A vasectomy is a form of sterilization. That’s why it’s one of the only forms of birth control that’s virtually 100% guaranteed to prevent pregnancy … eventually.
However, you may have heard of cases where a friend (or a friend of a friend) got a partner pregnant after he was snipped. Is that a real possibility or just an urban legend?
Alex Lesani, MD, a skilled urologist and urologic surgeon, has performed no-scalpel vasectomies for more than 10 years. A vasectomy is a simple, nearly pain-free procedure that he performs in the comfort, privacy, and convenience of our Las Vegas, Nevada, office.
If you’re considering a vasectomy because you don’t want any or any more children, you must follow your after-care instructions precisely to avoid unwanted pregnancies. Here’s what to do, and why.
Even though a vasectomy severs the tubes that carry sperm from your testes into your seminal fluid, you could still have sperm in the upper portion of your tubes that had traveled there previously. That’s why you must use birth control until your sperm count is officially zero.
It may take several months and up to 30 ejaculations before you have no sperm in your semen. Dr. Lesani tests your semen until he detects no sperm at all. At that point, you’re free to discontinue the extra contraception.
Without any sperm in your semen, you can’t father a child. However, the only form of birth control that’s 100% effective is abstaining from all sex. Because you elected for a vasectomy, however, it’s unlikely that you’d want to take that route.
A vasectomy is considered to be 99% effective against pregnancy, which is the highest percentage achieved by any form of birth control other than abstinence. In theory, however, a man with a vasectomy could impregnate a partner for up to a year after the procedure. So, if you’re worried, you should continue to use another form of birth control for another year.
It’s also important to note that if you need to protect yourself or your partner from sexually trasnmitted diseases (STDs), a vasectomy won’t help. It prevents the sperm you produce from exiting your body, but it doesn’t prevent pathogens from entering. Or, if you have an STD and don’t use protection, you could pass it to your partner.
As long as you need STD protection, continue to use condoms. Even condoms, however, don’t protect against all forms of STDs. Both herpes and the human papilloma virus (HPV) can be transmitted through intimate touch alone.
Even though you’re 100% certain right now that you don’t want children, you may change your mind down the road. A vasectomy is considered a permanent sterilization procedure. In some cases, a vasectomy may be reversible.
Today’s vasectomy doesn’t require incisions or stitches. It’s a fast, easy, and virtually pain-free way to reduce the chances of pregnancy to zero within a year, if not before.
If you’re ready to book a scalpel-free vasectomy, phone our friendly team at 702-470-2579, or book your appointment online today.
