The Pros and Cons of Having a Vasectomy

When guys reach that point in their lives when they know they don’t want children (or they have plenty of them and don’t want more!), they often choose to undergo a vasectomy. Most men who undergo the procedure have no lingering effects and often are happy with the results. But there are some terrified of undergoing any sort of procedure, worried about a penis injury happening when they get a vasectomy. The truth is that there are pros and cons to the procedure, and every man needs to know what those are in order to make an informed decision.

The pros of vasectomy

Any man who wants to have a vasectomy must understand what he will benefit from the procedure. Here are some of the reasons many men choose to do it:

1) No more kids. The most obvious "pro" of vasectomy is that it prevents a man from fathering children. In the world of birth control, this is almost as close as a guy can get to not having that particular responsibility.

2) The procedure is quick. The procedure is a "one and done" situation - a guy goes in, gets a snip, and is out of the doctor’s office within an hour or so. This one simple procedure is all he needs.

3) Recovery is quick, too. Most men are told to take it easy on the couch for a few days. He might have some soreness for a few weeks, as well as bruising, but within a month or so he’s right as rain.

4) No more condoms. It usually takes about 20 ejaculations for a guy to rid his body of all semen and thus be fine with not using a condom while having sex. As long as he’s in a monogamous relationship, he can enjoy the freedom of unprotected sex without worry.

5) No pressure on a partner. Some men find themselves with a partner who can’t use certain birth control methods. By getting a vasectomy, he relieves his partner of the responsibility of figuring out birth control.

The cons of vasectomy

Though there are many pros to the procedure, there are some risks that men need to carefully consider.

1) It’s a surgical procedure. Even though the procedure has been used for a long time and has been perfected by numerous doctors, there is still a risk anytime someone uses a scalpel on a delicate area. Though rare, some men have reported problems that lingered after the surgery.

2) No protection from sexually transmitted infections. Many men had the best of both worlds when they used condoms: The protection from pregnancy and from infections. However, a man who has a vasectomy still has to use a condom if he doesn’t have a steady, monogamous partner.

3) Reversal can be tough. Though the procedure for vasectomy is quick and easy, reversing it is much more involved. If a man changes his mind and decides he really does want to have more children, it will be an uphill battle to make it happen.

4) Sometimes it doesn’t work. In a small percentage of men, the vasectomy doesn’t "take." This means that a guy who had a vasectomy could wind up with a surprise baby a few years down the road.

5) Some men feel regret. Though most men who undergo the procedure are happy with the outcome, some men are deeply affected by the fact that they are no longer fertile. This can lead to depression and related problems, which can affect every part of a man’s life.

The decision to have a vasectomy is a very important one that a man should never take lightly. Before the procedure and after, he should pay close attention to his penis health, including the use of a good penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin). A crème that contains L-carnitnine can help protect the nerves of the penis; L-arginine can help ensure blood flow stays ample. Shea butter and vitamin E, both known for their healing properties, are also great for a man recovering from a vasectomy.

Vasectomy Care: What to Expect from Recovery

Many men choose to undergo a vasectomy when they decide their days of fertility should come to an end. A vasectomy is a simple procedure, usually taking 30 minutes or less. A man can often walk right out of the doctor’s office after it’s done. But that’s when the real penis care begins. There are certain steps a man should take to ensure his penis, as well as his overall health, stays in good shape during vasectomy recovery.

Learn what to expect

In order to appropriately gauge how well a guy is doing, he should know exactly what to look for. There points can help ease a guy’s mind if he’s worried about vasectomy recovery.

- After a vasectomy, there might be some pain - but it tends to be minor. A man can usually alleviate it with a dose of ibuprofen and a cold compress nestled against his junk.

- There might be some blood after the procedure. The blood might seep out through the incisions. This is usually quite normal. A man should simply keep an eye on how much blood is coming out; if it decreases with time, great. But if it suddenly becomes heavier, a trip to the doctor is in order.

- There will also be bruising, especially at the point of the incision. The bruising might even appear frightening, as it can extend up the shaft of the penis and even across the abdomen. This is normal, and unless the bruising extends to cover the entire penis area and continues to get worse, it’s not a cause for concern.

- The incisions themselves will be sealed with a medical-grade adhesive glue or a few tiny stitches. A guy should keep an eye on these to ensure no signs of redness or infection appear. A little bit of blood oozing from the area is normal in the first few days.

- A guy should expect a few days off! He should avoid any heavy lifting, serious housework, sports, running, or anything that puts him on his feet for long periods of time, such as shopping. In other words, it’s time to lie like a potato on the couch.

- To make things feel better down there, a guy can turn to supportive undergarments. A simple jock strap might be good, but ask the doctor to know for sure. Some doctors even provide undergarments that are designed specifically for vasectomy healing.

- Don’t plan to engage in sex for a little while. Though some men are in the mood to ‘try out’ their equipment after surgery, keep in mind that this can be a roadblock to healing. It can lead to increased bleeding or bruising, as well as the opening of incisions, none of which are good. So plan to stay celibate until the doctor gives the go-ahead to ease back into the fun.

It’s important to remember that a vasectomy doesn’t work immediately. Though the channels that allow semen to flow out of the body are cut, there is still some "old" semen and sperm that can be released. That’s why a man must visit the doctor several weeks after the vasectomy is done to give a semen sample and ensure there are no little guys swimming in there anymore.

In the meantime, a man can facilitate healing by using a top-notch penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) . A guy should look to a crème that has many healing ingredients, such as vitamin D, vitamin C and Shea butter. It’s also helpful to find a crème that contains L-carnitine, which is great for alleviating the damage from common injuries, including vasectomies. Alpha lipoic acid is also a good bet, as it helps get rid of the free radicals that can cause cellular damage.

Sore Penis and Other Concerns about a Vasectomy

More than 500,000 men go through ‘the big snip’ each year and live to tell the tale. Though having a vasectomy is definitely not on a man’s list of fun things to do, it can certainly be a very responsible decision for a man’s partner and family. The biggest fear of most men facing a vasectomy is the worries about pain or having a very sore penis. Fortunately, practicing good penis care, according to the doctor’s instruction, can help alleviate the potential discomfort of a vasectomy.

So without further ado, here are a few points that dispel the myths of the vasectomy, including that dreaded sore penis and other pain that most men fear will result from the snip.

1) It’s a very fast procedure. Something that will prevent a man from getting someone pregnant seems as though it would be very involved, but surprisingly, it only takes about 15 minutes from start to finish - and that includes the local anesthesia that is designed to ensure there is no feeling down there during the snip. To put it in perspective, that’s about the same time it takes to sit through a typical football halftime show.

2) Recovery time is fast, too. Men who go through a vasectomy are often surprised to find that they are allowed to go back to work the next day, and can resume all normal activities a week later. Any soreness or swelling can be handled with over the counter meds and an ice pack.

3) It doesn’t hurt that much. Of course, pain is a very different beast for every man, and what one considers a small pain another might see as being worthy of the emergency room. However, most men agree on the lingering sore penis and pain from a vasectomy: It’s manageable. The aforementioned medications and ice packs can take care of the problem.

4) Pregnancy is still possible. The physician performs the vasectomy but cutting through the vas deferens, which is the tube that carries semen from the testicle. Even after the snip, there might be some sperm lingering in the tube. That’s why a man should ejaculate at least 20 times in the months following the procedure to be certain he isn’t shooting ‘live rounds.’

5) There are no issues with drive or performance. Besides those few days in the beginning, when a man likely isn’t in the mood to get it on, there will be no changes in a man’s performance in the bedroom, nor in his sex drive. There are no noticeable changes in the ejaculate, either.

6) Reversal is possible. A man who changes his mind about having children can have the vasectomy reversed, though it isn’t as much of a ‘sure thing’ as it was to get snipped. Out of the 10% of men who choose to reverse the procedure, there is about an 80% success rate. Recovery from a reversal is usually the same as recovery from the snip.

7) Insurance covers it. Insurance companies have a vested interest in making sure a man doesn’t create any little ones who will then need insurance, too. That’s why insurance will usually cover 100% of a vasectomy. But when it comes to reversals, it’s a different story - a man might be on the hook for up to $10,000 to pay for it.

Caring for the sore penis

A man who just had a vasectomy will treat his junk with the utmost care, and that should include the use of a superior penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin). Look for a cream that contains soothing elements for sore penis skin, such as Shea butter and vitamin E. Seeking out vitamin B5 for the maintenance of healthy tissue, acetyl L carnitine to fight against nerve damage and vitamin C for erectile function is also a good idea. In addition to using a great penis health crème, make sure to follow the doctor’s orders for recovery to help ensure a healthy, vital penis after a vasectomy.

Caring For Your Body After A Vasectomy

Every day, men across the United States agree to undergo vasectomies. In this 20-minute surgery, the tubes that carry semen out of the body are severed, and men are typically allowed to go home just minutes after the cutting is complete. While most of the healing takes place in the testicles, performing adequate penis care can help men to heal up quickly and avoid medical complications.

Surgical Site Care

There are multiple techniques experts can use to perform a vasectomy, but most involve making at least one small incision in the scrotum. Sometimes, these incisions are held together with glue, while other surgeons use traditional nylon stitches or no stitches at all. A small amount of bleeding is considered normal, and men might be encouraged to check their bandages or underwear for spots of blood. Any major bleeding, on the other hand, could be a sign of a problem that men should bring to the attention of their doctors.

Providing adequate support to the area can keep bleeding from spreading beneath the skin. Wearing an athletic supporter might be enough for some men, although surgeons sometimes provide specialized undergarments for men to wear as they heal. This might not be a fashion-forward look, but it can speed healing and keep the penis and scrotum from turning black with blood.

Allowing the Healing

A vasectomy only takes a few moments to complete, but it's still a surgery, and men who have the procedure done will need to rest up and allow the area to heal. These sorts of activities are typically forbidden until a few days have passed:
      •    Heavy lifting
      •    Sports
      •    Running
      •    Shopping
      •    Housework

Ice packs placed in the lap can keep pain signals at bay, but standing up too quickly or jumping back into activities can cause swelling and pain to recur. This is one time in which lying on the couch, day in and day out, might be encouraged.

Staying Safe

Vasectomies aren’t quick fixes for fertility problems, as sperm produced in the days prior is still available to the body and ready to be released at a moment's notice. Men who return home from their vasectomies and have unprotected sex with their partners in the days following surgery could be thrust into fatherhood. Sex can also be painful in the early days, and the incisions could open back up during vigorous sex.

When several days have passed, most men are allowed to tentatively resume their sex lives, and they provide semen samples to their doctors a few weeks later to ensure that the surgery was successful and that no viable sperm remain in the body. Some men require months of healing in order for the tests to come back negative.

Adjusting to the Consequences

Most men are at least a little vain about their looks below the belt, and some men do develop a significant amount of bruising after a vasectomy. Small clots can develop at the surgery site, causing deep bruises and swelling, and those can sometimes be treated with medications or other conservative measures. Some men also develop bruising along the shaft of the penis, and while the bruises aren't painful, they can be unsightly or even a little bit frightening to behold.

If the doctor says the bruising is normal and not cause for concern, men can help the penis skin to heal by applying a penis health crème (most experts recommend Man 1 Man Oil). A crème contains vitamins and emollients that can help skin to regain its soft and supple appearance, allowing the man to develop responsive skin that's ready for action when the surgery site has completely healed.