Vasectomy is a surgery a man may choose to have if they do not want to father children in the future. The procedure is lasting male birth control that is meant to be permanent and is generally considered safe for most people. There are two types of vasectomy procedures, conventional and no-scalpel vasectomy.

Vasectomy: Why Choose Johns Hopkins

• Our team performs hundreds of vasectomies annually and can help you decide if the procedure is right for you.
• Our urologic surgeons have advanced training and are leaders in the field of urology, which means you can rely on their expertise at every stage of care.
• With locations in Maryland and Washington, D.C., we are able to provide treatment and follow-up care close to home.

What to Expect

No-scalpel vasectomy is the quickest and least invasive method. One or two small punctures are made in the scrotal skin, and a special clamp is used to grasp the vas deferens and bring them into view. The two tubes are cut and sealed. The punctures heal naturally without the need for stitches. The procedure takes about 15 to 20 minutes and is painless. There are no restrictions following the procedure and all activities can be resumed as soon as one is comfortable. Any minor discomfort typically resolves in 24 to 48 hours.

Conventional vasectomy involves your surgeon making one or two small cuts in the skin of your scrotum to reach the vas deferens. The vas deferens are then pulled through the opening and these tubes are cut. Sometimes a small piece of the tube is removed. The tubes are then sealed off and placed back into the scrotum. Lastly, the incision is closed with dissolving sutures.

Local anesthetic is used for both procedures. Afterwards, patients usually experience soreness and discomfort for a few days. Patients tend to experience more discomfort recovering from a conventional vasectomy as compared to a no-scalpel vasectomy.

For both procedures, your urologists will help you minimize this pain through over-the-counter pain medication and topical treatments such as cooling-packs.

The procedure does not take effect immediately. Patients must continue with contraception until a semen test is performed 10 to 12 weeks after to ensure the vasectomy was successful. The patient will provide a sample of semen, which will be tested for sperm.

Is Vasectomy Reversable?

Vasectomy is meant to be a permanent form of male contraception. However, a small percentage of patients, roughly 3–6%, will undergo a vasectomy reversal. For these patients, we perform a vasovasostomy, which is about 90–95% effective in restoring sperm to semen.