Male Vasectomy 101

Most people have a general inkling about what male vasectomy is, but few men are armed with all the basic facts that they need to know before going through one. A vasectomy is a simple surgical procedure that entails cutting or blocking of the vas deferens tubes to prevent sperm from joining the semen in an ejaculation.

In terms of safety, the male vasectomy procedure has been around since the late 1900s but it only gained popularity in the United States during the 1940s. It started out as part of family planning and as a viable alternative to castration. Over the years, the technique has vastly improved and it is one of the few types of surgery wherein general anesthesia is not required. There are no cases of death related to a vasectomy and is regarded as the safer alternative to the woman getting a tubal ligation. In terms of effectiveness, a vasectomy is a permanent procedure against unwanted pregnancies.

When it comes to sexual activity, none of it will change after you undergo a male vasectomy. Although you may have to abstain from sexual intercourse for about a week after the vasectomy, you can resume your normal routine afterwards. There is no loss of sensation, reduction of your erection and effect on your sexual drive after you get a vasectomy. Although the semen will not contain any sperm, there will be no change in terms of its texture and color when you get a vasectomy.

Like all kinds of surgery, there are also some related risks and complications that occur. There is no proven link between a male vasectomy and other kinds of diseases such as heart disease, prostate cancer and chronic pain in the testes area. There may sometimes be some complications such as pain and inflammation but this is normal during the stage of recovery. In fact, most of the complications that have occurred after a vasectomy have come about due to the negligence of the patient when it comes to following the instructions of their urologist. Some of these include not driving after a vasectomy, not taking a shower one to two days after the vasectomy and not submerging in water for about a week after.

Instead of a surgical procedure, one of the newest innovations as regards male vasectomy is the Vasclip. Instead of cutting the vas tubes, a small clip is attached to seal the tubes and prevent sperm from passing through. Similar to a traditional vasectomy, the Vasclip is permanent because scar tissue tends to form around the clip. There has been limited research conducted on this new method for a vasectomy but it is generally regarded as a safe and effective procedure as well.