[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/09\/vasectomy-recovery\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/09\/vasectomy-recovery\/","headline":"Vasectomy Recovery, Effectiveness, and Risks","name":"Vasectomy Recovery, Effectiveness, and Risks","description":"Learn all about the vasectomy procedure, including how the surgery is performed, vasectomy recovery, and potential risks.","datePublished":"2019-09-23","dateModified":"2024-06-11","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/urology-regions","name":"Urology","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/urology-regions","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/urology\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/vasectomy-recovery.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/vasectomy-recovery.jpg","height":325,"width":754},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/09\/vasectomy-recovery\/","about":["Living and Wellness","Men's Health","Urology"],"wordCount":977,"keywords":["birth control","Men's Health","UPMC Men's Health Center","vasectomy"],"articleBody":"A vasectomy is a safe and effective form of male sterilization. If you\u2019re sure you don\u2019t want children \u2014 or you and your partner decide your family is complete \u2014 you may be curious about having a vasectomy.\u00a0About 500,000 men in the United States have a vasectomy each year, according to the Urology Care Foundation.\u00a0But is the procedure right for you? Read on to learn more about vasectomies, their effectiveness, and recovery.\u00a0Who Should Have a Vasectomy?\u00a0Most healthy men can have the procedure. But if you have chronic testicular pain or testicular disease, you may not be a good candidate.\u00a0It\u2019s also important to be emotionally and mentally prepared. Sterilization is a significant life decision, so talk to your partner and your doctor before committing.\u00a0A surgeon can reverse a vasectomy through microsurgery that reconnects the two ends of the vas deferens. This procedure allows sperm to mix with seminal fluid again. Reversal surgery is more complicated than the initial surgery. It takes a few hours to complete and doesn\u2019t always work.\u00a0\u201cAnyone who has a vasectomy should be emotionally ready for sterility,\u201d says Michael Miller, DO, MBA, urologist with Lakeview Urologic Surgeons in Erie. \u201cYes, the procedure can be attempted, but a reversal is a much longer procedure compared to a vasectomy and is only 50% effective.\u201d\u00a0If you\u2019re undecided about having children in the future, you may want to wait to have the procedure.\u00a0Who Should Not Have a Vasectomy?\u00a0A patient may not be able to have a vasectomy if they have any of the following:\u00a0Uncontrolled hypertension.\u00a0Uncontrolled diabetes.\u00a0Anxiety.\u00a0Mental incapacity or inability to make the decision for themselves.\u00a0How Effective Is a Vasectomy?\u00a0A vasectomy is almost 100% effective, with a failure rate of about one in 2,000. Other than abstinence, it is the most reliable method of birth control.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cWhenever we hear of a \u2018failed vasectomy,\u2019 typically it\u2019s because the patient didn\u2019t follow the appropriate postoperative steps,\u201d Dr. Miller says. Having unprotected intercourse too soon after the procedure, or not having a post-vasectomy semen analysis, can still result in pregnancy.\u00a0\u201cRemember, a vasectomy is only removing a segment of a tube from the tract.\u00a0 We are not removing the sperm,\u201d Dr. Miller says. \u201cThis means that there are sperm in the tract downstream that can still fertilize an egg. This tract needs time to clear, usually about 10 to 12 weeks, before proceeding with unprotected intercourse.\u201d\u00a0What Happens During a Vasectomy?\u00a0During a vasectomy, a surgeon makes a cut or two in the skin of the scrotum to get to the vas deferens. These are the tubes that carry sperm from your testes into your semen. The surgeon then cuts the vas deferens, making it impossible for sperm to exit your body.\u00a0The procedure lasts about 10 to 30 minutes. Most men have the surgery in a doctor\u2019s office or at a surgery center under local anesthesia.\u00a0There\u2019s also a no-scalpel option in which the doctor makes a small hole instead of a cut. Unlike the standard procedure, this doesn\u2019t require stitches.\u00a0Vasectomy Recovery\u00a0The recovery process is short and usually free of complications. You may feel some discomfort and require mild pain medicine for a few days. Within a week, you should be back to normal.\u00a0You can treat swelling with ice packs on the scrotum. You can also wear supportive garments, such as tight underwear or an athletic supporter, to treat swelling.\u00a0Plan to use another form of birth control during the first several months of recovery. It takes about 25 ejaculations for your semen to be completely free of sperm. To ensure your semen is free of sperm, your doctor will schedule a follow-up visit 3 or more months after your surgery for a semen analysis.\u00a0If you experience severe pain or pain that lasts longer than a few days, see your doctor. A small percentage of men (1% to 2%) develop post-vasectomy pain syndrome. Doctors treat this testicular pain with medicine, physical therapy, and sometimes even surgery.\u00a0How Long Do I Need to Rest After a Vasectomy?\u00a0Try to rest as much as possible for 2 to 3 days after the procedure. If you don\u2019t have a physically demanding job, you may return to work in a couple of days.\u00a0Many men can return to work and non-strenuous activities within a few days. You should wait at least a week to have sex, lift anything heavy, or exercise.\u00a0How Soon Can I Walk or Shower After a Vasectomy?\u00a0You can walk right after a vasectomy, but you should take it easy. It\u2019s best to relax on the couch for a day or two. Doctors recommend waiting to shower or bathe for at least 24 hours after the procedure to avoid infection around the incision.\u00a0Potential Vasectomy Risks\u00a0Having a vasectomy does not have long-term side effects. It only limits your ability to make a woman pregnant.\u00a0\u201cSince this is a procedure that is most commonly done in the office, there are very few anesthesia risks,\u201d says Dr. Miller. \u201cThe surgery itself is a low-risk procedure as well, with sharp pain only lasting approximately 10 seconds each side when given an injection of anesthesia.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Complications are rare. Minor risks after surgery include bruising, swelling, inflammation, and infection. Tell your doctor if you have pain or swelling that lasts more than a few days.\u00a0Having a vasectomy shouldn\u2019t affect your sex life \u2014 erection, ejaculation, and orgasm will happen as before. A vasectomy does not cause erectile dysfunction. The only change is that your semen no longer contains sperm.\u00a0But remember that a vasectomy doesn\u2019t protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). A condom is still the best defense against STDs.\u00a0To find a urologist near you, visit providers.upmc.com, or call 1-800-533-8762.\u00a0Editor's Note: This article was originally published on September 23, 2019, and was last reviewed on June 10, 2024."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2019","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"09","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/\/09\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Vasectomy Recovery, Effectiveness, and Risks","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/09\/vasectomy-recovery\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]