Vasectomy is one of the safest and most effective methods of permanent birth control. It is much safer and less expensive than the other most common contraceptive surgery, tubal ligation. For these reasons, some 500,000 men in North America choose vasectomy each year. The physicians at Central Arizona Urologists would be happy to discuss this procedure with you. When you are ready it can be scheduled at either of our offices in Phoenix, Arizona.

Conventional vasectomy blocks the vas deferens, preventing sperm from being added to man’s ejaculation fluid (semen). A local anesthetic is given, and one or two incisions are made in the scrotum with a scalpel. The two vas deferens are exposed, cut, and blocked. The incisions are then closed with sutures.

 No-Needle No-Scalpel Vasectomy

A safer, less invasive procedure, the No-Needle No-Scalpel Vasectomy reduces vasectomy’s already low complication rate.

Developed in China in 1974, the no-scalpel technique differs in how the two vas deferens (vasi) are reached using instruments to make a single small scrotal opening and subsequent retrieval of the vasi.

More recently, the no-needle technique uses a jet injector instrument to transmit anesthesia through the skin using high pressure. Worldwide more than 15 million have had the procedure. Click here for more information on this procedure.

Reproduced with permission www.ameditech.com

Benefits of the No-Needle No-Scalpel Vasectomy

Less Discomfort

10 times Fewer Complications

No needles, stitches or sutures used

Quicker Recovery

No-Needle No-Scalpel Vasectomy uses an advanced technique to anesthetize the scrotum more effectively. It requires no scalpel to enter through the skin. Instead, the physician avoids complex surgery by carefully isolating the vas deferens using the fingers of one hand. The vasa are then fixed just below the scrotal skin with an instrument designed to hold firmly without pinching.

A single small opening in the skin is made with a pointed forceps. The vasa are then delivered through the skin, cut, and sealed in a conventional way. When the operation is complete, no sutures are needed to close the tiny opening.

 Answers to Common Questions

 How will a vasectomy affect me?

Vasectomy is NOT castration. Vasectomy only interrupts the tubes that carry sperm from the testes to where they are added to the semen. Your penis and testes are not altered. All hormonal and sexual functions are completely unaffected, so your voice, body hair, and interest in sex remain the same. Your body still produces semen, and erections and ejaculations occur normally. The only difference is that your semen will no longer contain sperm. As before, the body naturally absorbs unused sperm.

 Can I discontinue other birth control methods right away?

No! Sperm can remain in the vas deferens and seminal vesicles above the operative site for weeks or even months after vasectomy, You will not be considered sterile until two post-surgical semen tests have shown that no sperm remain. Until then, you must continue to use other birth control to prevent pregnancy.

 Are there potential complications?

Yes.  All contraceptive methods carry some risk as well as benefits. Vasectomy is a very low risk procedure, but complications are possible

 ·        Though rare, bleeding (hematoma) and infections are the most common complications of vasectomy. No-scalpel vasectomy, the procedure performed by Central Arizona Urologists, reduces their likelihood because the blood vessels responsible for bleeding are less likely to be affected and because the opening in the scrotum is so small.

 ·        Another potential risk is failure. Vasectomy is not guaranteed to be 100% effective. Even when the operation is performed perfectly, it is possible in rare cases for sperm to find its way across the void between the two blocked ends of the vas deferens. This situation, called recanalization, is highly unusual but does occur.

 This is another reason why samples must be taken from 6 to 10 weeks post-vasectomy to verify that your semen contains no sperm.

Recanalization usually occurs in the first 2-3 months after vasectomy, but has been known in extremely rare cases to occur even years later.

 ·        Sperm granuloma, a hard, sometimes painful lump about the size of a pea may form as a result of sperm leaking from the cut vas deferens. The lump is not dangerous and is almost always resolved by the body in time. Scrotal support and mild pain relievers are  usually all that are needed for symptoms, though I may suggest other treatment.

 ·        Congestion, a sense of pressure caused by sperm in the testes, epididymis, and lower vas deferens, and may cause discomfort some 2 to 12 weeks after vasectomy. Like granuloma, congestion usually resolves itself in time

 Is vasectomy painful?

No. You may feel mild discomfort when the local anesthetic is given. After it takes effect, you should feel no pain, though some men feel a slight “tugging” sensation as the vasa are manipulated. After surgery, you may be a little sore for a few days. Generally, two or three day’s rest is recovery enough before men return to work and most normal, no-strenuous physical activity. Sex can usually be resumed 7 days after the procedure.

 Does vasectomy pose long-term health risks?

No. Many studies have looked at the long-term health effects of vasectomy. The evidence is reassuring, suggesting that no significant risks exist. Men who have vasectomy are no more likely than other men to develop cancer, heart disease, or other health problems.

In 1993, a panel assembled by the National Institutes of Health, the Association for Voluntary Surgical Contraception, and the National Cancer Institute reaffirmed the conclusion of most medical experts that vasectomy is a safe and effective means of permanent birth control. The panel advised that physicians continue to offer vasectomy and that all men, vasectomized or not, receive the same regular screening for prostate cancer and other illnesses.

 Can vasectomy be reversed?

In many cases, the cut ends of the vas deferens can be surgically reattached. However, this operation, a vasovasostomy, is expensive and, for a variety of reasons, does not guarantee a return to fertility.  Vasectomy should therefore be considered a permanent procedure.  Before you choose to have a vasectomy, make sure that you and your partner do no want any more children. If you’re thinking about a reversal now, perhaps you should take more time to decide whether vasectomy is right for you.

If you are ready for a vasectomy, or for more information, then call 602-242-1556 for an appointment with a physician at either of Central Arizona Urologists offices in Phoenix, Arizona.

Click on the links below for more information and then print them out for your reference.

Vasectomy Information and Consent

Pre Vasectomy Quiz

Pre Vasectomy Instructions

Post Vasectomy Instructions

Other links:

No Needle Vasectomy

eMedicine Health - Vasectomy Introduction

Facts about Vasectomy Safety