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Vasectomy

A vasectomy is a relatively short office procedure, lasting approximately 30 minutes, performed to cut and close off the tubes (vas deferens) that deliver sperm from the testes and serve as a permanent form of birth control. The testes produce sperm which mature in the epididymis, a small coiled tube connected to each testicle. The epididymes are connected to the prostate gland by the vas deferens. The semen produced during ejaculation is created from the seminal fluid in the prostate gland mixing with sperm from the testes.

Vasectomies can be performed three different ways. Traditionally, men remain clothed from the waist up and lie on their back as the scrotum is numbed with one or more injections of local anesthetic. Then, the vas deferens is gathered under one side of the skin of the scrotum as a urologist makes a small incision to pull the tubes through the incision, cut them in two places and remove a 1 centimeter segment. Each end of the vas deferens is then surgically tied off or clipped and placed back in the scrotum before the incision is sutured and the procedure is repeated on the other side of the scrotum.

In a no-scapel vasectomy, a puncture incision is made in the vas deferens with special forceps instead of an incision. These forceps stretch the skin to make a small hole through which the vas deferens is removed, cut, sutured or cauterized and then put back into place. The advantages of this procedure include quicker operating time, minimal postoperative pain and decreased risk of bleeding and infection.

Prior to a vasectomy, patients may be asked to make the following preparations:

• Wash the scrotum to prevent infection.
• Bring a pair of tight fitting undwear or athletic support to the surgery to support the scrotum and minimize swelling.
• Arrange for transportation home to prevent extraneous movement.
• Avoid anti-inflammatory drugs following the procedure which thin the blood and can cause exessive bleeding.

Following the procedure, patients will have limited mobility and be advised to rest for 1 to 3 days to reduce swelling and allow the vas deferens to heal. Patients may experience discomfort for a week or more following their vasectomy and may be prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs or painkillers for pain.

Semen samples are checked at six and 12 weeks. If no sperm are observed on two consecutive samples, unprotected intercourse is okay. Until then, contraception should be used.

Complications from a vasectomy procedure are rare but may include, discomfort that persists longer than expected, pain, bleeding or inflammation. In rare cases, sperm may be present in semen for a year following surgery, indicating that the ends of the vas deferens have reattached or that sperm had difficulty migrating out of the vas deferens following surgery. Patients who experience this may be advised to have a repeat vasectomy. Sperm granuloma is also a potential complication of vasectomy procedures. This condition occurs when residul sperm move out of the tied ends of the vas deferens, causing irritation and the growth of a small nodule.

Click here to learn more about vasectomy procedures.

The following physicians perform vasectomy procedures at TUCC:

• Brett Abernathy, M.D.
• Richard Heppe, M.D.
• Lawrence Karsh, M.D.
• Donald May, M.D.
• Jesse Mills, M.D.
• Ferdinand Mueller, Jr., M.D.
• Alex Philpott, M.D.