A vasectomy is a surgical procedure that makes a man sterile, or unable to get a woman pregnant. It is generally considered to be at least as effective as female sterilization and is simpler to perform, safer, and less costly.
A vasectomy is a simple, outpatient surgery done by tying off and cutting the tube, called the vas deferens—the small tubing through which sperm normally pass from each testicle on the way to the seminal vesicle, forming semen.
After numbing the scrotum and making one or two small openings in it, the urological surgeon cuts each vas deferens, and removing a small section. The surgeon will then close one or both cut ends of the tubes with stitches or other techniques, and, if needed, close the opening(s) in the scrotum with stitches. The surgery usually takes no more than 30 minutes, after which time almost all men go home the same day. In most cases, recovery takes less than a week.
Vasectomy is considered appropriate for those who desire a permanent form of birth control. It is also important to remember that vasectomy does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases. Men who have had vasectomy should still practice safe sex to avoid STDs.
It is important for the vasectomy patient to return as instructed to have his semen tested by the urologist to make sure there are no sperm left before having unprotected sex.
