How familiar are you with male sterilization? Don’t worry, we’ve got the facts.
There are a few ways to avoid pregnancy, and some methods are more popular than others. The CDC states that the only way to guarantee avoiding unplanned pregnancy is to abstain from sexual intercourse entirely. However, many couples have found different methods of birth control to be highly effective.
Vasectomies have always been a popular form of permanent birth control, especially among parents who determine that they do not want to have any more children. A vasectomy is a procedure in which a man gets sterilized, meaning he is unable to produce offspring. Couples also have the option of a woman undergoing tubal ligation, but vasectomies are considered safer and are typically cheaper. It is important to know that sterilization does not take place immediately after a vasectomy. It takes about 2 months after the procedure has taken place for a man to be fully sterilized.
So, a vasectomy is permanent, but don’t people have those reversed if they change their minds? The answer is yes, it is possible to reverse a vasectomy. However, a reversal procedure is complicated, expensive, can cause scarring, and does not guarantee that a man will be able to reproduce.
It takes about 2 months after the procedure has taken place for a man to be fully sterilized.
According to the National Institute of Health, men can expect a 75% success rate in a reversal procedure if it is done within three years of the initial surgery. After three years, the success rate drops to 55%, and after 9 years, it drops again to a 40-45% success rate.
The bottom line? If you’re considering a vasectomy but you think you may want to have biological children later in life, it may be wise to consider abstinence or other forms of birth control first. Getting sterilized is a permanent form of birth control, and it’s a big deal. Women and men should talk with their doctor, spouse, and know all of the facts about sterilization before undergoing or a vasectomy procedure.
Sources:
Vasectomy. (2023). Retrieved 17 January 2023, from https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/vasectomy
