Urologic Specialist Doctor Answers Your Vasectomy Questions BY THOMAS RICKNER, M.D., UROLOGY
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ctober, 2021: Is a vasectomy really painless? What do I do about swelling after the procedure? Is it invasive? Does a vasectomy affect my sex life? What should I do before the procedure? Getting a vasectomy is a safe and simple procedure that provides an effective form of birth control without enormous risks. If you and your partner decide you need a more permanent approach to birth control, there are a number of questions to ask before a vasectomy. After getting all of your questions answered, you and your partner can work together to come to a decision. While this article is a starting point, don’t be afraid to ask any other questions you have during our consultation. As your doctor, I am prepared to help you understand your vasectomy and will be able to provide all the answers you may have. 1.Why is shaving the night before a vasectomy beneficial? When someone shaves the razor causes small abrasions or even very small puncture wounds over the area that is shaved. These small injuries heal over the next few hours. How long it depends on how deep or large the wound is that has occurred. Normally since these are very small unless someone cuts himself when he is shaving a few hours is all that is required. So as a minimum shaving should occur at least 12 hours before the vasectomy is performed. This would keep down the incidence of infections. Although there are no studies it is probably true that shaving
should occur at least one and maybe even two days before the vasectomy. The hair growth that would occur over that time would be insignificant but the benefit in diminishing skin injuries and subsequent infection would be great. 2. Will my ability to have an erection following vasectomy change? There should be no change in a man’s ability to achieve an erection following a vasectomy. The mechanism for trapping blood in a man’s phallus is completely separate in location from the vasectomy site. as well as from where a vasectomy occurs. Also, it is common to believe that testosterone may have something to do with erections, but it
Right: Dr. Thomas Rickner specializes solely on vasectomies and has performed well over 1,000 procedures. 44 |
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actually does not. Libido is dependent on testosterone but that is by a different mechanism and only indirectly effects erections. A vasectomy does not change either the blood supply to the phallus or testosterone levels. 3. What is a no scalpel vasectomy? In 1989 the no scalpel technique came from China to New York City and subsequently spread across the country. No scalpel is used to make an incision. Rather a very pointed instrument is used to precisely puncture the skin directly over the vas deferens (the tube carrying sperm). This puncture site is subsequently spread wider so the Vas can be brought to the surface and
