So, you finally decided to not have any more children, but you’re concerned about your options. And specifically, you’re wondering if a vasectomy could lead to erectile dysfunction. If this is you, then don’t go anywhere or make any decisions before reading this page!
If you were to ask about the best ways to prevent pregnancy or the best contraceptive methods, the best answer would be via a vasectomy. For those who don’t know, it is a minor surgical process that involves snipping the vas deferens in order to prevent sperm from getting mixed in with a man’s semen.
Because of the high success rates of this procedure, more and more men are undergoing a vasectomy. However, along with the rise in the number of folks opting for this surgery, we also see a rise in the confusion around the procedure, as well as some common concerns and myths. The most common question being asked is; can the vasectomy procedure cause erectile dysfunction?
If you only have time for the short answer…no! A vasectomy doesn’t cause erectile dysfunction. It doesn’t affect your sexual ability either. In fact, the majority of erection issues reported following a vasectomy are due to psychological problems from having the vasectomy, not because of anything physical. Contrary to the popular misconception, studies have suggested that men become more relaxed and more sexually active after a vasectomy, such as a vasectomy procedure in New Castle, as they don’t stress about pregnancy in bed any further.
How Does A Vasectomy Work?
To understand why a vasectomy wouldn’t cause erectile dysfunction, you need to understand the basics of the procedure. A vasectomy is a permanent process that prevents sperm from getting mixed with semen, the fluid substance that gets ejaculated. In this surgery, the tubes that transfer sperm from the testicles to the penis are cut. This means, no sperm will be present when the man ejaculates. This ensures that there is no chance of a woman’s egg getting fertilized.
At Vasectomy Australia, we use the no-Scalpel Vasectomy technique for our procedure. This is a quick and painless procedure, that only takes a few minutes of your day, and you can return home the same day of your surgery. And though the surgery may result in swelling or bruising of your scrotum, this is considered completely normal, and you’ll be fine after some time.
So because a vasectomy doesn’t involve touching any of the biological elements that influence erections, erectile dysfunction post-operation is not biologically possible.
To give you a clearer picture of the vasectomy procedure, here are some general details and facts about it, that should help you to feel more comfortable when considering this option;
- A vasectomy is considered to be the best way to sterilize a man.
- It is 99% effective.
- It is best to consider vasectomy as a permanent procedure. This means, once it is done, you don’t have to think about contraceptive methods again. While there is a reversal process, it is not a guarantee and can prove challenging. So only consider opting for this surgery if you’re confident that you don’t want to have more kids.
- Vasectomy doesn’t show the result instantly. You would still need to use additional contraception methods for up to 12 weeks after the surgery, as it is possible for some sperm to still be floating in your tubes connected to your penis. Only during your follow-up visits with your doctor where they can confirm the complete elimination of sperm, you can consider yourself safely sterile.
- A vasectomy prevents pregnancy but it doesn’t prevent sexually transmitted infections or STIs, so don’t ditch the condoms or safe sex practices entirely if you are concerned about the potential for transmission.
Many men will avoid considering having a vasectomy, as they worry about its potential to impact their ability to achieve erections post-surgery. While you should never be pressured into doing anything you aren’t comfortable or certain with, the no-scalpel surgery option through Vasectomy Australia does not make any incisions or cuts that would cause future erectile dysfunctions moving forward.
If you have other questions or concerns about the vasectomy procedure, we’d love to help clarify them for you. Please contact us at 1800 SNIPME (1800 764 763) or email us at info@vasectomyaustralia.com.au
About The Author
Geoff Cashion
Dr Cashion was born in Brisbane and grew up in Rockhampton. After graduating in medicine from the University of Queensland in 2002 he spent many years working in emergency medicine and general practice. He completed training in the No Scalpel Vasectomy technique under Dr Doug Stein in Florida with further training undertaken in Australia. Opening Vasectomy Australia, he has grown it into one of the largest providers of Vasectomy in Australia, while still performing more than 3500 vasectomies a year himself.
