Vasectomy (male sterilisation)

goodtoknow says: Vasectomy is a minor operation which stops a man's sperm reaching the semen and is therefore considered a permanent form of contraception. A vasectomy takes around 30 minutes under local anaesthetic and involves cutting or sealing the tube that takes sperm to the penis. He may feel uncomfortable for a few days afterwards but recovery is usually quick. However, he must be completely sure he doesn't want children before having a vasectomy. Operations to 'reverse' it are only 50 per cent successful.

For a full medical explanation of the treatment of vasectomy from patient.co.uk, read on.

Vasectomy is an effective and permanent form of contraception. The operation is quicker, easier, and more effective than female sterilisation. There is a very small failure rate.

What is vasectomy?

Vasectomy is a small operation to cut the vas deferens. This is the tube that takes sperm from the testes to the penis. Sperm are made in the testes. Once the vas deferens is cut, sperm can no longer get into the semen that is ejaculated ('comes') during sex.

How reliable is vasectomy?

Vasectomy is very reliable - but not quite 100%. About 1 in 1000 operations are not successful, and semen tests show sperm still present after the operation. Even after a successful operation about 1 in 2000 men who have had a vasectomy will become fertile again at some point in the future. This is because, rarely, the two ends of the cut vas deferens re-unite in time.