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There are many benefits to both partners from undergoing a vasectomy. As there is no further need for birth control, it removes the need for inconvenient condoms, spermicidal foams or jellies or vaginal rings. It eliminates the need for risky practices such as withdrawal or menstrual cycle timing both of which can still result in accidental pregnancies. It allows the female partner to get off oral or implanted birth control, which can cause hormonal or other health issues such as blood clots etc. It also allows for the avoidance of much more invasive procedures to sterilize a female partner such as placement of an IUD or tubal ligation. These can require general anesthesia and a hospital stay. Vasectomy permits removal of previously implanted foreign bodies in a female partner such as an IUD or cervical cap. If a male patient changes relationships after a vasectomy, he brings his own pre-existing birth control with him and doesn’t need to worry about putting a new partner through an additional burden or procedure. 

While a vasectomy is a very low risk procedure, it does carry a small chance of a complication. The most common complication is a wound infection. This is a possibility with any surgical procedure and can occur despite the use of sterile technique and post-operative antibiotics. It will usually resolve with another course of a different antibiotic. 

The second most common complication is bleeding after a procedure. Again, this is a possibility with any surgical procedure. However, the risk of a significant bleed after a vasectomy is almost nil. Management is usually conservative with the body naturally stopping the bleeding and resorbing the blood over time. 

There is a small risk of persistent, chronic testicular or scrotal pain, even after a properly done procedure. It is unclear as to why this occurs but it is on the order of 0.5-1% of patients. When it occurs it can be difficult to treat or eradicate, but specialized medications can sometimes alleviate it. 

Finally, there is the minuscule risk of recanalization: after a properly done procedure, the two separated and sealed ends finding their way back to each other, rubbing against each other and somehow reforming an opening, allowing sperm to travel through it and rejoin the ejaculate. This has been documented in the medical literature but the odds are greater than one in 1,000,000 of such an occurrence and we have never had a patient experience recanalization. 

A vasectomy WILL NOT alter your interest in sex, change your ability to obtain or maintain an erection, or change the sensations experienced during sexual activity. It has not been shown or proven to cause any other medical illness or problem and will not affect your general health. 

It is important to stress that the above mentioned risks would be present whether the procedure was done in a doctor’s office or in your own home; there are NO ADDITIONAL RISKS OR INCREASED COMPLICATION RATES from this procedure being done at a different location.