Urology Help Forums: No-Scalpel Vasectomy

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How can I be sure I want a vasectomy—any vasectomy?
Be absolutely sure you don't want to father a child under any circumstances. Talk to your partner: it's a good idea to make the decision together. Consider other kinds of birth control. Talk to a friend or relative who has had a vasectomy. Think about how you would feel if your partner had an unplanned pregnancy. Talk with a doctor, nurse, or family planning counselor. 
A vasectomy might not be right for you if you are very young, your current relationship is not stable, you are having the vasectomy just to please your partner, you are under a lot of stress, or you are counting on being able to reverse the procedure later. 
General information about vasectomy

What are the advantages of no-scalpel vasectomy?

No incision

No stitches

Faster procedure

Faster recovery

Less chance of bleeding and other complications

Less discomfort

Just as effective

What is different about a no-scalpel vasectomy?
No-scalpel vasectomy is different from a conventional vasectomy in the way the doctor gets to the tubes. In addition, an improved method of anesthesia helps make the procedure less painful. 
 In a conventional vasectomy, after the scrotum has been numbed with a local anesthetic, the doctor makes one or two small cuts in the skin and lifts out each tube in turn, cutting and blocking them so the sperm cannot reach the semen. Then the doctor stitches the cuts closed. 
In a no-scalpel vasectomy, the doctor feels for the tubes under the skin and holds them in place with a small clamp. Instead of making two incisions, the doctor makes one tiny puncture with a special instrument. The same instrument is used to gently stretch the opening so the tubes can be reached. The tubes are then blocked using the same methods as conventional vasectomy. There is very little bleeding with the no-scalpel technique. No stitches are needed to close the tiny opening, which heals quickly, with no scar. The no-scalpel vasectomy was invented by a Chinese surgeon, and is used throughout China. It was introduced in the United States in 1988, and many doctors in this country have now mastered the technique.

Are there any risks associated with no-scalpel vasectomy?
Vasectomy in general is safe and simple, and there are fewer complications associated with no-scalpel vasectomy. Most postoperative complications of vasectomy are minor and can be treated with mild non-aspirin painkillers and local application of ice. The following problems will usually subside within 1-2 weeks:

Swelling and/or tenderness of the scrotum

Bruising

Pain
More significant complications are generally quite rare, but include:

An infection or swelling around the incision(s) or inside your scrotum

Bleeding under the skin that might cause swelling or bruising

Sperm granulomas, which are small lumps that form when sperm leak from the vas into the surrounding tissue. The majority of sperm granulomas are asymptomatic. In some cases, they require surgical treatment.
Serious long-term problems associated with vasectomy are rare. However, while postoperative vasectomy pain usually subsides within 1-2 weeks, some men report chronic testicular pain or discomfort following vasectomy. Most cases of post-vasectomy pain can be treated with non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, sitz baths, antibiotics, or spermatic cord blocks (an injection that helps to deaden the pain).

Does no-scalpel vasectomy work?
It is as effective as any other vasectomy method. There is a less than 1% chance that a man's partner will become pregnant.

How long will a no-scalpel vasectomy procedure take?
It depends upon the doctor, but on average, about 10 minutes. Most vasectomies are done right in the doctor's office, or in a clinic. 
Will it hurt?
Before the vasectomy, the doctor may give you a mild sedative to relax you. When the local anesthetic is injected into the skin of the scrotum, you will feel some discomfort. But as soon as it takes effect, you should feel no pain. Afterwards, you will be sore for a couple of days, and you might want to take a mild non-aspirin painkiller. But the discomfort is usually less with the no-scalpel technique, because there is less injury to the tissues. Also, there are no stitches. Your doctor or nurse will provide you with complete instructions about what to do after surgery.

How soon can I go back to work?
You should not do heavy physical labor for at least 48 hours after your vasectomy. If your job doesn't involve this kind of work, you can go back sooner. Many men have their vasectomies on Friday so they can take it easy over the weekend and go back to work on Monday.

Will vasectomy change me sexually?
The only thing that will change is that you will not be able to make your partner pregnant. Your body will continue to produce the hormones that make you a man. You will have the same amount of semen. Vasectomy won't change your beard, your muscles, your sex drive, your erections, or your climaxes. Some men say that without the worry of accidental pregnancy and the bother of other birth control methods, sex is more relaxed and enjoyable than before.

Will I be sterile right away?
No. After a vasectomy, there are always some active sperm left in your system. It takes about 20 ejaculations to clear them. You and your partner should use some other form of family planning until your doctor tests your semen and tells you it is free of sperm.

When can I start having sex again?
As soon as you are comfortable, but remember to use some other kind of family planning until the doctor says you are sterile.

Does vasectomy cause any medical problems?
Most medical experts, including special panels convened by the National Institutes of Health and by the World Health Organization, have concluded that vasectomy is a safe procedure. A number of large-scale, well-designed epidemiological studies have examined the long-term health effects of vasectomy. The body of research evidence continues to be reassuring and suggests that vasectomized men are no more likely than other men to develop heart disease, testicular or prostate cancer, immune complex disorders, or other illnesses. A small percentage of men have reported chronic testicular pain or discomfort following vasectomy. 

Will vasectomy protect me against getting or passing on sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV infection?
No. Vasectomy only prevents pregnancy. If you are at risk of infection because your partner has a sexually transmitted infection, or because you or your partner have more than one sex partner; or if you have an STI you can pass on, the best way to protect yourself and your partner is by using condoms. Aside from abstinence, male and female condoms offer the best protection against HIV infection and other STIs.

Can a no-scalpel vasectomy be reversed?
No more than any other vasectomy procedure. All vasectomies should be considered permanent. Reversal operations are expensive and not always successful. If you are thinking about reversal, perhaps vasectomy is not right for you.

Edited by Urology - 15 Mar 2007 at 12:29am

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Urology Admin Group Joined: 14 Mar 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 25	Topic: No-Scalpel Vasectomy Posted: 15 Mar 2007 at 12:28am
	How can I be sure I want a vasectomy—any vasectomy? Be absolutely sure you don't want to father a child under any circumstances. Talk to your partner: it's a good idea to make the decision together. Consider other kinds of birth control. Talk to a friend or relative who has had a vasectomy. Think about how you would feel if your partner had an unplanned pregnancy. Talk with a doctor, nurse, or family planning counselor. A vasectomy might not be right for you if you are very young, your current relationship is not stable, you are having the vasectomy just to please your partner, you are under a lot of stress, or you are counting on being able to reverse the procedure later. General information about vasectomy What are the advantages of no-scalpel vasectomy? No incision No stitches Faster procedure Faster recovery Less chance of bleeding and other complications Less discomfort Just as effective What is different about a no-scalpel vasectomy? No-scalpel vasectomy is different from a conventional vasectomy in the way the doctor gets to the tubes. In addition, an improved method of anesthesia helps make the procedure less painful. In a conventional vasectomy, after the scrotum has been numbed with a local anesthetic, the doctor makes one or two small cuts in the skin and lifts out each tube in turn, cutting and blocking them so the sperm cannot reach the semen. Then the doctor stitches the cuts closed. In a no-scalpel vasectomy, the doctor feels for the tubes under the skin and holds them in place with a small clamp. Instead of making two incisions, the doctor makes one tiny puncture with a special instrument. The same instrument is used to gently stretch the opening so the tubes can be reached. The tubes are then blocked using the same methods as conventional vasectomy. There is very little bleeding with the no-scalpel technique. No stitches are needed to close the tiny opening, which heals quickly, with no scar. The no-scalpel vasectomy was invented by a Chinese surgeon, and is used throughout China. It was introduced in the United States in 1988, and many doctors in this country have now mastered the technique. Are there any risks associated with no-scalpel vasectomy? Vasectomy in general is safe and simple, and there are fewer complications associated with no-scalpel vasectomy. Most postoperative complications of vasectomy are minor and can be treated with mild non-aspirin painkillers and local application of ice. The following problems will usually subside within 1-2 weeks: Swelling and/or tenderness of the scrotum Bruising Pain More significant complications are generally quite rare, but include: An infection or swelling around the incision(s) or inside your scrotum Bleeding under the skin that might cause swelling or bruising Sperm granulomas, which are small lumps that form when sperm leak from the vas into the surrounding tissue. The majority of sperm granulomas are asymptomatic. In some cases, they require surgical treatment. Serious long-term problems associated with vasectomy are rare. However, while postoperative vasectomy pain usually subsides within 1-2 weeks, some men report chronic testicular pain or discomfort following vasectomy. Most cases of post-vasectomy pain can be treated with non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, sitz baths, antibiotics, or spermatic cord blocks (an injection that helps to deaden the pain). Does no-scalpel vasectomy work? It is as effective as any other vasectomy method. There is a less than 1% chance that a man's partner will become pregnant. How long will a no-scalpel vasectomy procedure take? It depends upon the doctor, but on average, about 10 minutes. Most vasectomies are done right in the doctor's office, or in a clinic. Will it hurt? Before the vasectomy, the doctor may give you a mild sedative to relax you. When the local anesthetic is injected into the skin of the scrotum, you will feel some discomfort. But as soon as it takes effect, you should feel no pain. Afterwards, you will be sore for a couple of days, and you might want to take a mild non-aspirin painkiller. But the discomfort is usually less with the no-scalpel technique, because there is less injury to the tissues. Also, there are no stitches. Your doctor or nurse will provide you with complete instructions about what to do after surgery. How soon can I go back to work? You should not do heavy physical labor for at least 48 hours after your vasectomy. If your job doesn't involve this kind of work, you can go back sooner. Many men have their vasectomies on Friday so they can take it easy over the weekend and go back to work on Monday. Will vasectomy change me sexually? The only thing that will change is that you will not be able to make your partner pregnant. Your body will continue to produce the hormones that make you a man. You will have the same amount of semen. Vasectomy won't change your beard, your muscles, your sex drive, your erections, or your climaxes. Some men say that without the worry of accidental pregnancy and the bother of other birth control methods, sex is more relaxed and enjoyable than before. Will I be sterile right away? No. After a vasectomy, there are always some active sperm left in your system. It takes about 20 ejaculations to clear them. You and your partner should use some other form of family planning until your doctor tests your semen and tells you it is free of sperm. When can I start having sex again? As soon as you are comfortable, but remember to use some other kind of family planning until the doctor says you are sterile. Does vasectomy cause any medical problems? Most medical experts, including special panels convened by the National Institutes of Health and by the World Health Organization, have concluded that vasectomy is a safe procedure. A number of large-scale, well-designed epidemiological studies have examined the long-term health effects of vasectomy. The body of research evidence continues to be reassuring and suggests that vasectomized men are no more likely than other men to develop heart disease, testicular or prostate cancer, immune complex disorders, or other illnesses. A small percentage of men have reported chronic testicular pain or discomfort following vasectomy. Will vasectomy protect me against getting or passing on sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV infection? No. Vasectomy only prevents pregnancy. If you are at risk of infection because your partner has a sexually transmitted infection, or because you or your partner have more than one sex partner; or if you have an STI you can pass on, the best way to protect yourself and your partner is by using condoms. Aside from abstinence, male and female condoms offer the best protection against HIV infection and other STIs. Can a no-scalpel vasectomy be reversed? No more than any other vasectomy procedure. All vasectomies should be considered permanent. Reversal operations are expensive and not always successful. If you are thinking about reversal, perhaps vasectomy is not right for you. Edited by Urology - 15 Mar 2007 at 12:29am
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