If you don’t want to have any more children, consider a vasectomy, a procedure that makes a man sterile so he can’t father a child.
It’s effective, it’s safe, it’s quick, it’s inexpensive and recovery is easy. Plus, it’s usually covered by insurance.
Afraid of sharp knives? Don’t worry.
Most doctors don’t use scalpels for vasectomies today, according to Hector Pimentel, MD, a Spectrum Health urologist who has performed more than 1,000 of the procedures during the past five years.
Only about one in 10 sexually active men has had a vasectomy, compared with one in four women who’ve had their “tubes tied,” the common name for a tubal ligation.
“There are more women who have been sterilized than men,” Dr. Pimentel said. “But if you’re comparing options for a man or a woman, it is safer and cheaper for a man.”
The lowdown on vasectomies
During a non-scalpel vasectomy, the doctor makes a tiny puncture in the skin with a special instrument, then blocks the tube leading from each testicle, called the vas deferens, so sperm can’t reach the prostate. There’s no incision, which means there’s hardly any bleeding and no stitches or scarring.
Dr. Pimentel addressed common concerns about vasectomies:
The fear factor
Although many men hesitate because it sounds painful, it only takes 10-20 minutes and isn’t as bad as you might think.
“It is uncomfortable for only 10-15 seconds, during the numbing portion at the beginning of the procedure,” Dr. Pimentel said. “Some people describe it like a bee sting, but the pain goes away quickly.”
The recovery
For the first week the patient shouldn’t do any heavy exercise or have sexual activity, according to Dr. Pimentel. After that, there are no restrictions.
Heard about using a frozen bag of peas or corn for a day or so? Well, that can help, too.
The March Madness spike
Every spring there are articles about men who schedule their vasectomy during March Madness so they can justify watching a lot of basketball.
“I’m not sure that’s really a thing,” Dr. Pimentel said. “Sure, I’ve seen it publicized, but I think it’s more of a marketing ploy than an actual medical trend.”
The effectiveness
It takes a few weeks (and several ejaculations) for the sperm to completely disappear from a man’s semen, so it’s important to use another birth control method until you get the “all clear” from your doctor.
Usually you’ll be checked six weeks after a vasectomy to be sure your sperm count is down to zero.
The sex scenario
A vasectomy doesn’t change the way sex feels for men (or for their partners).
Dr. Pimentel assures his patients that there’s no change in desire and there’s no change in the quality of ejaculations. Sperm makes up five percent or less of the semen, and the only way to actually tell there’s no sperm is with a lab test.
The finality
“The most important thing is for men to know that this is really a permanent solution,” Dr. Pimentel said.
Although some men try to have their vasectomy reversed, it only works about 50 percent of the time, it costs $15,000 or more, and often isn’t covered by insurance.
/a>
/a>
/a>
