When a man makes the decision that he does not want children, or has had all of the children he desires to have but does not want to rely on his partner to pursue permanent birth control, his doctor will most likely recommend the vasectomy. According to many Plano, Texas vasectomy doctors, it is common for men to fear the idea of a vasectomy; they associate the procedure with castration, or the loss of their masculinity. The truth, is that a vasectomy will not change your physical appearance, and will not prohibit a man from ejaculating. The vasectomy also does not affect a man’s sex drive, or any other testosterone driven masculinities. This procedure merely prevents the release of sperm.

What is a Vasectomy?

A vasectomy is usually performed by a urologist and is done by cutting and tying the vas deferens, or the tubes which allow sperm to combine with semen during climax. This procedure is extremely effective with very few risks or complications. It has been projected that only 15 out of every 10,000 men who receive a vasectomy still father children.  The procedure itself is very popular with more than half a million vasectomies performed in the United States last year. This form of male birth control is less expensive, and easier to receive than permanent female birth control procedures.

To perform a vasectomy, a physician will numb the scrotum with a local anesthetic. The physician will then make one or two small incisions on the left or right side of the scrotum in order to cut, or tie the vas. The same procedure will be performed on the other side of the scrotum, and then the incisions will be sewn up.

Dr. Mark Allen, MD, a Plano, Texas vasectomy doctor and skilled urologist, “Vasectomy surgery has come along way in recent years. Most progressive urologists will offer the no-scalpel vasectomy procedure which offers a more minimally invasive approach with less pain and faster healing.”

With the no scalpel vasectomy, physicians are able to perform the surgery without a scalpel. During this procedure the physician will find the vas by feeling for it through the scrotum. Once found the physician will place a clamp on the vas and scrotum, and use a small tool to puncture and tie it. This procedure does not require stitches and produces very little bleeding. The pain associated with the no scalpel vasectomy procedure is less severe than with the original vasectomy procedure.

What to Expect After a Vasectomy

A male should fully recover from his vasectomy in about a week. He will be sore for the first few days and should rest for the first 24 hours following the procedure. There are very small risks of complications with a vasectomy. Some of the common risk factors include bruising, swelling and inflammation; these often follow the procedure but will go away in just a few days.  Infection is also a risk, but is not as common.

Though a vasectomy is a successful form of permanent male birth control it is important that a man does a follow-up visit with his physician to ensure that the surgery was successful before engaging in unprotected sex.  Testing will ensure that there is no more sperm in the semen.

Best Permanent Male Birth Control Treatment in Plano

Because the vasectomy is permanent male birth control it is important that a male is 100% sure that he does not wish to have a child. He should discuss other forms of birth control with his doctor, and speak personally and seriously with his partner before pursuing the surgery. There is a surgery to reverse the vasectomy but it is costly and not 100% effective. The vasectomy reversal is performed in a very similar way to the original procedure. But it is usually difficult to replace the vas properly, hence its rate of failure.

When a man is 100% sure of his desire for the surgery, the vasectomy is an excellent form of permanent birth control with a very high success rate, very few complications, and is more affordable than most permanent female birth controls. If you are considering a vasectomy get in touch with your doctor and schedule an appointment to discuss the pros and cons of the procedure.

Read more about Dr. Allen (Plano Texas Vasectomy Doctor and Urologist)