5 Vasectomy Myths, Busted

A Keck Medicine of USC expert explains how easy, effective and painless a vasectomy really is.

Whether or not you’re in a committed relationship, birth control is an important concern. Each method has its pros and cons. A vasectomy can provide a quick, permanent solution. In addition to being highly effective, vasectomies are relatively painless and are often covered by insurance.

Information about vasectomies can be sparse, which makes a lot of people hesitate to consider the procedure. Kian Asanad, MD, director of the USC Fertility and Men’s Sexual Health Center, part of USC Urology and Keck Medicine of USC, debunks five of the most common myths about the vasectomy.

Myth 1: It’s really painful.

Understandably, the idea of a doctor performing a procedure on such a sensitive area may concern men. However, many patients are surprised by how quick and painless a vasectomy really is.

Dr. Asanad performs roughly 99% of vasectomies in his office, with patients under local anesthetic. The procedure only takes about 10 or 15 minutes to complete.

“I don’t use a needle or a scalpel, which makes the procedure much more comfortable,” Dr. Asanad says. “If anything, I’ll prescribe an anti-anxiety medicine for patients to take an hour before the vasectomy.”

He typically performs these procedures on a Friday so that patients can take the next day or two to recover over the weekend.

Myth 2: The effects are immediate.

Vasectomies work really well, but they take a little while to be fully effective.

“Sperm can remain in the vas deferens (the tube that carries sperm and is cut during a vasectomy) for up to about 25 ejaculations, or roughly 10 weeks after the procedure,” Dr. Asanad says. “Once this time has passed, I instruct patients to perform a semen test to confirm that they are sterile. Sometimes, there are some lingering sperm at that point. The clock resets for another 25 ejaculations, or 10 weeks. So, it can be a process for some men.”

When no sperm are present in the semen, the patient can have sex without worrying about the risk of pregnancy.

Myth 3: It can affect sexual function.

With a vasectomy, only the tubes carrying the sperm are affected; everything else remains in working order. Sperm are still produced by the testicles, but because they reach a “roadblock,” they are reabsorbed by the body instead.

“Some men are worried about erectile dysfunction, but that has more to do with hormone levels,” Dr. Asanad says. “The vas deferens has no role in the ability to get or sustain an erection.”

Research has shown that vasectomies don’t impact a man’s interest in sex or the quality of his orgasms, either.

“I would say some men actually have higher sex drives after a vasectomy because they have no fear of causing an accidental pregnancy,” Dr. Asanad says.

Myth 4: It’s permanent.

While a vasectomy is designed to be permanent, an experienced microsurgeon can effectively reverse it. Dr. Asanad says that only a few microsurgeons in Southern California, including himself, offer this service.

As Dr. Asanad explains, “The vasectomy reversal process is not as simple as the original vasectomy procedure. It’s not typically done in the office but in a hospital, under general anesthesia. And instead of taking 10-15 minutes, a reversal can take two to three hours.”

While the success rate for vasectomy reversal is very high — generally more than 95% — achieving a pregnancy is not guaranteed, he adds. “Female factors must also be considered when it comes to conception,” Dr. Asanad states.

Dr. Asanad notes that if a patient decides they do want children but don’t want to undergo the reversal procedure to achieve a natural pregnancy, extracting sperm directly from the testicle for in vitro fertilization (IVF) is an alternative approach. “This is also highly successful,” he adds.

Myth 5: It can increase the risk of prostate cancer.

“For a time, scientists were concerned about a correlation between higher rates of prostate cancer diagnosis and medical histories that included a vasectomy,” Dr. Asanad says. “They soon realized, however, that this was simply a matter of vasectomy patients having more frequent men’s health visits and screenings. It had nothing to do with the procedure itself.”

Since then, studies have shown that having a vasectomy has no impact on a patient’s risk of someday developing prostate cancer.

If anyone with male sex organs has decided that they don’t want children — or more children — vasectomies are one of the safest options available. Talking with a doctor is the best way to determine whether a vasectomy is the best choice for you.

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