A shocking verdict passed by the Supreme Court has taken the entire USA by storm. They have decided to overturn the Roe VS Wade Verdict, which has triggered a movement across the USA. This is a backward step for all the people in the USA as any pregnant person would now lose their abortion rights.
Owing to all this, there will certainly be a drawback for pregnant people, especially those belonging to minorities. However, considering the recent verdict, the rate of vasectomies has notably increased in the USA, and many people are now opting for vasectomies. So, let’s get to know everything about vasectomies!
Vasectomies and Birth Control
Many studies have reported that anyone can use vasectomies as effective birth control. Rather than the most popular temporary solutions of condoms and birth control pills, which often do not have a 100% success rate, vasectomies are much better as a one-time process. A lot of people prefer vasectomies as their main mode of birth control.
As we know, condoms are only effective about 85% of the time. Moreover, it can also trigger allergies to latex in either of the partners, which can cause a lot of discomforts. Other alternatives to latex condoms include polyurethane or lambskin condoms, which are unreliable. Many studies suggest that their loose nature and composition make them more susceptible to breaking or coming off during sex.
Talking about birth control pills, there are a lot of side effects that the user may go through. These include spotting, abnormal bleeding, improper period cycles, nausea, breast tenderness, and headache.
This is why many people choose to have a vasectomy. These are the best modes of birth control. Understanding how it’s done is also important before anyone opts, so let’s see how it is done!
How it’s done.
There are two methods that a person can opt for while undergoing a vasectomy. These are called conventional vasectomy and no-scalpel vasectomy. Either way, the key procedure here is to access the tubes of Vas Deferens through the scrotum and seal it so that it no longer transfers sperm into semen. Depending upon your doctors, you are given local anesthesia or a laughing gas, before starting a vasectomy.
In a conventional vasectomy, the doctors make little cuts on either side of the scrotum. Once they reach the Vas Deferens, these tubes are trimmed and sealed back by knotting them together or heating treatments. The cuts are stitched back with absorbable sutures that the body painlessly absorbs over time.
On the other hand, a no-scalpel vasectomy, much like the name suggests, makes no use of scalpels. Hence it does not include making any cuts. Instead, a no-scalpel vasectomy only makes a little puncture in the scrotum skin following a similar procedure to seal off the Vas Deferens. Even though there might be some bleeding going through this process, it doesn’t require any stitches and ensures the least complications during the operation and the reversal.
These procedures might sound scary at first, but with anesthesias, these are like a piece of cake. Vasectomies are completely painless and guarantee almost 100% results. Now let’s get to understanding the post-surgery effects of the same.
Recovery after Vasectomy. It’s still surgery.
Although the process has been painless, the body has undergone surgery after all, and it is natural for some recovery pain to occur. The surgical site can cause a little pain for about a week or two, and there might be increased irritation and inflammation. However, doctors believe these inflammations help heal the scrotum faster and prescribe no anti-inflammatories to patients.
As for a patient’s movements, just like any other minor surgery, you would need to be on complete bed rest for at least 24 hours and more if doctors need observation. Under normal circumstances, a patient should be able to move around and walk after 72 hours of the surgery. However, undertaking a strenuous activity or walking long distances should be avoided. Patients should rest for around 3-5 days if possible and undertake only light activity if and when necessary.
Patients should take a break from sexual activities for a week. When the recovery pain, inflammation, and irritating symptoms have subsided, that would be a good time to resume the patient’s sexual activities. Talk to your doctor if you are considering getting a vasectomy.
Vasectomy Reversal
It’s no surprise that vasectomies are also reversible if a partner changes their mind. As easy as getting a vasectomy is, its reversal could be a little complicated and challenging as the doctors now must reconnect the tubes of the Vas Deferens in a way that they would again start transporting sperm into the semen.
However, many doctors don’t recommend vasectomies for everyone, especially not for youngsters. Even though the first procedure is easy, the reversal might not always suit everyone. Hence it is recommended for people who have never decided to have children.
The success rate of vasectomy reversals also differs greatly depending on the time between your vasectomy and the reverse. If you get a reversal within three years, your success rate is guaranteed at 75%; it reduces to 55% if you decide against it between 3-8 years, whereas, for a gap of 9-14 years, it would be around 40-45%.
People might again face a few side effects of the process and require rest for around 5 to 14 days. All heavy lifting activities, vigorous stresses, and sexual activities to keep at bay for at least a month (4 weeks)
Final Words
Vasectomies are minor surgeries that will cause no surgical pain and guarantee the best results for birth control. No wonder a better half of Americans have decided to go for vasectomies as their prime birth control method!
Data compiled by Planned Parenthood, WebMD & Urology Health.