“Vasectomy is one of the most effective methods of birth control; about 33 times more effective than oral contraception and about 90 times more effective than condoms but not immediately.” – Dr. Charles Davis, a clinical professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
***
Come November 27, Davao City will observe World Vasectomy Day, a global event that encourages men to actively participate in family planning. It highlights vasectomy as a safe, simple, and effective method of birth control.
During the celebration taking place in Davao, a motorcade is scheduled, and a mini-forum will be organized at Rizal Park, as reported by Maya Padillo. Her information was sourced from Jerrielyn Lewis, who is the head of the Davao City Population Division.
Lewis stated that the purpose of the event is to inform the public about the importance of male participation in family planning and to motivate eligible men to consider the No-Scalpel Vasectomy (NSV).
The NSV, according to the Australia-based website, the vasectomist.com, is a minimally invasive procedure designed for male sterilization. The physician employs a specialized instrument to create a small puncture in the skin instead of a large incision, thereby minimizing bleeding and discomfort.
The website said the NSV method generally leads to a faster recovery period, frequently enabling patients to resume their regular activities within a week.
According to Lewis, Davao City has been providing free NSV services since 2008 through the Population Division of the City Health Office. She also mentioned that the city is the only one in Mindanao offering this male-focused family planning method.
“Vasectomy is a safe and highly effective method of birth control accepted by many couples throughout the world,” assured the Atlanta-based US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A form of permanent contraception, it “can prevent pregnancy by blocking the transport of sperm out of the testes.”
While it is common in the United States – where almost half a million of vasectomy procedures are performed each year – vasectomy is unpopular in the Philippines. Most Filipinos, according to a study done by the Department of Health (DOH) confused vasectomy with castration, which is the surgical removal of the testicle(s).
There are those who believe that once a man goes through with vasectomy, he would become effeminate and gentle. Others think that the procedure will make a man not enjoy sex anymore as he used to.
Vasectomy is the most effective permanent form of birth control available to men. Contrary to what most people believe, vasectomy is a surgical procedure for male sterilization. During the procedure, the tube (vas deferens) of a man are severed, and then tied/sealed in a manner so that the sperms are prevented from entering into the seminal stream (ejaculate).
A vasectomy is usually performed in a physician’s office or medical clinic. “My vasectomy was incredibly easy,” remarked Noel, a 35-year-old entrepreneur who had the procedure done. “I was just as anxious as anyone else about it. The most challenging aspect was the month of anticipation following my appointment. In reality, it was no more uncomfortable than receiving a dental filling. I experienced no significant pain afterward, nor any swelling.”
Here’s an explanation why a man can no longer get a woman pregnant once he undergoes vasectomy from medicinenet.com: “Sperm are made in the two testicles, which are inside the scrotum. Sperm is stored in a tube attached to each testicle called the epididymis. When a man ejaculates, the sperm travel from the epididymis, through the vas deferens, and then mix with seminal fluid to form semen. The semen then travels through the urethra and out the penis. Before a vasectomy, semen contains sperm and seminal fluid. After a vasectomy, sperm are no longer in the semen. The man’s testicles will make less sperm over time, and his body will absorb any sperm that are made.”
Just because you have undergone a vasectomy procedure, you can immediately have sex with your partner. Wait, if you must. “It usually takes several months after a vasectomy for all remaining sperm to be ejaculated or reabsorbed,” WebMd.com informs. “You must use another method of birth control until you have a semen sample tested and it shows a zero sperm count. Otherwise, you can still get your partner pregnant.”
In fact, there is still a small risk that the vasectomy will fail, which can lead to unintended pregnancy. According to medicinenet.com, among 1,000 vasectomies, 11 will likely fail over 2 years; and half of these failures will occur within the first 3 months after surgery.
The risk of failure depends on a number of factors. For example, some surgical techniques are more likely to fail than others. In addition, there is a very small risk that the two ends of the vas deferens will grow back together. If this happens, sperm may be able to enter the semen and make pregnancy possible.
While it is true that vasectomy is safe and highly effective, there are some problems that could occur after surgery and over time, according to medicinenet.com.
“After surgery, most men have discomfort, bruising, and some swelling, all of which usually go away within two weeks,” the website points out. “Problems that can occur after surgery and need to be checked by a health care provider include hematoma (bleeding under the skin that can lead to painful swelling) and infection (with fever and scrotal redness and tenderness as signs).”
Now regarding whether vasectomy will affect a man’s sex life, medicinenet.com has this answer: “Vasectomy will not affect your sex life. It does not decrease your sex drive because it does not affect the production of the male hormone testosterone. It also does not affect your ability to get an erection or ejaculate semen. Because the sperm make up a very small amount of the semen, you will not notice a difference in the amount of semen you ejaculate.”
—###
