Vasectomy
Tucson's premier No-Scalpel Vasectomy facility.
What is a Vasectomy?
Vasectomy is a simple and safe operation that involves blocking the tubes through which sperm pass into the semen. The procedure is designed to make a man permanently sterile or unable to father a child.
Benefits of vasectomy
Vasectomy is an extremely effective (99.8%) form of birth control. Compared to female sterilization (tubal ligation), vasectomy is simpler, more effective, can be performed on an outpatient basis, has fewer complications, and is much less expensive. Many studies have looked at the long-term health effects of vasectomy and all concluded that no significant risks exist.What happens to the sperm?
After vasectomy, the testes continue to make sperm. When the sperm cells die, they disintegrate and are absorbed by the body. This is the same way the body handles other types of cells that die and are replaced on a daily basis.No-scalpel vasectomy procedure
The procedure is performed under local anesthesia in the clinic. The surgeon finds the vas deferens under the skin of the scrotum and holds them in place (one at a time). Local anesthetic is injected using a tiny needle (size of a hair) The anesthetic is effective immediately so the instruments should not be felt after that point. A special instrument is then used to make a small puncture in the skin, and the vas deferens are grasped, cut, cauterized, and clipped with two sterile titanium clips. The clips remain permanently, but rarely can be felt through the skin and will not be picked up by metal detectors. Generally the procedure takes 15-20 minutes.Risks
Although complications may occur, they are relatively uncommon and not serious.- Infection - very rare and can be treated with antibiotics.
- Hematoma - bleeding into the scrotum causing temporary bruising and swelling.
- Pain - varies among individuals, typically mild and resolving after a few days. 5% of men may have mild pain lasting several weeks that is brief and resolves with oral anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen. Chronic pain is very rare (0.1%)
- Failure - less than 1 in 2000 risk of failure. A follow-up semen analysis will ensure the procedure was successful.
Cost
- Desert Mountain Urology accepts most major insurances for the vasectomy procedure. Depending on your insurance you may have a copay.
- If you don't have insurance or they don't cover vasectomy please call our office to learn about our cash pay options.
- Please call our office for details on the cost of a vasectomy and self pay rates.