A vasectomy is surgery to cut the vas deferens, the tubes that carry a man’s sperm from his scrotum to his urethra. The urethra is the tube that carries sperm and urine out of the penis. After a vasectomy, sperm cannot move out of the testes. A man who has had a successful vasectomy cannot make a woman pregnant.

Vasectomy is usually done in the surgeon's office using local anesthesia. You will be awake but not feel any pain.

• After your scrotum is shaved and cleaned, your surgeon will give you a shot of the anesthesia into this area to numb it.
• Your surgeon will then make a small incision (cut) in the upper part of your scrotum, and tie off and cut apart the vas deferens. Your surgeon will use stitches or a skin glue to close your incision.

You may have a vasectomy without an incision. This is called a no-scalpel vasectomy (NSV).

• Your surgeon will find the vas deferens by feeling your scrotum and then give you a shot of the anesthesia into this area to numb it
• Your surgeon will then make a tiny hole in the skin of your scrotum and seal off the vas deferens. The surgeon will either by pull your vas deferens through the tiny hole or insert a clip into the hole to seal it. You will not need stitches.

Vasectomy may be recommended for adult men who are sure they want to prevent future pregnancies. A vasectomy makes a man sterile (unable to get a woman pregnant). It does NOT prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

A vasectomy is not recommended as a short-term form of birth control. The procedure to reverse a vasectomy is a much more complicated operation.

Vasectomy may be a good choice for men who:

• Are in a relationship, and both partners agree they have all the children they want. They do not want to use, or cannot use, other forms of birth control.
• Are in a relationship, and their partner has health problems that would make pregnancy unsafe for her
• Are in a relationship, and one or both partners have genetic disorders that they do not want to risk passing on to their children

Vasectomy may not be a good choice for men who:

• Are in a relationship, and one partner is unsure about their desire to have children in the future
• Are in a relationship that is unstable, going through a stressful phase, or is very difficult in general
• Are thinking about having the operation just to please their partner
• Are counting on fathering children later by storing their sperm or by reversing their vasectomy
• Are young and still have many life changes ahead
• Are single when they want to have a vasectomy. This includes men who are divorced, widowed, or separated.
• Do not want, or have a partner who does not want, to be bothered by having to use other forms of birth control during sexual activity