What a Vasectomy isn't.
- It usually isn't
painful - a local anesthetic takes care of that.
- It isn't as invasive
as the corresponding procedure for women - tubal ligation.
- It isn't a solution
for sexual or marital problems.
- It shouldn't
be considered uniformly reversible.
What
a Vasectomy Doesn't Do:
- It doesn't affect
male hormone levels, since testosterone is released into the bloodstream,
not through the vas.
- It doesn't affect
sexual function. Vasectomy doesn't reduce sex drive or sensation.
The semen appears the same, though the sperm cells are missing.
- It doesn't protect
against sexually transmitted diseases.
- Vasectomy also
doesn't make you sterile immediately, because sperm stored in the
lower part of the vas deferens may be viable for many weeks after
vasectomy.
That's why sperm counts are not taken until at least 4 weeks after
the operation.
You may have heard
of someone who had the procedure reversed? This works sometimes, but
don't count on it. A vasectomy should be considered permanent. If you
want a reversible birth control method, please see the "alternatives"
section for additional information.
Is the procedure
guaranteed 100% effective? No. On rare occasions, sperm may find their
way across the two ends of the vas deferens, which explains the importance
of semen inspection after the procedure.
