Keeping It Sexy & Safe

Vasectomy may not be a good choice for you if you:

• may want to have a child biologically in the future
   

• are being pressured by a partner, friends, or family
   

• want to use it to solve problems that may be temporary — such as marriage or sexual problems, short-term mental or physical illnesses, financial worries, or being out of work

 

Considering Other Birth Control Options

 

It is important to consider other methods before you choose vasectomy, like condoms, outercourse, withdrawal, and abstinence. Women have other options. IUDs and the implant are as effective as vasectomy, simple to use, offer long-term protection, but are not permanent.

You should consider any possible life changes, such as divorce, remarriage, or death of children. You don't need your partner's permission to have a vasectomy, but it may be helpful to discuss it with your partner or anyone else who could be part of the decision-making process.

Can Vasectomy Be Reversed?

 

If you are thinking about reversal, vasectomy may not be right for you. Sometimes it is possible to reverse the operation, but there are no guarantees. Reversal involves complicated surgery and costs thousands of dollars. Success in restoring fertility is uncertain.

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The success of reversal surgery depends on

• the length of time since the vasectomy was performed
   

• whether or not antibodies to sperm have developed
   

• the method used for vasectomy and the length and location of the segments of vas deferens that were removed or blocked

 

Possible Risks of Vasectomy

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There are risks with any medical procedure, including vasectomy. Major complications with vasectomy are rare and are usually caused by infection.

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Complication rates for vasectomy are generally lower for the no-incision method than for methods that include cutting the skin.

After you've had a vasectomy, look for signs of infection:

• a fever over 100° F
   

• blood or pus oozing from the site of the incision
   

• excessive pain or swelling

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See a health care provider if you have signs of infection. You may need an antibiotic.

Other potential problems include:

• bruising, which usually clears up on its own
   

• hematomas — swellings that contain blood. They usually clear up by themselves, or with bed rest or ice packs. In rare cases, they need to be drained by a health care provider.
   

• hydroceles — swellings that contain fluid and tenderness near the testicles. They usually clear up in about a week. Applying heat and wearing an athletic supporter can help. In rare cases, they need to be drained with by a health care provider.
   

• granuloma — sperm that leaks from the tubes and causes a small lump under the skin near the site of the surgery. This usually clears up by itself. Surgical treatment is sometimes required.
   

• pain or discomfort in the testicles. This is usually temporary, but in about 2 out of 100 cases the pain may be chronic and severe. Most of the time, pain is relieved by taking anti-inflammatory drugs or other medications. Very rarely, an injection called a spermatic cord block can be used to deaden the pain temporarily. Vasectomy reversal is very rarely needed to relieve pain permanently.
   

• Very rarely, the cut ends of a tube grow back together. This most often happens within four months of the operation and may allow pregnancy to happen.
   

• Decreased sexual desire or an inability to have an erection occurs in 4 out of 1,000 cases. The most likely cause is emotional — there is no physical cause for sexual dysfunction associated with vasectomy.