If you and your partner are looking for a permanent birth control method or are 100% sure that fatherhood is not part of your journey, you may be considering a vasectomy. It is a form of male birth control that cuts sperm supply to the semen. New York vasectomy is a low-risk procedure usually performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia.
However, the decision to get a vasectomy is not easy since the procedure is potentially life-changing. For this reason, you need to be sure that you don’t want children in the future before getting a vasectomy. Here are other things you want to consider before this permanent male sterilization procedure.
Your partner
Getting a vasectomy is a significant decision you can’t make alone, especially if you are in a relationship. It is best for you and your partner to be on the same page regarding your current and future family plans. While you are undergoing the vasectomy, it also affects your partner’s future family planning. Therefore, you and your partner should make the decision together to avoid any problems in the future.
Getting a vasectomy reversal
Most people get a vasectomy knowing that they don’t want to have any more children. However, patients may desire children in the future or may have a second marriage. Various things may come up, and we must respect that life is dynamic. Knowing that there is a possibility of reversing the procedure can ease some of the stress about the procedure. There are a few options to achieve pregnancy after vasectomy, including surgical sperm extraction or vasectomy reversal.
Unlike a vasectomy which takes about 20 minutes, a vasectomy reversal is a much more complicated and delicate procedure and can last for four to six hours. Also, there is no guarantee that the reversal procedure will lead to pregnancy.
Sex after vasectomy
A vasectomy does not affect your sex life, including your libido and ability to have an erection or orgasm. You will experience sex as before, other than mild soreness during the first few days following the procedure. However, you need to use other forms of birth control until all sperm clears out of your semen; this may take up to three months or 20 ejaculations. The vasectomy blocks new sperm from getting to your semen but does not eliminate sperm-containing semen in the seminal vesicle and ejaculatory duct.
Potential side effects
A vasectomy is a low-risk procedure that causes minimal side effects, and individuals are less likely to have complications. Most men resume everyday activities in two to three days and may require a week before returning to other activities like sports and sex. Common side effects after a vasectomy include soreness and tenderness in your groin area, swelling, bruising, and short-term bleeding.
While a vasectomy is reversible, it is considered a permanent way of preventing unintended pregnancies. So, thinking long and hard about your fatherhood plans before undergoing surgery is vital. Understanding your options in the event your life goals change is also crucial.
If you are considering a vasectomy, consult your doctor at Urologist: Michael Rotman, MD.