For
men who are done having children or are sure they do not want children, a vasectomy
is a sterilization procedure that is nearly 100 percent effective. This makes
it an efficient form of birth control.
During
a vasectomy, the tubes that transport sperm from the testes and out the urethra
are cut and then tied or sealed in such a way that sperm is unable to enter the
ejaculate and result in fertilization of the female egg, thus making the man
sterile and unable to produce children.
This
outpatient procedure is brief (typically less than 30 minutes) and is often
performed by a urologist in a medical clinic or office setting. Hospital stay
is not necessary since a vasectomy is an uncomplicated technique that only entails
small incisions and routine surgical instruments—the patient is only required
to stay in the physician’s office for a short recovery period (usually less
than an hour) and is then sent home to rest.
With
a traditional vasectomy, a needle is used to numb the scrotum with a local
anesthetic. Two tiny incisions—one on each side of the scrotum—are then made
with a scalpel, as to allow the surgeon to pull each vas deferens tube to the
surface so that it can be isolated and separated from the scrotal tissue. Once
the tubes are secluded from the scrotum, they are sealed off using sutures or are
burned using electrical cautery.
While
there are several variations of this method, all end with the vas deferens
tubes being occluded or sealed off. The most common and advantageous include:
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About Jason Hedges, MD, Ph.D.
Dr. Hedges specializes in men's sexual health with a particular emphasis on vasectomy, vasectomy reversal, and erectile dysfunction. He has advanced fellowship training in these areas as well as a Ph.D. in Cell & Molecular Biology. He is committed to making men's sexual health needs easily accessible, efficient, and effective. Infertility and erectile dysfunction are by nature extremely personal, and can drastically affect a person's quality of life. He aims to help patients improve their quality of life.
Featured Specialist for Vasectomy in Portland, OR
Call Now: (503) 836-7942 3303 SW Bond Ave. Portland, OR 97239-4501
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