If you are searching for the best birth control method, you have probably considered the vasectomy. A vasectomy is considered as a small operation that is designed to make your semen sterile. It is known to be a lot more effective than tubal ligation, and a lot safer as well. However, whether this is the right decision for you or not depends on a couple of factors.
To learn more about the surgery and whether you should go through with the procedure, you should talk to your doctor. You can check out the Marie Stopes Bowen Hills or you can talk to your local doctor instead. The only way to be sure whether this is the right choice is to simply talk to your doctor about what the vasectomy surgery means for you.
Two types of the surgery
For those who did not know, vasectomy can now be performed in two ways. In the past the only vasectomy procedure we had was perfumed with a scalpel, but now there is also the no-scalpel option. The method with which the surgery will be performed will depend on the method your doctor prefers.
Traditional vasectomy
This procedure requires your doctor to use a scalpel to make the incision on the scrotum. The incision will be small and it is made on each side of the scrotum. Through those openings, your doctor will reach the vas deferens, which are tubes that lead sperm into semen. After cutting them and sealing them off, the sperm will no longer enter your semen and thus will become sterile.
No-scalpel vasectomy
Instead of using the scalpel, your doctor will feel for vas deferens under the scrotum, and then use a clamp that will hold it in place. Your doctor will create tiny holes in the skin, stretch it a bit, and then lift the vas deferens out. After cutting it and sealing it up, you get the same results as with the previous operation.
How effective are vasectomies?
Did you know that these procedures are as close as they can be to 100%. The effectiveness is a lot higher than tubal ligation, not to mention simpler and safer. There are some very rare cases where the tubes could rejoin and that could lead to a pregnancy.
After the operation is done, it is normal that your semen will still have some sperm in the stream. You need to wait a week or more before you can have unprotected sex without unwanted pregnancies. If you want to know when that can be, your doctor might ask for your semen to be tested.
Side effects of the vasectomy
No matter how minor a procedure is, there will always be some risks involved. The same applies to the vasectomy operation. You might experience some pain after the operation, as well as swelling and maybe a bit of bleeding. However, these are not serious even if they happen. Only in about 1% to 2% of men get actual complications because of this.
Complications really are not common, but they are possible. Some of the complications could include inflammation, infection, and bruising. These tend to also not be serious in most cases, but if anything happens you should tell your doctor about it. Some other possible but rare complications include:
- Feeling of discomfort, pressure, or an ache in the testicles.
- A hard lump or an inflammation that is cause by leaking sperm, also known as sperm granuloma.
- A cyst in the tube that collects the sperm, also known as spermatocele.
- A fluid sac around your testicle that will cause your scrotum to swell, also known as hydrocele.
Vasectomy benefits
If you do not want children in the future and you wish for a permanent birth control method, the vasectomy procedure is a good choice. However, you should talk to your significant other and family before you come to this decision. You can also check out the vasectomy clinic Gold Coast for more information.
In most cases, the vasectomy procedure will be covered by the insurance, but that is something you need to research beforehand. If you are paying out of pocket, this is not a cheap procedure, so keep that in might. You might also get some extra fees if you have a consultation.
Final word
Vasectomy is the perfect choice if you do not want to have kids in the future and you want a permanent birth control method. Although vasectomies can be reversed, it is not that easy and it does not always work. So you shouldn’t get the procedure unless you are 100% sure that this is what you want.
You may be interested in: What is fertility rate? Definition and examples