Vasectomy, also called male sterilisation, is an elective surgical procedure which serves as permanent contraception for men.
During the procedure, the male vasa deferentia (tubes that carry sperm from the testicles) are cut and tied or sealed to prevent sperm from entering into the urethra, thereby preventing fertilisation of a female through sexual intercourse.
Deciding to undergo a vasectomy is a very serious decision and should be taken under the guidance of a qualified surgeon.
According to a Urologist and Clinical Coordinator at St. Mary’s Specialist Centre, Dr Chudi Osegbe, patients must make up their minds that they do not want to have children anymore before going under the knife.
He also advised that the female partners of such patients should be aware of the decision.
“We try to make sure that the man has made it known to his wife that he does not want children again. Although it is not a prerequisite, it is better psychologically for everyone,” he added.
Here are six things to know before undergoing a vasectomy
Simple procedure
Experts have said a vasectomy is a simple procedure which is carried out on both scrotums of the man.
Osegbe noted that the surgery could last for about 30 minutes and had two methods, with patients mostly awake during the procedure.
He said, “It is a simple procedure that takes about 15 to 30 minutes, depending on what method is being used. In the conventional method, a blade is used to make a nip in the scrotum and then we disconnect the tube that carries sperm from the testicles to the semen by cutting a piece of the tube. If the tube is just cut and left that way, chances are they can join back together as the body heals, so the ends are sealed or tied.
“The second technique is done with a device, a surgical knife. The procedure is done under local anaesthesia, but once in a while, we can encounter patients that are apprehensive and may have to be put to sleep. Most people are usually awake while the surgery takes place.
“The side effects are minimal, mostly small bleeding. But if the procedure is not properly done, there could be infections, bruises or swelling of the scrotum.”
Does not affect erection
The urologist explained that undergoing a vasectomy would in no way affect the erection of a man or his sexual abilities.
“It does not change or alter anything that has to do with an erection in a man. If the patient could have an erection prior to the surgery, he will continue to have afterwards; if he couldn’t have one, it would still be the same thing. A vasectomy has absolutely nothing to do with an erection or sexual performance,” Osegbe said.
99% effective
As of today, a vasectomy is the only known form of male sterilisation and it is said to be highly effective.
Osegbe noted that the male birth control also contributed to a reduction in population growth.
He said, “Vasectomy can be a permanent form of contraception in men and it is 99 per cent effective. In theory, if you sterilise one man, you lose more chances of population growth, unlike when you sterilise one woman, a man can still go ahead to have children with five other women. There is a very rare chance of the tube rejoining; most times, vasectomy is highly effective.”
Wear tight underwear
The urologist said it was important for patients to wear tightly fitted underwear after the procedure to avoid unnecessary movements which could lead to pain in the affected area.
Although recovery could take about two weeks, Osegbe said some patients resumed their usual daily activities after 48 hours.
He, however, added that patients “must” abstain from sexual activities for the next one week after the procedure.
Doesn’t take effect immediately
It is important to have a semen analysis after a vasectomy to confirm the absence of live sperm before stopping the use of contraception.
This is because experts believe it takes at least three months for a man who has undergone vasectomy to be completely sterile.
This means that during the three months, the man’s partner may still get pregnant.
Osegbe explained, “We usually let patients know that it takes about three months for the man to be pronounced completely sterile after a vasectomy. Even after the surgery, there are chances that the man can still get his partner pregnant for the next three months because the stored sperm can still get a woman pregnant.
“During the three-month period, we advise couples to use contraception but after the three months have elapsed, the patient will be asked to come in for a sperm analysis, where we will check his sperm count, and if we get a zero result two times, we then assume that the procedure is effective and the patient, sterile.”
It is reversible
Vasectomy is reversible; surgery will be done to undo the previous procedure.
During the procedure, a surgeon reconnects each tube that carries sperm.
According to Osegbe, the reversal surgery is much more expensive and the chances of being fertile again are limited.
He said, “Although vasectomy is reversible, we treat it as not being reversible for a number of reasons. Firstly, the surgery to reverse it is a thousand times more expensive than the vasectomy surgery itself.
“Secondly, the longer it takes to reverse the procedure, the lower the chances of fertility. That is why we advise patients to be very sure that they do not want children again before undergoing a vasectomy. It is also more advisable for men who have had children to undergo it, than those who haven’t.”