Vasectomy

Vasectomy as a Viable Birth Control Option

Something You Should Know if You Are Considering a Vasectomy

Some doctors say that a vasectomy cannot be reversed. If you are a man considering having a vasectomy done as a form of birth control, you must keep in mind that the procedure may be permanent. If you are a young man and want to have children in the future then a vasectomy is not the best form of birth control for you.

Vasectomy Drawbacks

There are drawbacks to having ,a vasectomy done, the first being there is a small percentage, a bit over 1 in 1000 that the vasa deferentia may grow back and make it possible for you to father a child. It’s a small percentage but it can happen. Another drawback is that it is still possible to father children up to 8 weeks after having a vasectomy. So during that time, and possibly longer if the tests your doctor performs at 6 and 8 weeks say there is still viable sperm, you will have to use an alternate method of birth control. Also, a vasectomy does not provide protection against STD’s or HIV, so you may still have to use a condom. A final set of draw backs, although not ones many doctors are considering too seriously just yet are the possibility that having a vasectomy might increase your risk of osteoporosis, heart disease, testicular cancer, and prostate cancer. So far there are no studies which back up these concerns, but experts are beginning to voice them.

Possible Vasectomy Complications

In addition to the drawbacks previously mentioned there are some possible complications that can occur should you choose to use this procedure as your birth control option. These are infection, inflammation, scrotal pain, and bleeding inside the scrotum. If you suffer from any of the following symptoms, difficulty urinating, a lump in the scrotum, swelling that does not go down and worsens, and finally running a fever after having this birth control procedure, it is recommended you see a doctor immediately.

Vasectomy Benefits

One of the main benefits, particularly if you are in a monogamous relationship is that neither you nor your partner will have to be concerned about unprotected sex resulting in a child. Another is that it is far less expensive as a permanent birth control option than the sister procedure, tubal ligation, for women. Part of the reason for this is that the procedure can be done in a doctor’s office or at a family planning clinic, and as such there is no hospital stay which reduces the cost considerably.

Vasectomy as a birth control option isn’t for everyone. However, if you and your partner have already had all the children you want, or your partner has a health condition which makes her getting pregnant dangerous, or either one or both of you cannot or are unwilling to use another form of birth control, then this surgical procedure may be the option for you.

Looking for more information on vasectomy, then please feel free to visit our other pages Affordable Vasectomy Reversal: An Inexpensive Option, What Happens After Vasectomy?, Determining the Average Cost of Vasectomy – Is it Affordable?, Having a Baby After a Vasectomy: Is it Possible?, The Cost of Vasectomy Reversal and Other Possible Alternatives, Ejaculation After a Vasectomy – What Every Man Needs to Know, The Issue of Failed Vasectomy Reversals, Charge It: Financing a Vasectomy Reversal, Financing a Vasectomy Reversal: Low Cost or More Expensive?, The Hemostat Vasectomy: A No-Scalpel Alternative to Surgery