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Vasectomy and Reverse Vasectomy
Vasectomy
There are many types of contraceptives available for both men and
women. However, many are only temporary measures that require
preparation each time before intercourse.
A more permanent solution to preventing unwanted pregnancies is the
vasectomy (surgical removal of the ductus deferens or ligature of
right and left ductus deferens) for men and the salpingectomy
(removal of the uterine tube) for women.
The principle behind a vasectomy is to block the passage of sperm
from the testicles, where it is produced, through the vas deferens
and the urethra, by tying up or removing the vas deferens. Nowadays
ligature, or crossover vasectomy, is preferred, as surgical
reconstruction may restore the use of the canals in men who change
their minds and decide to father more offspring (see Reverse
Vasectomy below).
Occasionally, after surgery, there may be pain in the area, bleeding,
inflammation of the epididymis, leakage of sperm, and even a return to
fertility. Thus, as a precautionary measure, other contraceptive
measures should be used until the semen is verified to be without
sperm.
There are concerns that a vasectomy might reduce sexual energy or
the amount of semen produced; however, these concerns are unfounded.
The male erection is mainly influenced by the corpus cavernosum, and
the vas deferens has no role in an erection. The male hormone, which
is produced in the testicles, is continuously secreted and absorbed by
the body, leaving sexual function unaffected. The seminal fluid is
mostly a secretion of the prostate gland and the seminal vesicle, and
is composed of only 1% sperm, so a reduction in the amount of semen
should be of very little concern.
Reverse Vasectomy
A reverse vasectomy is a surgical procedure to reconnect or unblock
the vas deferens to restore reproductive capability for patients who
have had a vasectomy or are sterile for other reasons. Reversing a
vasectomy will not necessarily bring back reproductive capability.
Therefore, it is very important to carefully consider the consequences
before deciding on a vasectomy.
Due to the increase in divorce and remarriage rates, the number of
men wishing to reverse a vasectomy is on the rise. Since the surgical
procedure is microscopic in nature, and uses threads thinner than
human hair, a reverse vasectomy is a very delicate operation and is
only successful 90% of the time for men who have had a vasectomy within
the last 10 years. However, the pregnancy rate for these people may
be much lower -- 60-70% -- depending on such factors as the fertility
of the spouse and the receptivity of the sperm in the women's
reproductive tract.
When recovering from a reverse vasectomy, extreme exercise should be
avoided, and for the first 2-3 days it is advisable to fix or secure
the testicles to keep them from being disturbed. A bath should not be
taken until after 5 days, and the man should abstain from sexual
relations for 1 month, at which point the semen is tested for the absence
of sperm. The success rate of the reverse operation is highest during
the first 5-7 years after a vasectomy and drops off after 7 years, so an
early decision can be the difference between success and failure.
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