Women have suffered much at the hands of family planning, but technology has saved many by introducing the vasectomy family planning method for men. Herein is what you need to know about vasectomy, including; facts, types, and No- scalpel vs conventional vasectomy.

A vasectomy is a procedure performed on men to stop sperm from getting into the semen when they ejaculate. Sperm must be present for the woman to be pregnant, and therefore when a man has undergone vasectomy, he will ejaculate and have an orgasm, but he will not impregnate because he does not release any sperm. The procedure is usually short. It will take a man 30 minutes for him to get the vasectomy. Vasectomy is also known as sterilization. In slang, it is known as 'the snip. The guide below helps know everything about getting a vasectomy;

Some Quick Facts About A Vasectomy

Below are some quick facts you need to know about vasectomy

• A vasectomy is 99% effective; pregnancy is likely to occur.
• A vasectomy is usually reversible, but not an easy procedure.
• A man will still enjoy sex and have ejaculations and a climax, but you will not release sperm.
• A man will need contraception for about 8-12 weeks after the operation because the sperm will still be present in the tubes heading towards the penis.
• A man will make at least two more visits to the clinic for sperm tests to ensure all the sperm have left the tubes.
• A man’s scrotum may be painful for a while after the vasectomy procedure.
• There is a small risk of infection during and after the procedure.
• A vasectomy will not protect you against Sexually Transmitted Infections; you need to use protection during sexual intercourse.

How Does A Vasectomy Work?

According to Amory (2020), a vasectomy works by stopping sperm from joining the semen. Vasectomy stops the man from making someone pregnant. The tubes moving the sperms from the testicles, known as the vas deferens, are blocked, cut, or sealed with heat. Therefore, when a man ejaculates, the semen will not have sperm, and pregnancy is unlikely.

Types of Vasectomy

A vasectomy is a quick procedure that takes less than 30 minutes. You can be in and out of the hospital on the same day you undergo a vasectomy. There are two types of vasectomy: a conventional vasectomy and a  no-scalpel vasectomy.

Conventional Vasectomy

Conventional vasectomy is also known as the incision method. Silber (1981) stated that during a conventional vasectomy, the doctor cuts the scrotum to reach the tubes known as the vas deferens. You have a vas deferens in each testicle. The vas deference is tubes that carry sperm from your testicles to mix with the semen in the urethra. The vas deferens are cut, and a small skin is removed so there is a gap. The doctor may tie the ends or put a tissue in between. The doctor will do the same for the other vas deferens. The doctor's cuts in the scrotum may be closed with stitches, or they may be allowed to heal by themselves.

No-Scalpel Vasectomy

The doctor numbs the scrotum with anesthesia and makes a tiny hole in the skin of the scrotum to reach the tubes. All the doctor makes is a hole and not a cut. The doctor closes the tubes as he did in the conventional surgery. There is less bleeding in this procedure than while undergoing the conventional vasectomy. The no-scalpel vasectomy is considered less painful than the conventional vasectomy.

No-Scalpel Vasectomy Vs. Conventional Vasectomy

You probably wonder which one is better between the conventional and the no-scalpel. The main difference between the conventional and the no-scalpel procedures is how the doctor reaches the vas deferens. In the conventional method, a cut is made on each side of the scrotum so that the doctor can access the vas deferens. During the no-scalpel, the vas deferens are grabbed with a clamp, and a small hole is made on both sides to reach the vas deferens. According to Cilip et al. (2009), there are fewer infections and blood clots in the no-scalpel vasectomy than in the conventional method. The no-scalpel procedure is also faster than the conventional method, and there are no cuts that need to be closed. You also encounter less bleeding and pain in a no-scalpel procedure.

The Recovery

A doctor gives some painkillers and advises a person on taking care of the scrotum. The holes punctured in the scrotum during the no-scalpel operation will not require any stitches. Keep the area clean to avoid infections. Do not rub the area. Pat it. You can use ice bags to reduce the swelling. You should avoid intercourse for about a week after the procedure. It would be wise to avoid strenuous activities, but you can go back to normal activities within 48 hours while you continue healing. You will still need to check in with your doctor to ensure that the vasectomy was successful. You should see the doctor rule out any signs of an infection if you experience any signs of bleeding or pus from the incision.

Reversing a vasectomy

Reversing a vasectomy is possible. Maybe the decision to have the vasectomy was a knee-jerk reaction, and the man is interested in having more children. Maybe the couple has a change of heart about the vasectomy and wants to continue having children. According to Jacquier (1998),  the vasectomy reversal will not be a guarantee to restore fertility and is usually effective within 10 years after the vasectomy.

Conclusion

Vasectomy is probably among the most reliable forms of birth control. However, you may need to take years to decide that you want to have a vasectomy because the reversal is not cheap, and even worse, a vasectomy reversal may not work. You may have the vasectomy when you are going through a phase or haven't thought about your options. Vasectomy may be a drastic decision if you only want a birth control method. You need to consider your options if you regret undergoing the procedure.

References

Amory, J. K. (2020). Development of novel male contraceptives. Clinical and Translational Science, 13(2), 228-237.

Cilip, C. M., Jarow, J. P., & Fried, N. M. (2009, February). Noninvasive laser coagulation of the canine vas deferens, ex vivo. In Photonic Therapeutics and Diagnostics V (Vol. 7161, p. 71611O). International Society for Optics and Photonics.

Jequier, A. M. (1998). Vasectomy-related infertility: a major and costly medical problem. Human reproduction (Oxford, England), 13(7), 1757-1759.

Silber, S. J. (1981). Reversal of vasectomy and the treatment of male infertility. Urol Clin North Am, 8, 53.