Vasectomy (in hospital)

A vasectomy is a form of surgical male sterilization that helps prevent pregnancy by blocking the vas deferens, the duct that carries sperm. A vasectomy should be considered permanent, even though it is possible to have the procedure reversed if desired. Only abstinence is 100% effective at preventing pregnancy, but a vasectomy is generally considered one of the most effective forms of birth control.

The vasectomy is a minimally invasive procedure that can be performed in an outpatient surgery center or a doctor’s office.

The entire procedure usually lasts about 20 minutes. Local anesthesia will be applied to the scrotum, and then a small incision will be made in the skin. The vas deferens is then cut and tied off, blocking sperm from reaching the semen. There should be very little sensation during the procedure, though some men do report feeling a slight pulling sensation. In many cases, there is very little bleeding and stitches may not even be necessary.

After the vasectomy, tests will be performed to detect the presence of sperm in the semen to make sure the procedure is effective. The testes will continue to produce sperm, but like other cells, sperm cells are reabsorbed by the body when they die.