Description

A vasectomy (commonly known as 'the snip') is the surgery for male sterilization. This surgery stops the sperm from being able to move from the testes to the penis and thus there is no possibility of pregnancy. Normally, neither a hospital stay is required nor any complications encountered after the operation. A vasectomy does not affect sexual performance or libido.

Effectiveness

A vasectomy is virtually 100% effective at preventing pregnancy. However, in the first few weeks following the treatment another form of birth control should be used until the doctor can test and confirm that the ejaculate does not contain sperm.

Procedure

Small incisions are made in either side of the scrotum and sections of the vas deferens (the tubes that carry a man’s sperm) are removed. The sperm can no longer move from the testes to the penis and therefore there is no possibility of pregnancy. The procedure can be done in fifteen minutes at a doctor’s office under local anaesthetic. For more information please talk your doctor and ask for a referral to a specialist.

Drawbacks

Vasectomies do not protect against STDs. This procedure is very difficult to reverse and should be considered permanent.