Vasectomy

A vasectomy is a simple, safe procedure that makes a man sterile or unable to have children. The procedure works by preventing sperm from getting into semen, but it doesn’t affect any other aspect of your sexual functioning. You still have erections and ejaculate, but you won’t be able to get a woman pregnant.

The team at Gulf Coast Urology often performs vasectomies in the office under light sedation. A vasectomy is done by cutting the vas deferens, removing a small segment, then closing the two ends.

The vas deferens is the tube that carries sperm from the testes to the urethra, which is where they combine with semen before being ejaculated. Disrupting the vas deferens tubes prevents sperm from getting into the seminal fluid.

In a traditional vasectomy, your Gulf Coast Urology provider makes a small incision in each scrotum, pulls the tubes through the incision, then cuts them and ties the ends. Dr. Harris and Dr. Green perform a no scalpel vasectomy approach using only small pinholes to access the vas deferens. This leads to lower complication rates and quick recovery.

It’s normal to experience some discomfort and swelling after your vasectomy. Your Gulf Coast Urology provider gives you instructions, so you know how to care for the incision site. As a general guideline, you may need to use cold packs, wear supportive underwear, and use over-the-counter pain medications.

You need to limit your activities for a few days. However, most men return to their usual activities, including sexual intercourse, within a week.

You’re not immediately sterile because it takes a few months for the sperm that were in the vas deferens before your procedure to pass through your reproductive tract. For most men, it takes about 8-12 weeks or about 20 ejaculations to clear out all the sperm.

Your Gulf Coast Urology provider checks semen samples and lets you know when your sperm count is down, and it’s safe to have unprotected intercourse. Meanwhile, you should use another reliable form of birth control to prevent pregnancy.

Vasectomies are intended to be permanent, but it’s usually possible to reverse the procedure. The success of reversing a vasectomy depends on factors such as the length of time since your vasectomy.

If you’re considering a vasectomy, call Gulf Coast Urology or schedule an appointment online.