VASECTOMY MYTHS AND FACTS

BY ROBERT G. PUGACH, MD

MYTH:    Most couples don’t consider a vasectomy as a viable form of birth control.

FACT     A vasectomy is an acceptable form of birth control for couples that have completed their family. About one out of six American men over the age of 35 has had a vasectomy.

MYTH:   A vasectomy really isn’t permanent.

FACT:   A vasectomy is a permanent type of birth control for a man.  The decision to have a vasectomy is very important one and should only be made after careful thought. While a vasectomy can be reversed with microsurgery in many cases, a patient should only have a vasectomy if he is certain that he does not want more children.

 MYTH:   As soon as a man has a vasectomy he is considered “sterile” and no longer able to father a child.

FACT:    This is NOT true. One very important part of a vasectomy is to understand that you are not “sterile” immediately after the procedure. It takes a minimum of 10 weeks before all sperm are cleared from each vas deferens. At Pacific Coast Urology Medical Center, we will check your semen analyses in our office until there are two samples that show no sperm. Once that happens, you can be considered sterile and there is no need for further follow up visits. 

 MYTH:  A vasectomy will negatively affect my sex life.

FACT:   A vasectomy does NOT interfere with erections. A vasectomy interrupts the passage of sperm during an orgasm, but hormone levels, blood flow and your ability to get erections is not changed. In fact, many couples experience an improvement in their sexual relations because there is no concern about pregnancy.    Remember:   

     A vasectomy will NOT decrease your sex drive.

·   With a vasectomy you will still have an erection and ejaculate.

MYTH:   A vasectomy is a surgical procedure that requires hospitalization.

FACT:    A vasectomy is usually performed in an outpatient setting. In my practice, I typically perform a vasectomy in my office. The procedure takes approximately 20 minutes.

MYTH:   A vasectomy is a painful procedure involving a needle and scalpel.

FACT:    At Pacific Coast Urology Medical Center, we use a revolutionary new approach that does NOT involve a needle or scalpel. Instead of feeling discomfort from a needle to inject a local anesthetic, we offer the “No-Needle Anesthetic”. This latest innovation passes Novocain with a “jet” injector that never penetrates a patient’s skin.  It provides the maximum in patient comfort. Also, we are very experienced in the “No Scalpel” vasectomy. This procedure is less invasive. Instead of using a scalpel, a special instrument is used to make a single small skin opening through which we can perform the entire procedure! It heals faster and causes less discomfort.

To learn more, click here to read additional articles, courtesy of vasectomy.com.

If you’d like to learn more about vasectomy, including the No Needle, No Scalpel procedure, call Pacific Coast Urology Medical Center at  888-735-4336 for an appointment.

Offices located in Orange and Los Angeles Counties, CA (Huntington Harbour and Los Alamitos and Beverly Hills, California).