Vasectomy is a minor surgical procedure that makes a man permanently unable to father a child by keeping sperm out of semen. Sperm are made in the testicles. They pass through two tiny tubes called the vas deferens to other glands and mix with seminal fluids to form semen. Vasectomy blocks each vas deferens and keeps sperm out of the seminal fluid.

The procedure involves dividing and sealing the two tubes that carry sperm from the testicles to the seminal fluid. After the procedure, your semen will not contain sperm, so when you ejaculate during sexual intercourse, you’ll be unable to get a woman pregnant. For your convenience and comfort, this procedure is performed in the office in a private, relaxing environment instead of the hospital or surgical center.

About 50 million men worldwide have had a vasectomy and approximately 500,000 men in the United States undergo the procedure each year. More American married couples rely on vasectomy for family planning than on any other method except female sterilization (tubal ligation) and birth control pills (oral contraceptives).

You are absolutely sure you don’t want to have any more children. It’s as simple as that. Although legally you may not be required to have the consent of your wife or partner, vasectomy (or any contraceptive choice) should be best decided as a couple. This is one decision that you don’t want to make on your own! Better yet, have your partner come to the consultation visit with you so you can both ask questions.

Additional reasons for a man to have a vasectomy:
		You would like to enjoy sex without worrying about pregnancy every time
		Your partner’s health would be threatened by a future pregnancy
		You do not want to risk passing on a genetic disease or hereditary disability
		You and your partner do not want to (or cannot) use other kinds of birth control
		You want to save your partner from the surgery involved in having her tubes tied.
Reasons for a man not to have a vasectomy:
		You are very young with many life changes ahead
		Your partner is pressuring you into it
		Your current relationship is unstable or unlikely to last
		You are under high stress, depressed or having difficulty making important life decisions
		You are planning to reverse it later

Because reversing a vasectomy can be complex and success is variable, you’ll need to carefully consider the pros and cons before proceeding with a vasectomy.