About 500,000 American men undergo a vasectomy each year. This quick, outpatient procedure either snips or blocks the vas deferens tubes that carry semen from the testicles to the penis. While it’s an effective form of birth control, it’s more invasive than nonsurgical options and carries some risks.
At Advanced Southern Westchester Medical in Yonkers, New York, urologist Sherif S. El-Masry, MD, regularly performs vasectomies. Here, we highlight four key things to consider to help you decide if this procedure is right for you.
Vasectomy is considered a permanent form of birth control, so make sure you either don’t want to have children or are satisfied with your current family size.
In rare cases (about 1%), the vas deferens tubes can reconnect on their own, which can lead to an unexpected pregnancy. A vasectomy can also be reversed, but it’s a challenging and costly surgery that doesn’t always lead to successful pregnancy. If you think you might want to have children at some point in the future, even if not right now, consider holding off until a later date.
Vasectomy is considered safe and is usually well-tolerated, but if you have underlying medical conditions, like a blood-clotting disorder or untreated diabetes, your risk of surgical complications increases.
To ensure you’re a good candidate, Dr. El-Masry completes a physical exam and lab testing to assess your general well-being. If he identifies any issues, he may recommend treating them before moving forward with surgery.
Most side effects are minor, such as swelling and testicular pain, and full recovery may take several days or weeks.
Many men worry that having a vasectomy will affect their testosterone production and, in turn, lead to concerns like erectile dysfunction (ED) or low libido. The good news is that research consistently shows that the procedure does not affect any of these areas so your sexual experience won’t change.
Choosing to undergo surgery is a big decision, both from a physical and emotional perspective. At the same time, it can impact your partner, especially if they hope to start a family one day. Don’t rush into the procedure. Do your homework, discuss the decision with your loved ones, and if you have questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out.
If you’re happy with your family’s current size or you want to prevent unexpected pregnancy, a vasectomy can provide peace of mind. To learn if you’re a candidate, contact Dr. El-Masry and our caring team.
Schedule an appointment today by calling the office at 914-375-5700.
