Vasectomy

Planned Parenthood of Greater Orlando is Now Offering Gentle Touch Vasectomy! 

No scalpel, NO NEEDLES, no lasers, no stiches and nothing removed! Ask us how you or your male partner may be eligible for a FREE vasectomy! 

If you are "paying out of pocket" or utilizing a health insurance plan, please contact Dr. Stein directly for your appointment at 1-866-VAS-TIME (827-8463).  Dr. Stein is a Board-Certified urologist who has done over 12,800 vasectomies.  Get in touch with Dr. Stein for more details.  The fee is only $490, so visit www.vasweb.com to schedule your appointment!

Sterilization for Men (Vasectomy)

Vasectomy is permanent birth control for men. It is a medical procedure that is intended to cause sterility. About 500,000 men in the U.S. choose vasectomy every year. It is chosen by men who have completed their families or by men who do not want children. These men want birth control that is intended to be permanent. They prefer vasectomy because most reversible methods are less reliable, sometimes inconvenient, and may have unpleasant side effects for the women in their lives.   Vasectomy is nearly 100 percent effective. It is intended to be permanent. It is safe. It doesn't limit sexual pleasure.

How Vasectomy Works

Vasectomy is a simple procedure. It makes men sterile by keeping sperm out of semen — the fluid that spurts from the penis during sex. Sperm are the reproductive cells in men. Pregnancy can happen if a sperm joins with a woman's egg.

Sperm are made in the testes. They pass through two tubes called the vasa deferentia to other glands and mix with seminal fluids to form semen. Vasectomy blocks each vas deferens and keeps sperm out of the seminal fluid. The sperm are absorbed by the body instead of being ejaculated. Without sperm, your "cum" (ejaculate) cannot cause pregnancy.

Vasectomy does not affect masculinity. And it will not affect your ability to get hard and stay hard. It also will not affect your sex organs, sexuality, and sexual pleasure. No glands or organs are removed or altered. Your hormones and sperm continue being produced. Your ejaculate will look just like it always did. And there will be about as much of it as before.

Vasectomy is not immediately effective. Sperm remains in the system beyond the blocked tubes. You must use other birth control until the sperm are used up. It usually takes about three months. A simple test — semen analysis — shows when there is no more sperm in the seminal fluid. Very rarely, tubes grow back together again and pregnancy may occur. This happens in about one out of 1,000 cases in the first year.

A Man's Reproductive Organs

To Prevent Unintended Pregnancy

Vasectomy is the most effective birth control for sexually active men. While it offers no protection against sexually transmitted infection, you and your partner will need no other contraceptive after a successful vasectomy. You must regard sterilization as permanent, even though it may be reversible in some cases. Your decision to have no biological children in the future must be firm. You must be absolutely sure you will never change your mind or regret your choice — no matter how your life changes.

Reasons for Considering Vasectomy

• You want to enjoy having sex without causing pregnancy.
• You don't want to have a child biologically in the future.
• Your partner agrees that your family is complete, and no more children are wanted.
• You and your partner have concerns about the side effects of other methods.
• Other methods are unacceptable.
• Your partner's health would be threatened by a future pregnancy.
• You don't want to pass on a hereditary illness or disability.
• You want to spare your partner the surgery and expense of tubal sterilization — sterilization for women is more complicated and costly.

Do Not Consider Vasectomy if You Experience Any of the Following

• You want to have a child biologically in the future.
• You are being pressured by your partner, friends, or family — you must want the operation.
• You have marriage or sexual problems, short-term mental or physical illnesses, financial worries, or you are out of work — vasectomy is not a good solution for temporary problems.
• You have not considered possible changes in your life, such as divorce, remarriage, or death of children.
• You have not discussed it fully with your partner.
• You plan to bank sperm in case you change your mind — sperm banks collect, freeze, and thaw sperm for alternative insemination. However, some men's sperm does not survive freezing. And after six months, frozen sperm may begin to lose the ability to fertilize an egg.

Other Options

Consider all other methods before you choose vasectomy. The pill, the patch, the ring, the shot, and IUDs are more than 97 percent effective. Most women can use them with little risk of serious complications. Other methods that have little or no side effects are condoms, female condoms, diaphragms, caps, shields, periodic abstinence, and contraceptive foams, jellies, and suppositories.

Your partner also may want to consider sterilization. There are new sterilization procedures for women that reduce the cost, recovery time, and risks of the procedure. But vasectomy is simpler, costs less, and has fewer risks. In all cases, the results must be considered permanent. So, think carefully about what sterilization will mean for both of you — and your futures.

Potential Risks

Vasectomy is a low-risk procedure. Complications can occur with any kind of surgery. Major complications with vasectomy are rare and are usually associated with infection. Warning signals include

• a fever over 100° F
• blood or pus oozing from the site of the incision
• excessive pain or swelling

Other potential problems

• Bleeding into the skin during the procedure may cause bruises that will clear up by themselves.
• Swellings containing blood — hematomas — occur in fewer than two out of 100 cases. They usually clear up by themselves, or with bed rest or ice packs. Surgical drainage is rarely needed.
• Swellings containing fluid — hydrocels — and tenderness near the testicles occur in less than one out of 100 cases. This usually clears up in about a week. Applying heat and wearing an athletic supporter helps. Surgical drainage is rarely needed.
• Sperm leak from the tubes and cause a small lump — granuloma — under the skin near the site of the operation in about 18 out of 100 cases. Sperm granuloma usually clear up by themselves. Surgical treatment is sometimes required.
• Mild infections occur in up to seven out of 100 cases. Rarely, an abscess may develop. Treatment with antibiotics is successful.
• There may be some temporary discomfort or pain in the testicles. In about two out of 100 cases, the pain may be chronic and severe. Most of the time, pain is relieved by taking anti-inflammatory drugs or other medications. Very rarely, an injection called a spermatic cord block can be used to deaden the pain temporarily. Vasectomy reversal is very rarely needed to relieve pain permanently.
• Very rarely, the cut ends of a vas deferens grow back together — recanalization. This most often happens within four months of the operation and may allow pregnancy to happen.
• Decreased sexual desire or inability to become erect occur in four out of 1,000 cases. The most likely cause is emotional — there is no physical cause for sexual dysfunction associated with vasectomy.

Complication rates for vasectomy are generally lower for the non-incision, no-scalpel method — when the skin of the scrotum is not cut — than for methods that include cutting the skin.

Are There Cancer Risks?

Medical literature suggests that vasectomy has little, if any, effect on the risk of developing prostate or testicular cancer. All men — especially those between 15 and 40 — should be screened for testicular cancer every year. All men older than 50 should be screened for prostate cancer every year — whether or not they have had vasectomies.

Some Questions and Answers

Can the operation fail?
Yes, but only in between one and four in 1,000 cases.

How soon can I have sex again?
That depends on you. Most men start again within a week. Others have sex sooner. Some wait longer. But remember, it takes about three months to clear sperm out of your system. Use another form of birth control for vaginal intercourse until a semen analysis shows there are no longer sperm in your seminal fluid.

How is semen analysis done?
You will provide a sample of your semen by masturbating or by using a special condom during sexual intercourse. The semen will be examined under a microscope to see if there are any sperm.

Will vasectomy affect my sexual pleasure?
Your erections, orgasms, and ejaculations will very likely be the same. Most men say they have greater sexual pleasure because they don't have to worry about an unwanted pregnancy. Many say there is no change.

Rarely, men lose some sexual desire. More rarely, men lose the ability to become hard. Often, such losses have to do with their emotional condition before the operation.

Will I be as masculine?
Yes. Vasectomy is not castration. Sterility is not impotence. The hormones that affect masculinity, beard, voice, sex drive, etc., are still made in testicles. They still flow throughout the body in the bloodstream.

Will there be "cum" when I "come"?
Yes. But there will be no sperm in the ejaculate. Your semen is between 2 and 5 percent sperm. The rest is seminal fluid from the prostate and other glands. The change in the amount of fluid is too little to notice.

After vasectomy where do the sperm go?
They dissolve and are absorbed into the body. Dead and unused cells are absorbed by the body throughout life. Antibodies to sperm develop in 50-80 percent of men who have vasectomies. Normally, antibodies protect the body against viruses and bacteria. Sperm antibodies will not affect your general health. But they may lessen the chance of restoring fertility if vasectomy is reversed.

How much time will I have to take off work?
That depends on your general health, attitude, and your job. Most men lose little or no time from work. A few need a day or two to rest. You will have to avoid strenuous labor or exercise for about a week.

Rare complications may require more days at home. However, prompt medical attention should clear up any problems.

How long will the procedure take?
Incision methods take about 20 minutes. The no-incision method takes less time.

Who will do it?
Urologists, family practice doctors, and, in some states, physician assistants or advanced nurse practitioners, may provide vasectomy in their offices, hospitals, or clinics.

How is vasectomy done?
Usually, a local anesthetic is injected into the area. Then, to reach the tubes, the doctor makes an incision on each side of the scrotum. Sometimes a single incision is made in the center. Each tube is blocked. In most procedures, a small section of each tube is removed. Tubes may be tied off, cauterized, or blocked with surgical clips.

Each vas deferens is located.


Each vas deferens is tied off, cauterized, or blocked.


If an incision is made, it heals in a matter of days.

There is little or no scarring in most cases.


With the no-incision, no-scalpel method the skin of the scrotum is not cut. One tiny puncture is made to reach both tubes. The tubes are then tied off, cauterized, or blocked. The tiny puncture heals quickly. No stitches are needed, and no scarring takes place.

The no-scalpel method reduces bleeding and decreases the possibility of infection, bruising, and other complications.

Will it hurt?
You and your doctor will discuss which type of anesthetic to use. Local anesthetic is most usual. Sometimes a general anesthetic is called for. No pain is felt under general anesthesia because you are asleep. Some discomfort may be felt when the local anesthetic is injected or when the tubes are brought out through the incision.

As with any surgery, there's some discomfort after the operation. It will be different for each man. However, most men say the pain is "slight" or "moderate" as opposed to "excessive." An athletic supporter, ice bag, and non-aspirin pain reliever may help ease the pain. Avoid strenuous physical labor or exercise for about a week. There seems to be less pain associated with no-scalpel procedures.

Does vasectomy protect against sexually transmitted infection?
No. Sexually transmitted infections can be carried in ejaculate, whether or not it contains sperm.

Can vasectomy be reversed?
Sometimes it is possible to reverse the operation, but there are no guarantees. Reversal costs from $4,000 to $13,000 and involves intricate surgery. Success in restoring fertility is uncertain. From 38 to 82 percent of men with reversed vasectomies are able to cause pregnancy. The factors in this wide range include

• the length of time since the vasectomy was performed
• whether or not antibodies to sperm have developed
• age of the woman partner
• the method used for vasectomy and the length and location of the segments of vas deferens that were removed or blocked

Is pregnancy possible after vasectomy?
Some sperm will remain in your system for a short time after the procedure. They can cause pregnancy. Your ejaculate will be tested after about three months following the procedure. The test will be repeated until no sperm are seen. Only then should you and your partner stop using other birth control.

Are there laws covering vasectomy?
Mentally competent adults can legally choose sterilization in all 50 states. No one who is mentally competent can be forced to have the operation. You cannot be denied welfare benefits if you do not want to have a vasectomy. Even threats to do so are against federal law.

Policies and practices vary with individual doctors, hospitals, and health centers. Sterilization may be difficult to arrange under some circumstances — for instance, if a person is single or childless.

How much does a vasectomy cost?
Nationwide, the cost of a vasectomy ranges from $350-$1,000 for an interview, counseling, examination, operation, and follow-up sperm count. (Sterilization for women costs up to six times as much.) Some clinics and doctors use a sliding scale according to income. Costs vary from community to community, based on regional and local expenses. Contact your nearest Planned Parenthood health center 1-800-230-PLAN for information about costs in your area.

Is help with payment available?
Blue Cross and Blue Shield and some private health insurance policies may pay some or most of the cost. In nearly all states, Medicaid pays but puts some restrictions on patient eligibility. Check with your local department of social services to see if you are covered.

Are there special requirements?
You are not required to have the consent of your wife or partner, but you should discuss the operation with her beforehand. Sometimes waiting periods are required to allow more time for thought before the operation. For federally funded vasectomies, you must

• be at least 21 years old
• observe a 30-day waiting period after signing a statement of informed consent
• be free of the influence of alcohol or other drugs at the time of consent
• reapply if the procedure is postponed for more than 180 days

How can I get a vasectomy?
Contact any of the following

• a urologist
• your family doctor
• your local hospital
• your local public health department
• your local Planned Parenthood health center