to go home.

A non scalpel vasectomy can also be carried out. Rather than making incisions in the scrotum, a sharp instrument pierces the skin and is then stretched allowing access to the tubes. No stitches are used as the holes close themselves. This method accounts for about one third of all vasectomies in the USA.

Recovery time
You will feel a limited amount of pain for the first few days after a vasectomy and rest is recommended for at least a day. Ice packs or athletic supports can help relieve some localized swelling around the scrotal area, which will look bruised for 5 days or so. Most patients fully recover within 1 week and are able to return to normal activities. Sexual intercourse can be undertaken once the pain and swelling have dissipated.