Vasectomy Specialists

Associated Urologists of North Carolina

Urologists located in Apex, Cary, Clayton, Dunn, Raleigh & Wake Forest, NC

Every year in the United States, more than half a million men choose to eliminate their risk of causing an unintended pregnancy by having a vasectomy. As a permanent form of male birth control, vasectomy surgery prevents sperm from entering your semen, which prevents it from leaving your body. The team of men’s health specialists at Associated Urologists of North Carolina offers vasectomy surgery and vasectomy reversal at their seven locations in Apex, Cary, Clayton, Dunn, Raleigh, and Wake Forest, North Carolina. Call your nearest office today.

Vasectomy Q & A

What is a Vasectomy?

Vasectomy surgery is a safe and effective way for men to attain permanent birth control. The simple procedure, which is usually done in an outpatient setting, works by disconnecting the pathway that allows sperm to enter your semen.

Your semen is what carries your sperm out of your body during ejaculation. While you still ejaculate normally following a vasectomy, your semen no longer contains any sperm. Because the sperm that your body still produces has nowhere to go, it’s simply absorbed by your body.

What are the Benefits of a Vasectomy?

Quick, easy, and permanent vasectomy surgery means you can be intimate with your partner without having to worry about causing an unintended pregnancy. It also means you no longer have to worry about birth control.

Vasectomy surgery has been an effective form of permanent birth control for countless men over the years. With few risks or side effects, the procedure won’t affect your ability to get an erection or change your testosterone levels in any way.

It’s important to recognize, however, that a vasectomy can’t protect you from contracting a sexually transmitted disease (STD). To reduce your risk of getting an STD, you should always use condoms.

Why Do Men Opt for a Vasectomy?

Men have different reasons for wanting a vasectomy. Some have children already and don’t want to have any more in the future, while others simply don’t wish to become a father at all.

Some men opt for a vasectomy if they have a genetic disorder that they don’t want to pass on to a child; others choose to have the procedure if they’re in a stable, long-term relationship, and pregnancy would be a health risk for their partner.

A vasectomy isn’t the right birth control solution for men who are unsure about whether they’ll want children in the future or young men who may have other partners in the future.

How Effective is Vasectomy Surgery?

Vasectomy surgery is nearly 100% effective — fewer than 1% of men who have a vasectomy go on to cause a pregnancy. The procedure isn’t effective right away, however, as some sperm remain in your semen, just beyond the disconnected part of the tubes.

Following a vasectomy, you must continue using another form of birth control for up to three months, or until your semen is sperm-free. During your follow-up visit, your doctor at Associated Urologists of North Carolina checks your semen to make sure it no longer contains any sperm.

Is it Possible to Reverse a Vasectomy?

Yes. It is possible to reverse a vasectomy, but the surgery is more challenging than the original procedure. Vasectomy reversal typically involves microsurgery to reattach the vas deferens so sperm can exit the testes again.

The success rate for vasectomy reversal can vary from 30% to more than 90% depending on factors like your age, health, previous fertility issues, and the type of procedure used.

To learn more or to schedule an appointment, call your nearest Associated Urologists of North Carolina office today.