Category: Vasectomy

If you are thinking about having a vasectomy in the near future, there are many things to consider. Are you absolutely sure you don’t want any more children? Is your partner in full agreement with your decision? Are you positive you wouldn’t want to be a father if you met a new partner? Beyond those questions, it’s important to understand the type of procedure you would like to have. We are here to break down the differences between a no-scalpel and traditional vasectomy.

Vasectomy Facts: What to Know

Just in case you wanted to know, vasectomy is a very reliable outpatient procedure and form of birth control with less than 1% failure. It is safer and less expensive than the other birth control surgery, tubal ligation. Half a million procedures are performed in the United States each year, and it is covered by insurance.

Vasectomy works by preventing sperm from leaving the body through the penis during ejaculation. Let’s learn more.

How a Vasectomy Works

Ejaculation fluid is a mix of sperm from the testicles and seminal fluid from the prostate gland. Sperm moves through the vas deferens. This is a duct that carries the sperm from the testicles to the urethra where it mixes with semen.

In a vasectomy, the vas deferens is disconnected during the procedure and the ends are sealed closed. Although sperm is still produced in the testicles, it cannot leave and become part of the ejaculation fluid. If there is no sperm, there is no risk of pregnancy.

What Happens During a No-Scalpel Vasectomy

Urologist William Brant, MD numbs the testicles with either a needle or a spray which numbs the area. You may be given something to relax you if needed.

Then the surgeon makes a small puncture in the scrotum and stretches the skin open to reach the vas deferens. The end of the vas deferens will then be cut and closed by a tie or cauterization. No stitches are needed with this type of vasectomy as the skin closes on its own.

What Happens During a Traditional Vasectomy

A local anesthetic will be used to numb the area around the scrotum, and then a needle will inject the anesthetic. You may have medication for anxiety if needed.

Dr. William Brant, MD will make one or two small incisions in the scrotum to reach the vas deferens and cut the end. Similar to a no-scalpel vasectomy, it will be closed by a tie or by cauterization.

The incisions in the scrotum will be closed by stitches.

Advantages of No-Scalpel Vasectomy vs Traditional

• There is less bruising and swelling
• Recovery only takes a few days
• Less invasive
• Minimal bleeding during the procedure
• No sutures required
• Less risk of infection

Talk with Dr. William Brant, MD, FACS, FECSM, in Salt Lake City, to see if you may be a candidate for the no-scalpel procedure.

Contact William Brant, MD, FACS, FECSM. at (801) 965-2767 for a consultation if you are considering a vasectomy.

Are you looking for a hormone-free contraception method? Many men have partners who can’t tolerate birth control pills or simply want an alternative to female birth control.

A vasectomy is one of those alternatives, and unlike other contraception methods, it doesn’t impact your hormone levels. In many cases, the procedure can even be reversed if you change your mind down the line.

To help you get a better grasp of the pros and cons of a vasectomy, we asked our men’s sexual health specialist and skilled urologist, Dr. William Brant, the following questions: What is a vasectomy, and what are the benefits of getting one? Keep reading for the answers.

Vasectomy 101

Vasectomies are a widely used form of male contraception. In the United States alone, 1 in 10 males opt for a vasectomy.

During a vasectomy, Dr. Brant cuts, separates, and seals the vas deferens, the sperm-carrying tubes, so the sperm doesn’t end up in your semen. Instead, the sperm gets reabsorbed by your body without any side effects.

You may have read or heard about vasectomies being linked to heart disease, cancer, or autoimmune diseases. However, the risk of developing these as a consequence of a vasectomy is extremely low if it exists at all.  This remains a controversial subject but, for the vast majority of men, the benefits of a vasectomy far outweigh the risks.

Vasectomy recovery and long-term benefits

The procedure takes about 30 minutes to complete, and it’s done on an outpatient basis. Some patients may experience some swelling after the procedure, but most men can go back to their daily routine.

That said, playing sports, lifting heavy weights, and doing any high-intensity activities on the days following the procedure isn’t recommended, because these activities may cause bleeding in your scrotum. Additionally, you can resume having sex with your partner within about a week.  Overall, Dr. Brant recommends taking it relatively easy for around 2 weeks.  Enjoy the rest!

A few weeks after your procedure, Dr. Brant will ask you to come back to his office for a test to see if there’s any sperm in your semen so you can be certain that the procedure was successful. He recommends using a backup form of birth control during sex until you receive testing confirming that your semen is free of sperm.

Vasectomies are one of the contraceptive methods with the highest success rate, as it doesn’t rely on following a pill schedule or remembering to put on a condom to prevent pregnancy.

Can it be reversed?

A vasectomy is often thought to be irreversible. That’s actually not true. If you do change your mind later down the line, Dr. Brant does offer vasectomy reversals to restore fertility.

Success rates (depending how you define success) after a vasectomy reversal range anywhere between 30% to 90%, depending on how long it’s been since you had the procedure, as well as your age and overall hormonal health. Pregnancy, which is the outcome that most couples care about, is actually more dependent on the age, health, and fertility status of the female partner.

If you still have questions about getting a vasectomy or want to schedule a consultation with Dr. Brant, contact our Salt Lake City, Utah, office by calling 801-207-7922 and find out if a vasectomy aligns with your goals.