How Bad is a Vasectomy, anyway?

[topless_mike]

Dear Dr Steve,

I have suddenly found myself addicted to your forum. You are a man of great wit, amazing knowledge, and impeccable people skills. I think that you could kick Steven K. Galson's ass anyday.

Anyhoo, I have a pretty big question. My wife just gave birth to our 2nd child. We said that we would go "2 n through" I am seriously considering a vasectomy, but have a couple of questions.

a) what is the success rate of vasectomies (keeping the army "in the bunker", if you will)
b) how uncomfortable is it to undergo?
c) how long is the "abstainance time" for recovery ? (not that its an issue :glurps:)


As always, thanks dood.

~TLM

[Dr Steve]

Dear Dr Steve,

I have suddenly found myself addicted to your forum. You are a man of great wit, amazing knowledge, and impeccable people skills.

I wonder if you're still thinking that a month later. :-) sorry it took me so long. I'm on a new dose of medication; maybe that'll help me to not procrastinate so much.


I think that you could kick Steven K. Galson's ass anyday.

Don't know who he is, but I got the www.doctorsteve.com domain so I've already kicked his ass, at least in that regard.



Anyhoo, I have a pretty big question. My wife just gave birth to our 2nd child. We said that we would go "2 n through" I am seriously considering a vasectomy, but have a couple of questions.

a) what is the success rate of vasectomies (keeping the army "in the bunker", if you will)
b) how uncomfortable is it to undergo?
c) how long is the "abstainance time" for recovery ? (not that its an issue :glurps:)

1) some vasectomies do indeed reverse themselves. The rate in the literature is 1 in 2000 to 1 in 4000. In other words, pretty damn rare. My urologist wouldn't give me the green light for unprotected sex until I gave him a sperm sample with no cells in it, and even then wouldn't "guarantee" that it would never reverse itself. If you're really paranoid about it, a yearly sperm cell count wouldn't cost too much, but seriously, if I gave you a 3999:1 chance of success in Vegas, you'd bet everything you had.

2) I did a whole segment on my own vasectomy I think on the first Weird Medicine which is archived at http://www.atomsmotion.com/weirdmedicine.htm . It's in the first 30 minutes, I think. I'll give you the short version here. First, you get into "pap smear" position, which will give you an inkling of how women feel to have their genitals prodded once a year (or more). It's pretty weird, but not intolerable. Hopefully you shave yourself the night before and don't forget like I did and have the urologist DRY SHAVING YOUR NUTS WITH A DAISY RAZOR (skritch! skritch! skritch!). Do it yourself and save yourself the discomfort. Anyway, after that, it's just about the numbing. When they stick the needle into the vas deferens (see illustration), it feels like the needle is going into the testicle itself. For about 1 second. Maybe 10. Then it's over. There is NO discomfort during the procedure itself, and for maybe an hour or two afterward. Then it feels like someone kicked you in the nuts, hard for a few days. I wore a cup and I was able to work on the second day. I wore the cup for about a week.

3) It can take many, many ejaculations to clear the pipes out...I think my urologist told me to bring him a sample after 15 splooges. And told me to abstain for a week after the surgery which was no problem thanks to the whole feeling like you've been kicked by a mule in the nuts thing. I still had cells and wasn't cleared for duty until after about 20 as I recall. I think the stats are a 75% clear rate after 25 ejaculations. That's close, anyway, and the surgeon will give you the scoop when you go.

Doing a vasectomy is a hellofalot less invasive than doing a tubal ligation on a woman, so you're doing a good thing. Let me know how it goes.


your pal,



steve

http://www.besthealth.com/besthealth/bodyguide/reftext/images/10016.jpg

[boosterp]

When I had my vasectomy 6 years ago the urologist used little plastic clips on the vas coming from the testicle side after he snipped them. Causes no pain nor can I feel them when doing a nut check.

Had the procedure done on a Thursday and was back to work the following Monday.

[silks]

Had mine done 2 years ago. Traditional, not scalpel free. It was a breeze. Very little discomfort. The procedure took 20 minutes, and the only thing that made me feel a little uneasy was the burning smell when the urologist cauterized those bastards shut.

Like Dr. Steve said, it feels like you've been kicked hard for a couple of days afterward. The next day I did nothing but lay in bed with a bag of frozen peas on my nuts. I had it done on a Friday and was back to work on Monday. Wearing a cup is definitely a must - I wore one for a week afterward. I was clear after about a dozen ejaculations.

[razorboy]

Without any basis for my opinion whatsoever, I'll say awful.

[disneyspy]

i once pissed on an electric fence,that was pretty bad

[nate1000]

One bag of peas in the freezer, one on your lap. Rotate every hour. This + XBOX + vicodine= very quick weekend. All set by monday.