The decision to have children is a big one and so is the decision to not have children. Perhaps you already have children and want to make sure that you do not have anymore. If you are looking for a good form of permanent birth control, the decision to schedule a vasectomy can be a good option. It is important to remember that this is a permanent form of birth control, so you need to consider some things before deciding whether or not it is the best choice for your particular situation.
When Should You Schedule a Vasectomy?
Scheduling a vasectomy might be the right choice for you if:
- You are sure that you do not want to have any more children.
- Your partner would be at a health risk if she were to get pregnant.
- Your partner or yourself have genetic disorders that you do not want to pass on to your children.
On the other hand, there are several reasons you might not be ready to schedule your vasectomy just yet. These include:
- You are not sure whether or not you want to have kids.
- You only want temporary birth control.
About the Procedure
Vasectomies are typically very safe and also extremely effective. Most of the time a vasectomy is done using conscious sedation. The procedure can also be performed under a local anesthetic. When it is done under local anesthesia, medicine will be placed directly in your scrotum to make the area numb. You will stay awake for the entire procedure. If conscious sedation is used, you will take some medicine that will sedate you. This helps to relieve the anxiety that you might have about the procedure. You will be given the medicine to take before you come in. Once you are in the surgical room, you will then receive local anesthesia to your scrotum to numb the area so that the procedure can be performed.
The procedure is the same no matter what type of anesthesia is used. During the procedure, the doctor will disconnect the vas deferens. The vas deferens are the tubes that are responsible for transporting the sperm out of the testicles. Post-surgery, the sperm will not be able to move out of the testicles. The entire procedure only takes about 20 minutes.
Recovery
The good news is when you schedule a vasectomy you do not have to worry about a long recovery time. After getting a vasectomy, most men will be able to go back to work in just two or three days. Within a week you should be able to resume normal exercise. The bruising and swelling should be gone in about two weeks and you can resume normal sexual activity in just about a week after the procedure.
Sexual Activity
As mentioned, within about a week after getting a vasectomy you can typically resume normal sexual activity. Getting a vasectomy should not impact your sexual performance in any way. Your sex drive should remain the same as it was before the vasectomy. You will be able to get erections and have orgasms just as you did before. In fact, the ejaculation will look the same and feel the same as it did before the procedure. The only difference is that there are not going to be any sperm inside of the semen. If you do experience changes in your sex drive or sexual function after having a vasectomy, you should contact your doctor right away.
It is important to note that sterilization will not occur immediately after having a vasectomy. You will want to make sure that you continue to use other forms of birth control until you have your ejaculate tested to make sure that there is no sperm left in it. It typically takes about 20 ejaculations or around two months. Once your doctor has tested your ejaculate and determined that there is no sperm in it, you can safely have sex without worrying about impregnating your significant other.
Scheduling a Vasectomy
If you have decided that a vasectomy is the right choice for you, it is time to schedule the procedure. The first step is finding the right doctor. Once you have a doctor, you need to think about when would be a good time to have a few days off to sit on the couch icing your testicles.
Many men choose to have this procedure done during the month of March. This is a great time to sit at home on the couch and watch some great college basketball. You will be able to take a couple of extra days off of work and enjoy those afternoon games that you typically do not get to watch. If you are planning for a March vasectomy, make sure that you schedule it early.
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