About 500,000 American men opt to have a vasectomy every year. It’s a safe and effective procedure that permanently separates sperm from semen, essentially eliminating the chances that you’ll father a child.
During a vasectomy, the tubes that transport sperm to your scrotum are cut. That means your semen won’t contain sperm anymore, and you’re no longer fertile. Vasectomy is a nearly 100% effective method of birth control, making it a great option for men who don’t want to have children in the future.
At Advanced Urology, In Los Angeles, Redondo Beach, and Culver City, California, our experts offer no-scalpel vasectomies for permanent birth control with minimal downtime.
A lot of myths surround vasectomies, and many men are concerned about just how much getting a vasectomy hurts. Read on to find out what really happens and what recovery is like.
At Advanced Urology, our team performs no-scalpel vasectomies. Incisions and stitches are not used, and no-scalpel vasectomies offer quicker recovery times when compared with traditional methods.
Vasectomy is a safe procedure that usually takes 10-30 minutes in an outpatient setting. Our team begins by administering local anesthesia into the skin of your scrotum. After the anesthetic takes effect, your doctor makes a tiny puncture to access the two vas deferens tubes that carry sperm.
The doctor carefully pulls a portion of each vas deferens tube through the puncture hole and cuts them. The tubes are then sealed by tying, clipping, or cauterizing them. The vas deferens tubes and reinserted into the scrotum, and your vasectomy is complete.
The procedure itself shouldn’t be painful, but you might feel a small pinch with the anesthetic injection before the area goes numb. Some men report a pulling or tugging sensation when the vas deferens tubes are handled during vasectomy, but discomfort generally lasts just a few moments.
After the procedure, you can go home. The most common side effects during recovery are bruising, swelling, and pain. Pain following vasectomy typically lasts a couple of days, and your doctor may prescribe pain medication like acetaminophen to manage any discomfort as you heal.
Talk to our team to learn more about caring for yourself after getting a vasectomy. The puncture holes will heal on their own, but there may be bandages that you’ll need to change. Any bleeding or oozing should subside within 24 hours.
If you’re bothered by swelling or pain, place an ice pack on your scrotum for a few minutes at a time. Consider wearing tight-fitting underwear to support your scrotum and keep pain to a minimum.
You can return to your normal daily activities 48 hours after vasectomy, but you should avoid strenuous activity, sexual intercourse, and ejaculation for about a week. When you start having sex again, continue using another form of birth control until your doctor says it’s safe to stop.
Vasectomy isn’t immediately effective at preventing pregnancy. You may need to continue using alternative forms of birth control for several months and ejaculate at least 20 times to ensure no sperm remain in your semen.
If you’re seeking a permanent form of birth control, vasectomy could be a good option. Learn more about our no-scalpel vasectomy procedures by calling us or booking a consultation online.
