Vasectomy
Quick Facts
Most effective
Doesn’t reduce your chances of getting an STI
Hormone free
Male sterilization
Permanent
More About Vasectomy
- Vasectomy is a simple surgery. It is also known as male sterilization.
- A vasectomy blocks or cuts the tubes in your scrotum that carry sperm. This way, sperm stays in the testicles and can’t cause a pregnancy.
- Vasectomy is meant to be a permanent form of birth control.
- You can’t count on being able to reverse it once you have it.
- Before you get a vasectomy, be 100% sure that you never want to get someone pregnant.
How Vasectomy Works
- A vasectomy takes about 20 minutes. You can go home the same day.
- After a shot of local anesthetic, the provider blocks or cuts the tubes that carry sperm.
- There are two types of vasectomy. Your Family PACT provider can talk to you about which method is right for you.
- One is when the doctor makes one or two small cuts in the skin of the scrotum to access the tubes.
- The other does not use a scalpel: the doctor makes a tiny hole on the skin of the scrotum to reach the tubes.
- About 3 months after the procedure, there is a test to make sure no sperm is in the semen.
- Vasectomy is a form of sterilization. Because of this, there is a 30-day waiting period before it is done so clients have time to be sure this is the right choice for them.
Effectiveness
Vasectomy is more than 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. That is, less than 1 out of 100 people whose partner has a vasectomy will get pregnant in a year. Vasectomy is one of the most effective forms of birth control.
A vasectomy takes about 3 months to become fully effective. Therefore, use another form of birth control method during this time to reduce the chance of pregnancy. At 3 months your provider will test to make sure that your semen has no sperm in it. Use condoms or other birth control to prevent pregnancy until your test. After the test has shown that there is no semen in the sperm, you don’t have to do anything else.
Benefits
- It doesn’t interrupt the heat of the moment.
- It doesn’t change how an orgasm feels. Semen (cum) will look, feel and taste the same. There’s just no sperm in it.
- It doesn’t change the body’s hormones.
- You can go home the same day you get it.
- Most men go back to normal activity in 2 to 3 days.
- You don’t need any other kind of birth control after the 3 month test. You’re all set!
Side Effects and Limitations
- It’s permanent! It’s meant for people who do not ever want to get someone pregnant.
- You may have some pain, bruising, or swelling in the first day or two, but it shouldn’t be too bad. You can ice the area, take over-the-counter pain medicine, and wear snug briefs to help with the pain.
- You should not work out or do any hard physical work for the first week.
- As with any surgery, there are minor risks such as bleeding. Infection is a less common risk.
- It doesn’t reduce your chances of getting a sexually transmitted infection (STI).
Family PACT Coverage
If you are eligible, Family PACT covers the cost of a vasectomy. However, Family PACT does not cover the cost of reversing the procedure.