Kurt P. Helgerson, MD, PC

Frequently Asked Questions

What are common complications?

The minor complications possible are generally short-lived and resolve with ice, rest, anti-inflammatory medication, and time. Long-term safety with NSV is considered excellent, although all of the following are possible:

1. Bruising: This is almost 100% going to happen. Sometimes it is quite colorful. It is harmless and goes away with no treatment.
2. Mild discomfort: Some men report a mild aching sensation to the scrotum for a few hours to a few days after the procedure. Rarely does this last longer.
3. Infection (1/100): May present as redness and tenderness at the healing site opening or non-specific tenderness within the scrotum, which may require oral antibiotics. A more serious infection is possible, i.e. abscess formation, which may require intravenous antibiotics (1/1000).
4. Epididymitis (1/100): Tender swelling of the epididymis, the tube connecting the vas deferens and the testicle.
5. Mild bleeding into the scrotum (1/400): This may form a small tender swelling for a few days.
6. Sperm granuloma (1/500): A small, potentially uncomfortable, bead-like structure made of leaked sperm that may develop at the site where the tube was cut and blocked if a traditional (as opposed to an open-ended) vasectomy is chosen.
7. Scrotal Hematoma (1/1000): A major bleed into the scrotum, causing a grapefruit-sized tender scrotum which may take months to heal.
8. Post-Casectomy Pain Syndrome (1/1000): A rare complication of a persisting dull ache in the testicle where the inflammation does not settle down. It may resolve on its own or may need another surgical procedure.
9. Failure (less than 0.1%): Because a doctor has inadequately blocked one or both tubes, or because one (or both) tubes has rejoined.

Other uncommon complication have been reported. I recommend a thorough web search for vasectomy information and side effects. Some sites are more reliable and others are just blog sites where unhappy people are very vocal. I recommend Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic sites in the USA, and the Pollock Clinic site if you are from Canada.

Why an open-ended No-Scalpel Vasectomy?

A scalpel vasectomy takes twice the time and bleeds more, as it uses two incisions. Traditional vasectomy closes both ends of the vas, causing increased testicle pressure. With no closed testicular end, the open-ended version reduces pain.

What about my sex life?

Your sex drive should not be bothered by a vasectomy. You will still have orgasms, and you will still have semen come out when you do. It just won’t contain sperm. Sperm usually makes up about 3% of semen.

How effective is it?

It is over 99.9% effective at preventing pregnancy. That makes it more effective than any other permanent method except abstinence.

Can it be reversed later?

It can be done, but fertility rates diminish as the years pass. Don’t have one if you are not sure. Reversal is very expensive and insurance will not cover it.

What other options are there for birth control?

Please do a quick Internet search for Birth Control Options.

• Compared to tubal ligation, vasectomy is much less invasive, does not increase PMS, and has a 3.33 times lower failure rate.
• The Essure fallopian tube implant and the hysterosalpingogram to prove it worked are expensive and painful.
• The IUD (intrauterine device) is less effective and increases the risk of pelvic infections.
• Birth control pills have nearly the same effectiveness as vasectomy, but are far more expensive, and are hormonal, as is the NuvaRing or the Implanon device.
• Condoms and foam together have a 0.3 to 4.5% failure rate but are inconvenient and costly. Either one alone is far less effective.
• A diaphragm is less effective and brings an increased risk of urinary tract infection.
• Withdrawl before climax is very ineffective and those who try this are usually called “parents.”

For all these reasons, it’s my opinion that men who have vasectomies are picking the easiest and least expensive permanent birth control option.