All About the Vasectomy
Although most birth control methods are made for people who have a uterus / ovaries, the vasectomy, aka sterilization, is birth control for people whose bodies make sperm. It works by blocking the vas deferens, which (before a vasectomy) are the tubes that move sperm from the testes out of the body during ejaculation. It is a very safe and easy procedure that can take place in a doctor’s office, clinic, or hospital. it is meant to be a permanent form of birth control and is very effective (almost 100%!).
What happens during a vasectomy?
First, the doctor will administer local anesthesia to the scrotum. Next, a small cut or a puncture is made in the scrotum to access the two tubes, which are then cut or cauterized. One end of each tube is clipped so they can’t fuse back together. During the procedure, most people feel a little tugging or pressure. The cut method requires stitches while the puncture method heals on its own. Afterwards, sperm can no longer move through the tubes and are dumped into the scrotum and reabsorbed. Sperm are very small so there’s no difference in how the scrotum feels. The whole thing takes about 20 minutes!
Healings & Feelings
Most people recovery quickly. Your doctor will give more details about what you should / shouldn’t do but most people appreciate an ice pack on their genitals and over the counter medication for pain & swelling. A vasectomy isn’t effective as birth control immediately and your doctor will have you do a semen analysis in a few months to confirm the procedure was effective. Nothing changes about your seminal fluid after a vasectomy—it still leaves the body the same during ejaculation and looks, feels, & tastes the same.
You (and / or your partner) might feel relief, exhaustion, sadness / grief, joy, excitement, or just totally neutral. It’s normal to feel a mix of things after making a permanent life decision, even if it’s something you want! It can take a little time to fully integrate the decision, so be gentle with yourself. Chatting with a friend or therapist about how you’re feeling emotionally after a vasectomy can be supportive, whether it’s to process some sadness or to celebrate—or both!
Possible Pros:
super duper effective
“set in and forget it” birth control
takes the burden of birth control / pregnancy off your partner
Possible Cons:
not really reversible
doesn’t prevent STIs
no birth control is ever 100% effective (but this one is pretty close!)