Men's Health

  1. Home
  2. Health
  3. Men's Health

How is a vasectomy operation performed?

From About.com

Updated: May 29, 2006

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

Question: How is a vasectomy operation performed?

Answer:

A local anesthetic is administered prior to the operation. The vas deferens are operated on one at a time. A very small incision is made and the tube is cut then sutured, cauterized, or clipped to closed them off. In a no-scalpel vasectomy a special forcep punctures (rather than cuts) the skin. In the one tiny puncture both tubes are tied off , cauterized or blocked. This procedure does not require any sutures.

Both types of vasectomy have the same result in as much as it makes the man sterile by keeping the sperm out of the seminal fluid. The sperm continue to be produced in the testes but are absorbed into the body with no ill effects. What this means is you will still ejaculate fluid as before, but without the sperm in it, there is no danger of an unwanted pregnancy.

Pictures of Vasectomy Procedure

More Men's Health Q&A

Explore Men's Health

More from About.com

Men's Health

  1. Home
  2. Health
  3. Men's Health
  4. Embarrassments
  5. Genital & sexual issues
  6. How is a vasectomy operation performed?

©2008 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.