Everything You Need to Know About Vasectomy

Now, more than ever, it’s time for a vasectomy. A lot of people talk about it – or at least google it; Online searches for the word “vasectomy” skyrocketed following the May leak of a draft Supreme Court ruling on the fate of Roe v. Wade. past . Some men also seem to admit that they have a vested interest in the laws that dictate the decisions a person can make about his own body. (Some of them have even taken the jump already .)

Of course, if you’re fertile, have a functioning penis and testicles, and are 100% sure you don’t want to use them to have children in the future, a vasectomy is a way to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Traditionally, half the population with ovaries has been responsible for this, whether it’s taking birth control pills (which comes with some risk ), tubal ligation (a procedure much more dangerous than a vasectomy ), buying condoms for their stubborn partners, or having an ex-post abortion.

Compared to these options, a nearly 100% effective outpatient procedure with a short downtime and “little evidence” of long-term side effects seems like the least you can do. That’s not to say the thought isn’t unnerving – so here’s an example of what to expect from a vasectomy.

Two types of vasectomy

While the first vasectomy performed on a human was performed in the late 19th century — a procedure that, oddly enough, originated from the eugenics movement — it became a viable birth control option in the post-World War II era. For decades—until the early 1980s—the mechanics didn’t change much, but these days you have two types of vasectomy to choose from, each different depending on how the surgeon accesses your body parts: conventional vasectomy and Vasectomy without a scalpel. The latter was developed in China in the 1970s at the same time as the establishment of its two-child policy (which later became a one-child policy before restrictions were eased again in 2016) and brought to America in 1985. already guessed which one you want to choose, but let’s talk about the differences between them.

Conventional vasectomy

In a conventional vasectomy , the doctor makes two small incisions on either side of the scrotum, which allows access to the vas deferens, the tiny tubes that carry sperm from the testicles to the penis. The tubes will be cut and small sections of 1 or 2 inches will be removed from both; one or both ends of each tube may also be scorched before they are sutured.

Vasectomy without a scalpel

In a no-scalpel vasectomy, the doctor makes a single hole in the center of the scrotum with a ring forceps called a hemostat that ” pierces the skin of the scrotal sac”. Then the skin is gently straightened only until both vas deferens are visualized. Roughly speaking, the doctor then fishes to find and extract a small loop of each vas deferens, one at a time, and then cuts them open, removing a small section of the tube and suturing (and, again, perhaps cauterizing first) the open ends.

How is it better?

Any method of vasectomy will effectively sterilize you. The issue is not efficiency. But because it’s a less invasive procedure, a scalpelless vasectomy is much faster (takes about 30 minutes) and usually results in less bleeding, a fivefold reduction in (already rare) infections, fewer bruising, and a shorter recovery. time . So why did you decide to have a conventional vasectomy? Well, simply because the procedure is newer – even though it’s been practiced in the US for 35 years now – it can still be harder to find a doctor to do it for you. Fortunately, thanks to the Internet, finding the store closest to you has become much easier.

Can I get a vasectomy right away?

Before agreeing to a vasectomy—whichever type you choose—your doctor will want to consult with you. During this appointment, the doctor will examine your junk for any physical features that may create problems during the operation, as well as discuss with you the reasons why you are seeking permanent sterilization. The doctor will want to a) make sure you know that this is considered a permanent solution to your fertility problem ( vasectomy can be reversed but not always successful and the process is complicated and expensive) and b) that you are really, really 100% sure what you want it. This will mean reading and signing a bunch of burdensome paperwork stating your intentions (while also noting that there is a very small chance you will get pregnant anyway). (Seriously, that’s very little .) You may even have to go through a “thinking period.” If you live in New York, you will have to wait 30 days between the first consultation and the procedure ; the same is true if your insurance is federally funded . Wait times may be shorter in other locations, so you should discuss this time with your doctor. Some patients reported that doctors made them rethink their choices , especially if they were young. If this happens to you, I would advise you to find another doctor.

Vasectomy preparation and day

Vasectomies are almost always performed on an outpatient basis, so don’t count on a hospital stay. A few days before the operation, the doctor will give you a list of do’s and don’ts that you must follow the letter; this will usually include funny things like “don’t take aspirin” and “shave your balls” (although no matter how well you think you did on the latter, they’ll probably give you a touch- up once you you will do it). took off his pants and lay on the operating table). You will most likely need to bring your sports support with you and show it to the office staff before you can start (since you will definitely want to maintain your junk afterwards to reduce the chance of post-surgery injury). You’ll also need to arrange transport: driving is generally not recommended, although there’s nothing stopping you from, say, taking the subway home (just hypothetically here). Depending on where you had the procedure, you may be given the option of choosing between local and general anesthesia . Strictly speaking, a vasectomy doesn’t require you to be operated on, but some patients experience so much stress that their body causes their reproductive organs to tighten up, which can make the doctor’s job difficult. Or maybe you just don’t want to remember the experience. General anesthesia carries additional risks and may not be covered by your insurance. Once you get to the doctor’s office, you will be asked to take off your clothes and put on a surgical gown. Assuming you have chosen a local anesthetic, you will be given an anesthetic injection into your scrotum. At this point, the nurse will probably also finish removing any remaining hair from the surgery site.

What does it look like?

We have already indicated that vasectomy is safe and effective. So why are so many people still worried about them? Well, those who have lived their entire lives with sensitive genitals dangling outside their body know how bad it is to hurt them, so they are probably most concerned that the procedure will be painful. And there is? Well, that’s what anesthesia is for. Doing a vasectomy definitely feels weird, but if you’re properly anesthetized, it won’t hurt much. You will feel some twitching and some pressure, but no pain. Theoretically: In a personal account for The Guardian , comedian and writer Rob Delaney said he feels some degree of pain during his own procedure and asks for more anesthetic (which you may have had to do before at the dentist). In his article for Men’s Health , Grant Stoddard also points out another strange thing you can look forward to: the smell of your own body parts cooked during the cauterization of the vas deferens. You shouldn’t feel it, but you may notice a small puff of smoke, a hiss and a certain… aroma. So it’s fun.

Consequences (or: When can I have sex?)

While most people’s experience following a vasectomy will follow the pattern outlined above, recovery will look a little different for everyone. If there were no complications, you should be able to leave the doctor’s office shortly after the operation, your trash tightly tucked into a sports belt that you’ll have to wear for the next week.

Vasectomy.com (what a lucky URL!) gives a good plan of what you can expect in the coming days while your body heals. Some people feel more or less normal after a few days; others may experience pain and discomfort lasting several weeks or longer. The list isn’t too surprising: get plenty of rest, don’t do anything too strenuous, don’t bathe or shower for 48 hours afterwards, apply ice packs to reduce swelling, take acetaminophen (not aspirin or ibuprofen). for pain and watch for signs of infection. In addition to the physical effects, you may have emotional reactions that you weren’t expecting. This does not mean that you will regret having the procedure – most of those who report that they do not regret their choice – but you may feel some sadness or a sense of loss. Some of them may be due to the fact that your body has suffered a surgical injury and will disappear over time. A few days of childless blues right after is normal, and you may have occasional periods during which you wonder if you’ve been doing the right thing for years (at which point you can remind yourself of all the very good reasons you have you were for it). do it first). But if you’re experiencing long-term damaging emotional side effects, talk to your doctor.

Definitely don’t have sex right away (and definitely, definitely don’t have sex without using birth control until you’ve been given permission to do so; more on that in a moment). While many guys on Reddit will brag about doing it “right away,” Vasectomy.com advises you to wait at least a week before trying to ejaculate. And be warned: the first few times your cum can look pretty weird. Like, there might be blood. Which is unsettling, but normal when things like this go on. And even weeks or months later (although most people get better with time), you may feel recurring paroxysmal pain in your groin during sexual arousal. It won’t stop you from enjoying sex, but you will notice it. As long as it’s classified as a mild discomfort, you don’t have to worry about it, but it’s never a bad idea to discuss any concerns with your doctor.

Fertility, post-vasectomy

Your doctor will schedule several follow-up exams for you after the procedure. One of them will be just to evaluate how you are recovering and make sure that everything is in order there, but others will be more important, because they will confirm that it was really effective and that there is no more sperm in your ejaculate . Important note: before you are officially declared infertile, you cannot have sex without contraception. Three months after the procedure – and after 20-30 ejaculations, so you have some fun homework to look forward to – you will need to undergo a semen analysis , which will include providing a sample at the clinic (be it, uh- e, produced on-site or delivered from your home in an approved container within one hour after ejaculation ). Your sample will be tested for swimmers. If nothing is found, you’re done (most only need to do this part once). But if you still have a few of them, you need to go back and do it all over again in a few weeks. And it’s all. Now you can have sex any way you want without having to worry about someone getting pregnant (although you still have to worry about STDs). Many people report that the heyday of their sex life comes after a vasectomy . No need to think about burdening another soul with the curse of existence: it’s totally exciting.

This article was originally published August 2020 and updated June 28, 2022 with additional context regarding the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade.