Genital Surgery isn’t the first thing that pops into a man’s head when you ask about their weekend plans. However, with birth control being the leader in fair and safe sex, genital surgery, especially a male vasectomy, is slowly making its rise on the average male’s to-do list.
While obsessing over the negatives of vasectomy is easy, the positive effects of a vasectomy are far greater and need not be ignored. In fact, every year, over 30,000 men in Australia get a vasectomy; with 1 in 4 males over the age of 40 have had a vasectomy.
The ever-rising popularity of vasectomies as a safe and effective method of birth control has inspired our surgeon, Dr. Cashion, a leading vasectomist in Australia, to provide you with the best vasectomy treatment option available at your earliest convenience.
What Is A Vasectomy?
A vasectomy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure during which your sperm ducts (Vas Deferens) which are responsible for carrying sperm from the testes, are cut.
The aim of this procedure is ultimately to leave a man sterile, in order to prevent further impregnation. A vasectomy is a permanent birth control method that is 99% effective.
Why Choose A Vasectomy?
A permanent method of birth control that is 99% effective sounds like it is either too good to be true or would come with a plethora of negative side effects, right?
Well, we here at Vasectomy Australia have carried out comprehensive research and review in discussion with other urologists that show that vasectomies do come with an overwhelming amount of benefits that can improve the quality of life for the man, and his partner.
Low Risk And Quick
The vasectomy procedure is relatively low risk. It is of significantly low risk that the vasectomy can be carried out as an in-office procedure in our practice at Vasectomy Australia in under 15 minutes.
No Effect On Sexual Function
The vasectomy procedure does not alter the body’s hormones. Cutting the sperm ducts does not affect the levels of testosterone, and the penis is not involved in the operation. Therefore, there should be little to no effect on sexual function.
The only noticeable effect people may notice is a 10% reduction in ejaculate volume, which does not alter one’s sexual health.
No General Anaesthetic
One of the most complicated and dangerous parts of surgery is general anaesthesia. Being put under general anaesthesia can result in a variety of complications. These complications are completely avoided using a no-scalpel vasectomy method, as the procedure is carried out using a local anesthetic that numbs only the area in question.
Quick Recovery
The vasectomies performed by Dr. Cashion are quick. He uses a special instrument in order to carry out his mastered no-scalpel technique which leaves no scars and has a recovery of 7-10 days. Dr. Cashion recommends that you abstain from sexual contact for 7 days, and use an ice pack for the first 2 days to avoid any swelling.
The most important rule to note when it comes to vasectomies is that you may still impregnate your partner for up to 3 months after the procedure. This is because there are still leftover sperms on the directional side of the sperm duct that may still release during ejaculation. It is therefore vital that you continue to use barrier methods until you have ejaculated around 20 times over 3 months to ensure that all live sperm is removed from the sperm duct. You would only be considered sterile following this period when confirmed by your doctor.
Doesn’t Break The Budget
Vasectomy procedures at Vasectomy Australia are considered very affordable, with prices averaging $795. Vasectomies also qualify, in part, for a Medicare rebate, so your out-of-pocket expenses are even less.
Am I A Good Candidate For A Vasectomy?
Now that we have explained to you a few of the main benefits that a vasectomy has to offer, you may be wondering what makes the perfect candidate for a vasectomy.
A good candidate would ask themselves the following questions;
- Have you and your partner decided that your family is now complete?
- Are you too old to have kids?
- Are you ready to take the responsibility for family planning?
- Do you want an effective and permanent barrier method?
If you’ve considered answering “yes” to any of these questions, then you’re probably in a position to consider if a vasectomy is right for you.
Vasectomies are not only for those who wish to stop extending their families but also a viable and effective procedure for those who are adamant that they do not want kids in the future. Certain vasectomy procedures are indeed reversible with varied success rates, and therefore can be a temporary solution, but results are difficult to guarantee, and anyone considering a vasectomy should do so with the expectation that it is permanent.
If you were thinking of options to have the best of both worlds, prior to a vasectomy procedure, you could consider sperm storage at your local hospital. This allows the hospital or clinic to freeze your sperm sample which can be used in the future if your family plans do indeed change.
Are There Any Vasectomy Options?
There are two main surgical methods of carrying out a vasectomy: the Scalpel or the non-scalpel option used at Vasectomy Australia. With the scalpel technique, your surgeon will use a scalpel to make a small 1-2cm incision on either side of your scrotum in order to gain access to your sperm ducts.
The no-scalpel technique uses a special instrument that produces a smaller hole of 1cm or less on either side of the scrotum. During this procedure the scarring will be minimal; the incision usually does not require stitching, whereas the scalpel method could lead to scars and stitching.
The vasectomy procedure once inside the scrotum is very similar for both procedures.
Complications That May Arise From A Vasectomy
All surgical and even some non-surgical procedures carry a certain amount of risk. Any procedure that requires cutting the skin can lead to infection, bruising, and swelling. However, the main concerning side effects that may arise from vasectomy are:
- Pain on ejaculation – this affects around 2% of men who undergo the procedure. This effect can be counteracted with pain medication, and in extreme cases, further surgery.
- Tender Testes – After surgeries, some men experience soft pain and tenderness in their testes.
Is There An Alternative To A Vasectomy?
When anyone talks about birth control, it an immediate reaction to assume that we are talking about birth control methods for women. However, with the growth of modern technology and advancements in science, more and more birth control methods for men are being developed which may come as an alternative to a vasectomy.
Birth Control – Male
The first and most obvious choice of birth control for men is the condom. Male condoms are the most popular and most commonly used form of birth control around the globe. Condoms are made of a thin latex sheath that is covered in spermicide. Not only do they kill the sperm, but they also prevent the sperm from entering the vagina.
Secondly, male contraception is currently in the works. Scientists all around the world are studying male hormonal pills. Although human tests have proved successful, further research is needed before their addition to everyday use.
Vasalgel – Male
Vasalgel is a concept that is currently being tested, that requires using an injection directly into the sperm ducts which blocks them off. One injection, no needles, no incisions. The benefit of using vasalgel is that you can then undo the procedure by simply flushing out the polymer injected into the sperm ducts.
Unfortunately, this product is not yet on the market due to further extensive testing that needs to be carried out.
Birth Control – Female
Birth control methods for females have been around for centuries. The birth control options are varied and can be different for each individual.
A viable female equivalent to a long-term birth control procedure such as a vasectomy would be a tubal ligation. This is a more surgically invasive procedure than a male vasectomy and involves cutting or blocking the fallopian tubes, preventing the egg from traveling from the ovary and therefore preventing fertilization.
Both, vasectomies and tubal ligation are seen as safe and effective forms of birth control, with many men and women around the world having successful procedures. However, the risks of tubal ligation, unfortunately, outweigh those of a vasectomy.
Tubal ligation is still the more popular option out there, most likely due to the stigma behind females having the responsibility to control reproductive balance.
More commonly, however, females can opt for traditional birth control methods such as the contraceptive pill, contraceptive hormonal injection, and IUD.
An IUD is a copper intrauterine device is a small metallic device that is placed into the uterus. This device is non-hormonal and prevents the implantation of eggs. IUDs can last up to 10 years.
Effectiveness
Whilst no conventional birth control methods currently promise 100% effectiveness, some of them provide prevention rates as close to 100% as you can get.
The list below will give you an idea as to what the failure rate in preventing a pregnancy that most conventional birth control methods have:
| Birth Control Method | Failure Rate |
| Vasectomy | 0.0005% |
| Contraceptive Implant | 0.08-0.1% |
| Tubal Ligation | 0.5% |
| Copper IUD | 0.8% |
| Male Condom | 13% |
| Female Condom | 21% |
| Contraceptive Pill | 9% |
As you can see, although many of the birth control methods provide failure rates of less than 1%, vasectomies seem to be the most superior in providing the most effective pregnancy preventative measure.
The Final Word
The popularity of vasectomies as a birth control option is ever-rising, with more and more men getting the procedure every year and seeing a positive success rate, it will undoubtedly become an option that comes with no stigma.
However, until more viable male contraceptive alternatives become available, the majority of vasectomy alternatives fall into the hands of females.
Therefore, if you have decided that your family is complete, and wish to continue with your family plans, why not discuss with your partner the pros and cons listed above and consider a vasectomy?
If you’re in Sydney, you can visit our vasectomy clinic in Sydney for a consultation. If you have other questions or concerns about the vasectomy procedure and which options are right for you, 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.
