Performing some 175 vasectomies each year in my practice, I see a lot of men, as well as their partners. I know their fears about vasectomy and hear the myths that men believe regarding the procedure. As November 13 is World Vasectomy Day, it’s a good opportunity to reflect on one of the world’s more time tested birth control techniques and debunk some of the more common misconceptions men have about vasectomy:
- Having a vasectomy does NOT, by any means, decrease your masculinity. Understandably, some men are apprehensive about the vasectomy procedure because it involves such a delicate area of the body. Rest assured that a vasectomy does NOT affect erections, sex drive or ejaculation.
- You won’t be in excruciating pain. Men: considering that women go through childbirth, a vasectomy only causes temporary, minor discomfort. And, many men have no pain at all following the procedure. A bag of frozen peas and a couple of days resting on the couch is really all you need to recover. Because I’m a fellowship trained microsurgeon, I have extensive experience in male reproductive microsurgery and minimally invasive surgical techniques. As a result, I perform the vasectomy procedure with great precision, resulting in minimal discomfort or pain.
- Is it going to leave a scar? No. Because the vasectomy is done using magnification and a no-scalpel technique, only a very small hole is made in the scrotum, which is then closed with one dissolvable stitch. There are no incisions, and no scars.
- You can reverse a vasectomy. Many couples are unsure about getting a vasectomy just in case they change their minds later on in life. The truth is, a vasectomy is a permanent method of contraception, but it can be reversed by a skilled and experienced microsurgeon. Having extensive training and much success performing microsurgical vasectomy reversals, I’ve had patients who had vasectomies performed decades ago change their minds, have a vasectomy reversal, and go on to conceive a child naturally.
Men should know that a vasectomy is not 100% effective until the sperm count is zero, and other forms of contraception are recommended for approximately two to three months following the vasectomy. Then, a semen sample is given and brought to an outpatient laboratory for analysis. Once your sperm count is zero (we confirm this by taking a semen sample and having it analyzed in a lab), it is safe to resume sexual intercourse with no other birth control method necessary.
In recognition of one of the world’s most successful and effective methods of contraception, I encourage men and their partners to speak to me about vasectomy and understand the benefits, and the facts.
Learn more: call 877-699-2699.
