What is a Vasectomy? (video)

Urologist explains what is involved with getting a vasectomy

Ramdev Konijeti, MD, a urologist with Scripps Clinic, discusses commonly asked questions regarding vasectomies.

Video Transcript

What is a vasectomy?

A vasectomy is a procedure we can do on men that is a simple office procedure in order to sterilize them. It’s a procedure, in which we make a small opening in the scrotum, and we find the tube that carries the sperm on either side away from the testicle. We remove a piece of it in order to prevent transit of sperm out of the testicle. 

What are the benefits of a vasectomy?

Most men get a vasectomy because they have no intention of having children in the future. A lot of couples will elect to have the male go through a vasectomy because it’s a much less invasive procedure than the kind of procedures that a woman would have to endure in order to be sterilized.

What is the recovery from a vasectomy?

After a vasectomy we typically advise people to not do any heavy activity for about three days or 72 hours. Sometimes individuals like to take a whole week before they feel fully recovered. Rarely do we encounter individuals who take longer than a week to recover from a vasectomy. 

Does a vasectomy lower sex drive? 

That’s a common question that we do get. We do still expect men to have erections, to have orgasms, and to have ejaculations. They’re simply shooting blanks. 

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