If you want a form of birth control that’ll be 100% effective 100% of the time, the only solution is abstinence. Because that’s probably not something you or your partner want, you’re interested in getting a vasectomy.
You’ve heard that sterilization via vasectomy is one of the easiest and most effective ways to prevent unwanted pregnancies. In fact, Planned Parenthood rates it as 99% effective. But why isn’t a vasectomy 100% effective, like abstinence?
Alex Lesani, MD, an expert urologist in Las Vegas, Nevada, performs in-office, scalpel-free vasectomies. To get the most out of your vasectomy, he and our team advise you to follow a few simple rules.
Once your vas deferens are severed, newly produced sperm have nowhere to go. Of course, the skill level of your surgeon is one factor in how effective your vasectomy is.
When Dr. Lesani performs vasectomies, he does more than “snip” the tubes. Simply cutting the tubes runs the (extremely low) risk that the ends fuse over time. While that is highly unlikely, he minimizes that low risk by removing a portion of the tube between the two ends.
Once the ends are severed and the middle portion removed, Dr. Lesani cauterizes the ends to seal them. Now, not only are your tubes “cut” and closed, but the ends can’t reach or touch each other. He performs this procedure in each testicle.
After your vasectomy, you’re going to be sore. Avoid sex or masturbation for at least a few days. Also, don’t immerse your lower body in water — particularly warm water — during the healing period.
We have a several tips that’ll help you recover quickly from your vasectomy. Even after you heal, though, your role isn’t finished.
Sperm are persistent. Despite the sex you’ve had in the past, despite masturbating, not all sperm exit your body when you ejaculate. Even after your vasectomy, you may have sperm in your tubes that are just waiting for an opportunity to fertilize an egg.
The first months after your vasectomy, errant sperm hanging out in your tubes are looking for a chance to swim up to a waiting egg. Over time, that semen will be sperm-free. You still produce semen after your vasectomy.
That’s why we strongly advise using condoms for every sexual act until we tell you otherwise. To minimize your chance of getting someone pregnant, we test your semen for about three months or 20-30 ejaculations after your vasectomy.
Once your sperm count is zero, you’re free to ditch the condom. However, if you’re not in a monogamous relationship, please continue to use condoms for intercourse. They’re the only way to reduce your risk of contracting or passing on a sexually transmitted disease (STD).
If you’re ready to have sex without worrying about an unwanted pregnancy, call our friendly team at 702-470-2579 to schedule a scalpel-free vasectomy or book your appointment online.
