Vasectomy
A vasectomy is an operation where all or part of a man’s vasa deferentia are removed. The vasa deferentia (singular: vas deferens) are the part of a man’s reproductive system that take the sperm to the glands where semen is mixed. After a vasectomy, a man’s ejaculate no longer contains sperm, and is no longer able to get a woman pregnant.
A vasectomy does not alter a man’s hormone levels. It will not affect libido or sexual performance. A man will still be able to get and maintain an erection as hard and for as long as he could prior to the operation. A man will still come, and there will be ejaculate. Sperm makes up very little of the semen that is ejaculated, so the texture, amount, and appearance of semen is not going to be affected.
The sperm in the body is broken down and reabsorbed. In a man who has not had a vasectomy, only about 50% of the sperm are ejaculated, and the rest are broken down. After a vasectomy, the glands that hold sperm expand slightly and the body accommodates by absorbing more sperm.
Vasectomies are not immediately effective. You have to first ejaculate all of the sperm that your body has previously created and stored. This takes roughly about three months. Once you have had three sperm-free ejaculate samples (your doctor tests this for you), then you know that the vasectomy has been successful.
There are two types of vasectomies: incision and non-incision. Both operations take about 20 minutes. After a vasectomy, you can take a day or two off work, and you should not perform hard physical labour for about a week. You will able to have sex about a week after, as well.
With non-incision (or no-scalpel) vasectomies, there are often fewer complications, and fewer risks, and a shorter recovery time. Ask your doctor which is right for you.
