Vasectomy

What is Vasectomy?

Sperms are produced by the two testes. Newly produced sperms are stored in the epididymis. The sperms are transported through the vas deferens and ejaculated together with seminal fluid secreted by the prostate gland, as semen, during sexual intercourse. Pregnancy occurs when a sperm fertilizes an ovum, and the fertilized ovum implanted in the uterus.

Vasectomy is a surgical operation to divide, separate, ligate and seal the two vas deferens. After vasectomy, sperms will continue to be produced by the testes but are no longer travelling out of the body. During sexual intercourse, ejaculation will still occur but the semen will contain only seminal fluid and no sperm. After surgery, the newly produced sperms are absorbed by our body naturally. The residual sperms inside the distal cut end of the vas deferens will be gone after 20 ejaculations, or they will be absorbed after 3 months.

To confirm the success of the vasectomy and contraception, men have to produce a semen sample 4 months after surgery to confirm that there is no sperm in the semen before the couple can stop other contraceptive methods. Before the confirmation of the success of the vasectomy and contraception, the couple still needs contraception.

According to researches, the chance of pregnancy after vasectomy was 0.1-0.2%.

After vasectomy, patient should avoid sexual intercourse for 1-2 weeks. Vasectomy will not affect health or sexual ability. In fact, lots of men and women will feel better for their sex life for they do not need to worry about the possibility of pregnancy.

Vasectomy indications

Married man, with child / children in his family, agrees to take up the role of contraception with the agreement by his wife can be considered for bilateral vasectomy.

New generation of knife-less Vasectomy

When walking or wearing shoes, patients will feel pain over the corns .

Treatment

Before surgery, the doctor will apply a layer of local anesthetic cream in the middle of the scrotal skin. The local anesthetic cream will render the subsequent injection nearly pain free. Fifteen minutes afterwards, doctor will sterilize the scrotal skin and inject a long acting local anesthetic to subcutaneous area of the scrotum. This long acting local anesthetic will make the intraoperative and postoperative wound pain close to zero. A sharp tip forceps is being used to open a tiny scrotal skin wound. The vas deferens are picked up one by one, divided, separated, cauterized, ligated and returned inside the scrotum. Usually the whole procedure takes about ten to fifteen minutes. After surgery, the newly produced sperms from the testes will not be befound in the semen. However, the old sperms in the upper vas deferens can be present in the semen until after 20 ejaculations or 3 months post operatively.

Post-operative period

With the use of this new generation of knife-less vasectomy, there is nearly zero pain during or after surgery. Patients can go home in the clinic soon after surgery. Patients working in the office can return to their office work the next day after surgery. Patient working as manual labor is suggested to take few days to one week sick leave.

To confirm the success of vasectomy and contraception, patients need to have a sperm count by semen analysis four month after the surgery. If there is no sperm found, sterilization is achieved and there is no need for future contraception.

Complications

Small proportion of patients may feel slight discomfort or mild gripping pain. Only a few per cent of patients may have complications, e.g. wound bleeding, swelling, bruising, infection etc.

Can vasectomy be reversed?

Vasectomy is a contraceptive method and the chance of reversal is very low. As vasectomy is a contraceptive method, any men thinking that there might be a chance of vasectomy reversal should not choose this method.