Vasectomy

What you should know

• A vasectomy is a procedure to make a man sterile (unable to get a woman pregnant). When sperm leaves your penis during sexual intercourse (sex), your partner may become pregnant. Sperm is made in your testes which are located inside your scrotum (sac of skin under the penis). When ejaculation occurs, sperm leaves the testes and is carried through the vas deferens (sperm tubes) to the penis. The sperm is then released from the body through your penis.
  
  
• During a vasectomy, both of your sperm tubes are cut so sperm cannot leave your body. Your caregiver will reach your sperm tubes through a small incision (cut), or a small hole in your scrotum. After your vasectomy, you will still have sperm inside the cut sperm tubes. You will need to have your ejaculate tested for sperm weeks after your procedure. During this time, you may still be able to get your partner pregnant. Once your caregiver sees there are no sperm left in your ejaculate, you will be sterile.

Care Agreement

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

Risks

• After your vasectomy you may have pain in your scrotum. You may have bruising on your scrotum and you may bleed. You may get a wound, urine, or epididymal infection. The epididymis is a long curled tube on the back of your scrotum. You may feel pain when you have an erection (hard raised penis). Granulomas may form if sperm leaks out of your cut sperm tube. Granulomas are a lump that forms under your skin. You may not become sterile if one or both of your cut sperm tubes grow back together. Talk to your caregiver if you have questions or concerns about your procedure.
  
  

Getting Ready

Before your procedure:

• Ask someone to drive you home after your procedure. Do not drive yourself home.
  
  
• Ask your caregiver if you need to stop using aspirin or any other prescribed or over-the-counter medicine before your procedure.
  
  
• Tell your caregiver if you have any medical conditions, such as bleeding problems or a sexually transmitted disease. Also tell your caregiver if you have had a scrotum injury or scrotum surgery in the past.

The night before your procedure:

• Ask caregivers about directions for eating and drinking.
  
  

The day of your procedure:

• Write down the correct date, time, and location of your procedure.
  
  
• You or a close family member will be asked to sign a legal document called a consent form. It gives caregivers permission to do the procedure or surgery. It also explains the problems that may happen, and your choices. Make sure all your questions are answered before you sign this form.
  
  
• An anesthesiologist may talk to you before your surgery. This caregiver may give you medicine to make you sleepy before your procedure or surgery. Tell your caregiver if you or anyone in your family has had a problem using anesthesia in the past.
  
  
• Bring an athletic supporter (jock strap) to wear after your procedure.

Treatment

What will happen:

• The hair on your scrotum may be clipped or shaved. Your scrotum and nearby areas will be cleaned and your penis will be secured against your stomach. Local anesthesia medicine may be given as a shot into your scrotum to numb the area. General anesthesia may be used if you are allergic to the local numbing medicine. General anesthesia will make you fall, and stay asleep during your procedure. Your caregiver will feel for a sperm tube under the skin of your scrotum. A clamp may be put on your scrotum to hold the tube in place.
  
  
• Your caregiver may make a small cut on one side of your scrotum or down the middle. Your caregiver also may make a small hole in your scrotum to reach your sperm tubes. One of your sperm tubes will be pulled through the cut or hole. Your caregiver will cut the sperm tube and remove a small portion of it. He may then close one or both ends with stitches or a heat treatment. He also may sew a piece of body tissue between the cut ends of your tubes. Your caregiver will then do the same procedure to your other sperm tube. Your cuts may be closed with stitches, tissue glue, or left open to heal. Germ fighting medicine may be put on your scrotum, and the area may be covered with a bandage.

After your procedure:

If you had general anesthesia you will be taken to a room to rest until you are fully awake. Caregivers will watch you closely for any problems after your procedure. Caregivers may help you put on a jock strap to support your scrotum. When caregivers see that you are okay, you may be able to go home.

Contact a caregiver if

• You cannot make it to your procedure.
  
  
• You have a fever.
  
  
• You get sick (such as a cold or the flu).
  
  
• You have a burning feeling when you urinate.
  
  
• You have drainage from your penis that is not normal for you.
  
  
• Your penis or scrotum is red, warm, and swollen.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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