Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsShould I Have One?Possible RisksTypes of VasectomyHow It Is DoneSelf-Care and HealingRecovery TimesWhen to See a ProviderVasectomy Reversal
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Should I Have One?
Possible Risks
Types of Vasectomy
How It Is Done
Self-Care and Healing
Recovery Times
When to See a Provider
Vasectomy Reversal
Vasectomies are generally safe and effective with a relatively short recovery time (usually around a week).Although vasectomies are considered a permanent form of contraception, they can be reversed in many cases should a person change their mind.
This article explains what is involved in a vasectomy, including the different procedures and how they are performed. It also describes what to expect during and after recovery as well as your options for vasectomy reversal.
Deciding to Have a Vasectomy
The most obvious reason for a vasectomy is to prevent an unplanned pregnancy. While effective, the decision to have a vasectomy is a highly personal one that shouldn’t be rushed.
As the only permanent form of male birth control, a vasectomy may be the ideal solution if you are sure you don’t want to produce more children.
While manyvasectomies can be reversed, there’s no guarantee that yours will be. So, this is one of the main factors you’ll need to consider before pursuing a vasectomy.
Here are a few facts that may help you make an informed choice:
How Much Does a Vasectomy Cost?
Thecost of a vasectomycan vary based on where you live and the type of procedure used. On average, expect to pay around $1,000 if you are paying out of pocket, including tests and follow-up visits.
Possible Risks of a Vasectomy
A vasectomy is a commonly performed procedure that is considered safe and effective. With that said, there arerisks associated with vasectomiesthat you need to be aware of.
According to the AUA, the rate of complications hovers between 1% and 2%, the most common of which include:
Less commonly, an abnormal cyst (spermatocele) can develop in a coiled tube called theepididymis, where sperm from the testicle is collected and stored. A fluid-filled sac (hydrocele) can also develop around a testicle, causing the scrotum to swell. Both of these can occur many days after the surgery and tend to resolve gradually on their own.
Advances in surgical techniques have greatly minimized many of these risks reducing the size of incisions and occasionally leaving the vas deferens unblocked (which may reduce the risk of long-term pain).
Because the no-scalpel method creates a smaller wound, the risk of infection, pain, and hematoma is lower than with a conventional vasectomy. Both methods are equally effective in preventing pregnancy.
Irrespective of whether a scalpel or no-scalpel procedure is used, the general aims of the procedure are the same, with a few variations.
Prior to undergoing a vasectomy, you may be asked to stop taking blood thinners likeheparin,warfarin, andPlavix (clopidogrel)as well asnonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)like aspirin,Advil (ibuprofen), andAleve (naproxen)several days beforehand to prevent excessive bleeding.
Vasectomy: How to Prepare
Here is what you can expect when undergoing a vasectomy:
Vasectomies usually take 10 to 30 minutes to complete. After a short rest, you can put on your clothes and return home.
Where Do Sperm Go After a Vasectomy?Under normal circumstances, sperm cells are “warehoused” in the epididymis until they are ejected from the penis during ejaculation. The epididymis is “upstream” from the vas deferens. If ejaculation doesn’t occur, the sperm cells will die in the epididymis within two to four weeks and be naturally absorbed in tissues. After a vasectomy, the same will occur.If the vas deferens are not adequately closed during the procedure (or an open-ended vasectomy is used), the sperm cells will drain directly into the scrotum, where they are broken down and absorbed. There may be a slightly increased risk of pregnancy, but the overall failure rate remains extremely low (between 0.04% and 0.08% after six months).
Where Do Sperm Go After a Vasectomy?
Under normal circumstances, sperm cells are “warehoused” in the epididymis until they are ejected from the penis during ejaculation. The epididymis is “upstream” from the vas deferens. If ejaculation doesn’t occur, the sperm cells will die in the epididymis within two to four weeks and be naturally absorbed in tissues. After a vasectomy, the same will occur.If the vas deferens are not adequately closed during the procedure (or an open-ended vasectomy is used), the sperm cells will drain directly into the scrotum, where they are broken down and absorbed. There may be a slightly increased risk of pregnancy, but the overall failure rate remains extremely low (between 0.04% and 0.08% after six months).
Under normal circumstances, sperm cells are “warehoused” in the epididymis until they are ejected from the penis during ejaculation. The epididymis is “upstream” from the vas deferens. If ejaculation doesn’t occur, the sperm cells will die in the epididymis within two to four weeks and be naturally absorbed in tissues. After a vasectomy, the same will occur.
If the vas deferens are not adequately closed during the procedure (or an open-ended vasectomy is used), the sperm cells will drain directly into the scrotum, where they are broken down and absorbed. There may be a slightly increased risk of pregnancy, but the overall failure rate remains extremely low (between 0.04% and 0.08% after six months).
After Vasectomy: Self-Care and Healing
Some level is pain or swelling can be expected after a vasectomy, although these are generally mild and tend to resolve within a few days.
To help promote healing and make your recovery more comfortable:
Many people can return to work the day after a vasectomy. But if your job involves physical labor or lifting, you may need to wait two to three days.
Should You Expect Pain From a Vasectomy?You can expect to have some pain or discomfort following a vasectomy, with most cases being relatively mild and resolving within seven days.With that said, some studies suggest that pain may persist for up to four weeks in 30% of people. Some experts recommend wearing an athletic supporter for up to two weeks and applying an ice pack intermittently for the first 24 to 48 hours to reduce pain.
Should You Expect Pain From a Vasectomy?
You can expect to have some pain or discomfort following a vasectomy, with most cases being relatively mild and resolving within seven days.With that said, some studies suggest that pain may persist for up to four weeks in 30% of people. Some experts recommend wearing an athletic supporter for up to two weeks and applying an ice pack intermittently for the first 24 to 48 hours to reduce pain.
You can expect to have some pain or discomfort following a vasectomy, with most cases being relatively mild and resolving within seven days.
With that said, some studies suggest that pain may persist for up to four weeks in 30% of people. Some experts recommend wearing an athletic supporter for up to two weeks and applying an ice pack intermittently for the first 24 to 48 hours to reduce pain.
Vasectomy Recovery Time
The recovery time for a vasectomy is generally between seven and 10 days. Even so, there may be lingering pain or discomfort for days and sometimes weeks after. It is rare for the pain to persist for more than three weeks.
Sexual intercourse can usually be resumed within a week, pending your urologist’s approval. It’s important to remember pregnancy is still possible as long as yoursperm countis above zero. Until that time, another method of contraceptive is needed, such as condoms or thebirth control pill.
Your sperm count—also known as a post-vasectomy semen analysis, or PVSA—will be checked eight to 16 weeks after the surgery. According to updated guidance from the AUA, a vasectomy is successful if the PVSA confirms that you either have no sperm (azoospermia) or low levels of non-moving (non-motile) sperm. In the past, two successive counts were needed.
Sex After Vasectomy
A vasectomy neither affects yourlibido (sex drive)nor your ability to get anerection, have anorgasm, orejaculate(“cum”). The only thing it changes is your ability to conceive a pregnancy.
Confirming Sterility After a Vasectomy
Vasectomy Not Healing Right
It is not uncommon after a vasectomy to have significant bruising and clear fluid drainage from the surgical wound. These are normal. But there are times when a vasectomy may not be healing as it should.
Generally speaking, the wound should be well on its way to healing after a week or so. This means that your symptoms are starting to ease. Although the pain may persist, it shouldn’t be getting significantly worse.
Arguably, the biggest concern following a vasectomy is the risk of infection. While uncommon, it can occur ifwound care instructionsare not followed, or the wound is placed under stress due to excessive physical activity.
It is important to call your healthcare provider immediately if you develop the following signs of infection after undergoing a vasectomy:
Antibioticswill be prescribed to help clear the infection.
7 Ways to Prevent Surgical Infections
What Happens During Vasectomy Reversal
Avasovasostomyis a surgery used to reverse a vasectomy. It is an increasingly common and successful procedure that can be used even in people who had undergone a vasectomy decades earlier.
Studies suggest that between 2% and 6% of people in the United States change their minds after having a vasectomy. There are many reasons for this, including a new relationship, a change in financial situation, or wanting to alleviate chronic scrotal pain (known aspost-vasectomy pain syndrome).
A vasovasostomy is a highly technical form of microsurgery that aims to reattach the ends of one or both vas deferens. A more complicated procedure called avasoepididymostomymay be used if there the vas deferens are blocked.
How Successful Is Vasectomy Reversal?Age doesn’t disqualify you from a vasovasostomy, but it can affect success rates. If you had a vasectomy within the past three years, for instance, you have a 76% chance of conceiving after the procedure. After 15 years, the success rate drops to around 30%.
How Successful Is Vasectomy Reversal?
Age doesn’t disqualify you from a vasovasostomy, but it can affect success rates. If you had a vasectomy within the past three years, for instance, you have a 76% chance of conceiving after the procedure. After 15 years, the success rate drops to around 30%.
A vasovasostomy is typically anoutpatient procedureperformed in a hospital undergeneral anesthesia. It is generally performed as followed:
A vasovasostomy takes between three to four hours to complete.
A follow-up visit is scheduled two weeks later to assess healing. At six weeks, the first semen analysis is performed. Depending on when you had the vasectomy and other factors, it can take one month to one year for the sperm count to return to viable levels.
Is Male Birth Control on the Horizon?
Summary
A vasectomy is a surgical form of contraception in males. It involves cutting the vas deferens which transports sperm to your semen. The in-office procedure takes 30 minutes or less to perform under local anesthesia. Healing takes around a week, and many people can return to work the next day.
While a vasectomy is highly effective, you need to use other forms of birth control until your healthcare provider confirms that your sperm count is zero or your sperm is non-moving. Side effects include pain, swelling, and bleeding.
Vasectomy reversal surgery is available if you later change your mind and want to have kids. Success rates are relatively high if you had a recent vasectomy and gradually decline thereafter.
16 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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