women s health issues
Permanent Contraception
Vasectomy
Vasectomy is used to provide permanent contraception for men. It involves cutting and sealing the vasa deferentia (the tubes that carry sperm from the testes). A vasectomy, which is done by a urologist in the office, takes about 20 minutes and requires only a local anesthetic. Through a small incision on each side of the scrotum, a section of each vas deferens is removed and the open ends of the tubes are sealed off. After a vasectomy, backup method of contraception should be used until sterility is confirmed. Usually, men do not become sterile until they have had about 20 ejaculations after the operation because many sperm are stored in the seminal vesicles. Sterility is confirmed when a laboratory test shows that semen from two ejaculations, usually obtained 3 months after the procedure, is free of sperm. Complications of vasectomyinclude A blood clot in the scrotum (in 5% or fewer) An inflammatory response to sperm leakage Spontaneous reanastomosis (in fewer than 1%) In spontaneous reanastomosis, the disrupted tubes become reconnected or unblocked on their own, thus restoring fertility. If reanastomosis occurs, it usually does so shortly after the procedure. Sexual activity, with contraception until sterility is confirmed, may resume as soon after the procedure as men wish, but ejaculation should be avoided for the first few days because it can cause pain. Contraception should be continued for a while after a vasectomy, until tests confirm that semen is free of sperm. 