7 Factors to Consider Before Getting a Vasectomy

At the offices of Alex Lesani, MD, we know you’re going to have questions — and probably some trepidation — about whether a vasectomy is right for you. While the procedure itself is fairly common and not very complicated, you’ll want to keep several factors in mind.

To help you make an informed decision, we’re listing seven factors that could have a bearing on whether you want to get a vasectomy.

A vasectomy is nearly 100% effective

What makes this procedure so appealing is its high rate of effectiveness. Less than 1% of men are still able to father a child after a vasectomy, making this a very appealing birth control option.

A vasectomy is incredibly difficult to reverse

Though you may have heard of a reverse vasectomy, it’s important to note that reversals are extremely difficult, complicated, and expensive. What’s more, there’s no guarantee that a reversal will work, so it’s important to make sure you’re certain about your decision to have a vasectomy, as it’s likely that it will be permanent.

A vasectomy will not affect your sex drive

Read that again. A vasectomy won’t harm your sexual functioning. This means you’ll still have your sex drive, and you won’t lose the ability to have an erection or reach an orgasm.

What’s more, because only 5-10% of ejaculate comes from the testicles, your ejaculate will still look and feel the same.

Sterilization doesn’t occur immediately after the procedure

Your sperm count doesn’t drop to zero immediately after your procedure, but decreases gradually, so you won’t fully lose fertility right away. It generally takes two months or 20 ejaculations for your semen sample to come back sperm-free in testing.

Until this happens and you get the green light from Dr. Lesani, you need to keep using other birth control methods.  

A vasectomy is cheaper than female birth control

The cost of a vasectomy is considerably less than the cost of both sterilization (tubal ligation) for women and long-term female birth control medications.

A vasectomy does not cause cancer

This is a common misconception, and along with the equally unfounded belief that it may increase your risk of heart disease, both claims are entirely untrue. A vasectomy won’t cause these serious problems, nor will it inflict any damage to your organs.

Recovery takes just a few days

The procedure is minimally invasive, and postsurgical downtime is considerably short. You can return to work in 2-3 days, restart your usual exercise routine in seven days, and resume sexual activity in seven days as well. Any bruising or swelling should clear up within two weeks.  

How a vasectomy at our offices works

At the offices of Alex Lesani, MD, we use a minimally invasive, no-scalpel method of performing vasectomies. This means there are no stitches, the procedure is quick, the incision is small, and there’s a lower risk of complications.

Dr. Lesani brings more than 12 years of experience and a board certification as a urologist to the table, so you know you’re in good hands. To request an appointment, visit our contact page to call us or schedule an appointment online at your convenience.