Male infertility refers to a man’s inability to father a child, a problem that affects around 15 percent of couples looking to have children. Of course, sometimes infertility is a personal choice. A vasectomy is a surgical form of birth control that is commonly misunderstood. Let’s debunk some vasectomy myths, especially the one that states you can never have children again once you have the surgery.
A Vasectomy Affects Sexual Performance and Drive
There is a singular goal with a vasectomy – to eliminate the possibility of pregnancy. It has nothing to do with reducing your ability to get and maintain an erection or lowering your sex drive. For most men, sexual intercourse doesn’t change in any way.
A Vasectomy Hurts
That is an understandable misconception – after all, it’s a sensitive area. In general, the surgery is not painful. You might feel some pulling and maybe a dull throbbing as you heal. Some men report a mild ache in their testicles when sexually aroused, as well. Once you heal, even the minor pain should subside.
It’s Hard to Recover from a Vasectomy
There is not much down time after this procedure because it is relatively simple. You will need to take a few days off and avoid having sex for a week, but that is about it. If you take the time to rest for those few days, you speed up the recovery considerably, too. Follow your doctor’s post-surgical plan, including icing the genitals for a few days, and you’ll be back in action before you know it.
A Vasectomy is Done Under General Anesthesia
Usually, it requires just a local anesthetic to numb the scrotum. The surgeon makes two small needle punctures after the area is numbed and then cuts the vas deferens tubes and seals them off. The surgery takes less than 30 minutes and requires a few stitches at most. There is no hospitalization or general anesthesia involved.
A Vasectomy is Irreversible
This is probably the biggest myth of them all. Vasectomy reversals are common and effective if you change your mind and want a child. The sooner you have it done, the better your chances. There are cases, however, of men having a successful reversal 20 years after the initial procedure. During a reversal, the surgeon reconnects the vas deferens cut during the initial procedure.
A vasectomy is considered a safe and permanent form of birth control for men, but there is a chance to reverse your decision later on. If you have questions about vasectomy myths or a reversal, contact us for more information.
Dr. Sharpe has been practicing in the Gainesville area for the past 4 years where he delivers personalized care with a strong emphasis on patient outcomes. His vast experience in minimally invasive surgery includes more advanced robotic procedures, such as partial nephrectomy and nephroureterectomy. Dr. Sharpe also has a special interest in prosthetic urology which […]
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