Why Vasectomy Isn’t Always the Right Choice

Vasectomy, or male sterilization, is an effective form of birth control. It involves cutting the tubes, called vas deferens, that release sperm into the seminal fluid, thereby preventing pregnancy. Vasectomies don’t prevent erections or ejaculations, so intercourse feels the same for both partners.

Men often decide to have a vasectomy when they know they don’t want any (or any more) children and no longer wish to rely on other forms of birth control. While the procedure is quite safe and effective, it’s not ideal for everyone. Here’s why having a vasectomy isn’t always the right choice.

It’s Not Risk-Free

The most common risk of male sterilization is the ongoing pain and discomfort of the testes or surrounding area. This condition is most often caused by the congestion of sperm in the system and may occur within a year of having a vasectomy. Treatment is usually simple, including taking anti-inflammatory medication and applying heat therapy. One to six percent of men need further treatment to relieve their pain.

Other risks of vasectomy include:

Bleeding under the skin, resulting in temporary swelling or bruising

Infection at the incision site or inside the scrotum

A lump forming near the treatment site (surgery may be needed to remove the lump)

Vas deferens growing back together and enabling the man to have children again

It Doesn’t Protect Against STDs

Most forms of contraception don’t protect against sexually transmitted diseases. This includes birth control pills, IUDs, tubal ligations (female sterilization), and vasectomies. To prevent contracting an STD, you should either be abstinent or use a condom, even after undergoing sterilization.

Your Partner Might Disagree

While the decision to get a vasectomy is a very personal one, it isn’t yours to make alone. A man and his partner should discuss honestly and openly about the possibility of not having any (or any more) children. If you don’t want kids, but your girlfriend or wife does, getting a vasectomy behind her back is not the right choice.

You Might Not Qualify

Male sterilization is often difficult to arrange for single or childless men under 35 years old. Federally funded procedures may not be performed on anyone who is under age 21 or unable to give legal consent. Vasectomies aren’t recommended for teenagers because the procedure is intended to be permanent. Many providers and hospitals simply deem sterilization to be too significant of a decision for a minor to make.

You Might Change Your Mind

Aside from tubal ligation, most other forms of contraception are temporary. If you and your partner decide you want to have kids after all, it’s easy to simply discontinue many birth control methods. Vasectomies, however, require surgical reversal. It can be done, but not having a vasectomy in the first place is a better choice if you’re not sure where you stand on being a parent.

If you’re ready to reverse your vasectomy, please call the Center for Vasectomy Reversal at 941.894.6428 to learn more about the procedure.

Questions to Ask Before Deciding on a Vasectomy

When looking for a permanent method of birth control, many men and their partners consider a vasectomy as a better option than female sterilization. That’s because a vasectomy is a less complicated procedure than tubal ligation, which requires general anesthesia, and there’s an option of vasectomy reversal down the road. However, before you decide to undergo a vasectomy, there are a few questions you should ask yourself. 

• Am I sure I don’t ever want children in the future? You may already have children and believe your family is finished, or you may have never had children and believe you want to remain childless. Maybe a future pregnancy would endanger your partner’s health, or maybe there are genetic components that make having children unwise. On the other hand, it’s impossible to know what the future holds. If your circumstances change, and you decide that you do want children, you can opt for a vasectomy reversal, but it’s not a sure thing. Sometimes, vasectomy reversals do not lead to pregnancy. What’s more, while a vasectomy only takes about 20 minutes, a vasectomy reversal is a much more delicate operation and can take up to six hours. If you’re not absolutely sure your family is complete, it may be wiser to opt for a more temporary solution.  
• Is a vasectomy safe? In short, yes. Generally safe and effective, vasectomies are performed either under local anesthesia or conscious sedation. This means you will be awake during the procedure, with local anesthesia administered directly to the scrotum, and sometimes medications are given to sedate you and relieve anxiety. After you’ve received anesthesia, the surgeon will disconnect the vas deferens, so that sperm is no longer able to leave the testicles.  
• What’s the recovery period after a vasectomy? A vasectomy doesn’t keep a man down for long. Most men are able to return to work in two or three days, and after a week they’re able to resume normal exercise and even start having sex again. It should be noted, though, that sterilization is not immediate. You’ll need to wait about two months before forgoing other forms of birth control. There will be bruising or swelling after the vasectomy, which should be gone after about two weeks.  

• Will a vasectomy negatively affect my sex drive or sexual function? No. A vasectomy doesn’t typically decrease the sex drive or the ability to achieve erection or orgasm. That’s because only about five to ten percent of ejaculate comes from the testicles, and the rest comes from other structures like your prostate and seminal vesicles. Your ejaculation will look and feel the same, there just won’t be any sperm in the semen. 

A vasectomy is a simple procedure, but getting a vasectomy reversed requires a highly skilled surgeon. If you’re considering a vasectomy reversal, the Center for Vasectomy Reversal is here to help. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our caring and skilled team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need reversal of their vasectomy or have other concerns about their fertility. Whether you’re ready to schedule a procedure or just have questions and want to learn more, you can contact us through our website, or call 941-894-6428 to arrange a free consultation. 

Does a Vasectomy or a Vasectomy Reversal Affect Your Sex Drive?

A vasectomy is a very popular form of birth control, and each year, about 500,000 men in the United States undergo this procedure in order to gain control over their reproduction. It’s safe and effective, and it’s permanent unless you choose to have it surgically reversed. Additionally, it’s cost effective and less invasive than a tubal ligation is for a woman. It’s easy to see why it’s a popular option, but many men have questions about their sex drive after they undergo a vasectomy.  

If you are concerned about this, there’s no need to worry. Experts have determined that there is no negative relationship between a vasectomy and sex drive because nothing in your body changes physiologically. The blood vessels and nerves that are involved in erections and ejaculation are intact after a vasectomy, so there’s no risk of impotence or a lowered ability to maintain an erection. Post-vasectomy, you should have the same libido and sex drive, and you’ll be able to have and maintain erections, ejaculate, and have an orgasm. There may be a small reduction in the volume of your ejaculate because vasectomy prevents sperm from being released into the semen. You’ll still have the same male hormones, though, and in addition to having the same sex drive, you’ll also have the same voice and be able to grow facial hair.  

In the first couple of months after a vasectomy, some men to report occasional mild aching in their testicles during arousal. But in fact, having a vasectomy can actually increase sexual satisfaction because men have less anxiety during lovemaking. This is because there’s no longer anxiety over a potential unplanned pregnancy. Because men have more control over their own reproductive function, they report more having intense, pleasurable, and spontaneous sex, more frequently.  

So what if a man decides to reverse his vasectomy? About ten percent of men decide later that they would like to have children and decide to have surgery to return sperm to the ejaculate. Does this reversal have a negative impact on the sex drive?  

Again, the answer is no. In fact, before a vasectomy, after a vasectomy, and after a vasectomy reversal, the testicles still produce testosterone, which stimulates the sex drive. Because a vasectomy reversal does not involve any of the structures that have an impact on a man’s libido or his ability to achieve and maintain an erection, neither the sex drive nor the erections are affected. After a vasectomy, fertility is restored sometime in the next year, and the drive to conceive can even boost the sex drive.  

If you’re considering a vasectomy reversal in Tampa or Orlando, Center for Vasectomy Reversal is here to help. Under the direction of Dr. Joshua Green, our caring and skilled team provides state-of-the-art treatment for men who need reversal of their vasectomy or have other concerns about their fertility. Whether you’re ready to schedule a procedure or just have questions and want to learn more, you can contact us through our website, or call 941-894-6428 to arrange a free consultation.  

Re-Do Vasectomy Reversal Surgeries: What You Need to Know

Vasectomy reversals are performed to reconnect the vas deferens and make pregnancy possible after men have had vasectomies. Vasectomy reversals have a high rate of success, as defined by the presence of sperm in the semen within 12 months of the procedure. However, some men do experience failed vasectomy reversals, which may lead them to consider getting a re-do procedure. You may be a good candidate for a re-do operation, but only a vasectomy reversal surgeon can determine this.  

What Causes Failed Vasectomy Reversals 

There are a number of possible causes for a failed reversal. One potential reason is that scar tissue has built up at the surgical site. The body naturally produces scar tissue as part of the healing response. When there is too much scar tissue around the vas deferens, it can block the sperm from passing through this narrow tube. During a re-do procedure, the surgeon can remove the scar tissue. Other possibilities to consider include: 

• Surgical site infection 
• Post-surgical trauma in the scrotal area 
• Presence of anti-sperm antibodies 
• Improper use of the vasovasostomy instead of another surgical technique 

What Other Factors Contribute to Infertility  

A failed vasectomy reversal can be defined in two main ways: The failure of the sperm to travel through the vas deferens, or the failure to conceive a child naturally. In other words, even if the original procedure did result in the presence of sperm in the semen, there may be other underlying issues causing male or female infertility. Before considering a re-do reversal, it’s advisable for you and your partner to undergo a medical evaluation to assess fertility. 

Why You Might Consider Sperm Aspiration 

Even if the vasectomy reversal surgeon determines that a re-do procedure isn’t likely to succeed, you do have another option for having biological children. The surgeon can aspirate sperm from the epididymis. This is known as the MESA procedure. You and your partner may then decide to use the sperm for an in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle. 

Dr. Joshua Green has considerable expertise in re-do vasectomy reversals and has performed many of them successfully. Every patient has unique circumstances to consider, and so you should consult Dr. Green in Sarasota directly to find out if a repeat reversal might be right for you. Call the Center for Vasectomy Reversal at (941) 894-6428 to request a consult. 

How Does Age Affect Vasectomy Reversal Success Rates?

There are many factors that can influence the success of vasectomy reversals, from overall health to the length of the time between the original vasectomy and the reversal procedure. One factor that many prospective vasectomy reversal patients have questions about is age. Does age affect the success of vasectomy reversals? Here is what you need to know.

Age is less of a factor than time since the procedure.

Many men who are interested in vasectomy reversals are older, having changed their minds after having a vasectomy when they were young. Age is less of a determinant of how successful a vasectomy reversal will be than the time between the original procedure and the reversal surgery. An older man whose vasectomy is more recent is likely to have fewer concerns about the success of his reversal than a younger man whose vasectomy was many years before.

Age-related health concerns can be a factor.

Although age itself is not a significant factor in vasectomy reversal success rates, some age-related health complications can impact how successful the procedure is. Some of the health issues that occur in older men can make it unsafe to have surgery or can interfere with healing and the overall success of the procedure. Your vasectomy reversal surgeon will review your health history with you before your procedure to make sure it is safe for you to have anesthesia and that you are a good candidate for surgery.

Age can affect the quality of sperm.

A vasectomy reversal can be successful while other infertility issues still persist. Although age is a much bigger factor in fertility in women than men, age can still impact the quality of sperm, which in turn can make it harder to successfully achieve a pregnancy. Additional infertility treatments may be necessary.

Before your surgery at the Center for Vasectomy Reversal, Dr. Green will review the procedure with you and help you understand all of the factors that can influence the success of the reversal. Schedule an appointment for a vasectomy reversal consultation in Sarasota by calling (941) 894-6428.

Are Vasectomies Really Permanent?

A vasectomy is a surgical procedure that involves the severing of the vas deferens, which is the structure that transports sperm along the male reproductive tract. With the vas deferens severed, sperm will no longer be present in the man’s semen. Men who are thinking about getting a vasectomy should always consider it to be a permanent form of birth control. 

However, as you’ll learn when you watch this video, vasectomies can be reversed. And in fact, the success rate of vasectomy reversals is quite high, especially when there is a relatively short period of time between the two surgeries. The infertility specialist featured in this video also discusses some other factors that can affect a successful pregnancy. 

Dr. Green of the Center for Vasectomy Reversal invites couples to explore the possibilities with infertility procedures in our Sarasota clinic. Call (941) 894-6428 to request a confidential consultation. 

IVF After Vasectomy: Are Twins in Your Future?