You and your partner have completed your family and are ready for permanent birth control so you can enjoy sex without worrying about an accidental pregnancy. At Odessa General Surgery, expert surgeon Kevin Lynch, DO, performs outpatient vasectomies in the comfort and safety of the clinic. In Dr. Lynch’s hands, a vasectomy is a fast, pain-free, and effective way to take control of your reproductive life. For a vasectomy consultation, call the Odessa, Texas, office or book an appointment online.
Vasectomy
What is a vasectomy?
A vasectomy is a minimally invasive surgery that severs and closes your vas deferens (aka ductus deferens) tubes.
The vas deferens carries sperm from your testicles to your ejaculatory duct, which then expels the sperm through your urethra during orgasm. Vasectomy is more than 99% effective at preventing pregnancy.
What happens during a vasectomy procedure?
Vasectomy is a simple, 15-minute procedure that’s performed in the safety of the Odessa General Surgery office.
You should shave the area beforehand. Dr. Lynch injects a local anesthetic into the skin on each side of the scrotum and into the deeper tissue surrounding the vas deferens. The injection feels like a pinch or the snap of a rubber band.
Next, Dr. Lynch makes a tiny incision in your scrotum that’s only about ⅓ of an inch long. He clamps each vas deferens tube in two locations and then snips away the middle portion so that the tubes can’t reconnect as they heal.
What happens after vasectomy?
After your surgery, you need a friend or family member to drive you home. You’ll be sore and tender for about three days after your vasectomy.
Dr. Lynch recommends taking about three days off from work and other responsibilities so that your body gets the rest it needs to heal and recover. For at least a week, avoid strenuous activities, such as:
- Sports
- Running
- Working out
- Sex (including oral sex)
You also have to avoid hot baths, spas, saunas, and steam rooms for about a week. If you’re not sure about whether an activity is safe, call Dr. Lynch.
To protect your testicles and facilitate healing, you must wear supportive underwear, such as briefs, for at least a week. You can take over-the-counter painkillers to keep you comfortable, or request a stronger prescription.
Can I still make my partner pregnant after vasectomy?
After vasectomy, you might still have millions of sperm still residing in your reproductive tract for up to 6 weeks. Dr. Lynch does a sperm count at that time to determine if you have a low enough count for unprotected sex.
Until he tells you it’s safe to go without, use a condom or another type of birth control to reduce the chances of pregnancy. To set up a vasectomy consultation, call or email the Odessa General Surgery team.