Vasectomy & Vasectomy Reversal

In a regular vasectomy, the scrotum is immobilised using mild sedation. Once this is done, the surgeon makes a centimetre-wide incision on the upper part of the scrotum, and cuts and ties the vas deferens. The cut can be closed with only one or two sutures. The entire process takes less than 30 minutes.

An alternative method to the conventional vasectomy is a no-scalpel version where the vas deferens are cut or tied through a small puncture in the scrotum. Because of its small size, the hole will not need stitches after the operation. It is also found to significantly reduce the chance of infection, pain and swelling.

After the operation, the patient may feel some slight discomfort or soreness, but this will diminish completely after a few days.

An important thing to note is that vasectomy doesn't immediately rid the semen of sperm, which resides distal to the vasectomy site, so there's still a need to continue using other birth control methods for up to 3 months after the surgery. Usually, it would take 20 ejaculations before the patient is cleared to have unprotected sex. The attending physician normally conducts follow-up semen analysis to check whether sperm are still present.

Another thing to understand is that vasectomy is effective only in preventing pregnancies, and not sexually transmitted diseases.

Individuals and couples are strongly recommended to think very carefully about whether to have a vasectomy or not. This is because the operation itself is generally regarded as a final or permanent birth control method.

However, it is now possible to reverse or undo vasectomies. Reasons for doing so may be personal (change of heart or remarriage) or, in rare cases, medical (post-vasectomy pain treatment).

Vasectomy reversal, albeit a much more complex procedure than vasectomy which takes about 3 hours using a microscope, is generally safe and poses few to no complications under the skillful hands of a urologist. The success rate of a vasectomy reversal ranges from 40 to 90 per cent. The longer the period between a vasectomy and reversal, the less likelihood of reversal success.