Vasectomy

Definition

A vasectomy is minor surgery that prevents sperm from entering the penis. Vasectomy is one of the most popular forms of birth control and is more than 99% effective. A vasectomy should be done only if you are sure that you no longer want to father children.

Please download our Vasectomy Information Packet for more information.

Procedure Description

Vasectomy works by preventing sperm from reaching your penis.

Sperm is made inside your testicles. After leaving the testicles, sperm travels to a small gland called the epididymis where it matures. It travels from here to the penis through a small tube called the vas deferens. During a vasectomy, the vas deferens (tube) is cut in two, preventing the sperm from mixing with the semen.

At the beginning of any type of vasectomy procedure, your doctor will numb your scrotum (the area around your testicles). Your doctor may inject the medication into your scrotum using a very small needle, or a needle-free device called a jet injector may be used. A jet injector uses air pressure to inject the medication into your skin. Patients describe this as nearly pain-free. If you are anxious about needles, ask your doctor about needle-free options.

Before and After Vasectomy

Risks

Vasectomy is a safe procedure with few risks. Occasionally minor complications may occur. These complications include:

Pain.
Bleeding.
Bruising.
Swelling.

Very rarely post-vasectomy syndrome may occur. It causes discomfort and pain in the testicles and scrotum. There are several theories as to why this occurs, but doctors are unsure exactly why it happens. Treatment may include anti-inflammatory medication, or a vasectomy reversal may be attempted.

Recent studies have found no increased risk for prostate cancer in men who have had a vasectomy.

Preparing for Vasectomy

Before your vasectomy the doctor may instruct you to:

Clean and shave your scrotal area.
Avoid taking anti-inflammatory medicines like ibuprophen or Aspirin.
Wear tight-fitting underwear to your vasectomy appointment.
Bring someone to drive you home after surgery.

After Vasectomy

Your vasectomy will take between 15 and 30 minutes. Follow your doctor’s instructions for care after vasectomy.

Generally following a vasectomy you may need to:

Have someone drive you home.
Apply ice to the area to reduce discomfort and swelling.
Rest for the next two or three days.
Wait to resume normal sexual activity for one week.

Follow-up Instructions

Vasectomy is not immediately effective. You need to use alternate birth control for two months or at least twelve ejaculations, whichever comes first.

You will return to your doctor to have a semen analysis. This is a test to count the number of sperm in your semen. Once your sperm count is zero, it is safe to discontinue use of additional birth control.

For the first day or two after vasectomy you may experience mild discomfort in your scrotum or abdomen. Over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol should help. The doctor may also send you home with narcotic pain medication.

Immediately following vasectomy, there is a slight risk of bleeding into your scrotum. Contact your doctor if you experience:

Significant swelling in your scrotum.
Intense pain.
Fever.
Redness in the scrotum.

Arizona Urology

Services