Questions Men Ask Before Deciding On A Vasectomy
Males and their partners usually talk about the options for birth control before deciding on which method will be best. When discussing a vasectomy the male will have many questions that he needs to know the answers to before making a decision one way or the other on the vasectomy option.
Whenever anyone is considering a medical procedure that will change your body, it is important to be well informed about every aspect of the procedure before making your decision. The most commonly asked questions regarding having a vasectomy are about what the procedure involves, the statistics regarding effectiveness and safety, and the recovery period. What follows in this article are the some of the most commonly asked questions and the answers. Use this article to prepare yourself for a chat with your doctor so that you can get all the information you seek in order to make the right choice for you.
Answers for Questions about the procedure:
The vasectomy procedure renders a male sterile (unable to reproduce a child). It is a popular birth control option in the U.S. as well as worldwide. The procedure is safe, and highly effective as it is a permanent birth control choice. The vas deferens (the small tubes that carry sperm from the testicles to the semen) is made useless by cutting, burning or clipping. The male can continue to have intercourse after the procedure and will still have semen, but the semen will not contain sperm (approximately 3 months after the procedure).
A no-scalpel procedure takes about 15 minutes to complete and an hour from entering the office, doing the paperwork and the preparation tasks. After the procedure the male will experience some tenderness, discomfort in the area and slight swelling for the first two to three days following the procedure. All normal activities can be resumed after a week. The doctor will give specific instructions to follow for a safe and complete recovery.
Answer to failure rate and safety questions:
The no-scalpel vasectomy has a failure rate of less than 1% as compared to the 12% failure rate of condoms and 18% failure rate of diaphragms.
There are some studies that have found that some men, who had a vasectomy 20 years earlier, have a slightly higher risk of prostate cancer than men who did not have a vasectomy. There are other studies that do not support those results. The American Urological Association and also the American Cancer Society recommend that men over the age of 50 have a regular prostate examination and a PSA blood test to help detect early prostate changes. This recommendation is the same for ALL males in this age range (50 to 70), those who have had a vasectomy AND those who have not had the procedure.
Answers to after the procedure:
Vasectomies do not work immediately. The male must have approximately 20 ejaculations following the procedure before all sperm are eliminated from his system. The male should have a sperm test to verify that he has a negative result for sperm count before stopping any other form of birth control.
The body reabsorbs the sperm after a vasectomy, which is a normal thing to happen with any unused sperm. The testicles continue to produce sperm after the vasectomy; they just do not have the opportunity to mix with the semen or to be ejaculated during sex.
A vasectomy only blocks sperm from reaching the semen it does not change your sexual drive. The semen’s color, texture and amount of fluid do not change after a vasectomy.
The cost of most vasectomies ranges from $400 to $1,200 depending on where the procedure is done, and who does the procedure.
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