Male sterilisation (vasectomy)
What is it and how does it work?
A permanent method of contraception in which the tubes ("vas deferens") carrying the man's sperm from the testicles to the penis are cut or blocked.
The man's feelings, sex drive, ability to have an erection and climax won't be affected by having a vasectomy. The body will continue to produce sperm, but it will be absorbed by the body. The appearance and amount of semen and the feelings of climaxing should be the same as before.
What are the advantages of it?
It is a permanent method of contraception. Simple operation which only takes about 10-15 minutes.
Disadvantages
- usually takes a few months for all the sperm to disappear from your semen. You need to use another method of contraception until you have had two semen tests (after eight to twelve weeks after the vasectomy) which show that you have no sperm
- although uncommon, the tubes may rejoin and you can become fertile again
- does not protect you against sexually transmitted infections
- cannot be easily reversed.
Who can use it?
Only for people who are sure they do not want to have any more children or never want to have children. Therefore, you should get full information and counselling if you want to be sterilised. You should not decide to be sterilised if you or your partner are not completely sure or you are under any stress (e.g. after a birth, miscarriage, abortion, or family or relationship crisis). Although there is an operation to reverse sterilisation, it is complicated, expensive (often not available on the NHS) and may not work.
Where can you get advice about sterilisation?
You can go to a Family Planning Clinic, your GP or practice nurse. All treatment you get is confidential and free. NHS waiting lists for sterilisation can be quite long, depending on where you live. You can have the operation done privately.
How effective is it?
There is a very slight risk that sterilisation will not work, as the tubes that carry the sperm can rejoin after sterilisation. A vasectomy can fail immediately or some years after the operation has been carried out. Once a vasectomy is presumed to have worked (after two clear semen tests) about 1 in 2,000 male sterilisations fail.
Contacts
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Adapted from information produced by the FPA - www.fpa.org.uk
