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5 Myths about the male vasectomy

5 Vasectomy Myths Blog Post - Dr Michael Read

Having a vasectomy is considered one of the most reliable methods of birth control. In Australia about one in four men over the age of 40 has had a vasectomy. So why aren’t more men opting for this method of birth control?

In this blog post we are going to discuss five common myths or misconceptions about having a vasectomy, that may lead to some men shying away from the procedure.

 

Myth 1: A vasectomy will ruin my sex life

The vasectomy procedure does not interfere with your sex drive, nor does it interfere with the ability for you to get an erection or orgasm.  As such, you should not experience any permanent changes to the amount or quality of sexual pleasure.  A vasectomy simply prevents the sperm from reaching your semen. This is why it is important to use other contraceptive methods for up to three months after the procedure as semen can still be present in the vas deferens.

 

Myth 2: Vasectomy can cause prostate cancer.

This isn’t true; vasectomies do not cause prostate cancer or increase your risk for developing it at all.  It has been studied extensively and vasectomy does not cause any kind of increase in the risk of developing prostate cancer.

 

Myth 3: A vasectomy makes you infertile.

False; a vasectomy does not cause infertility because it doesn’t affect the function of the testes. As stated above, it is possible for sperm to be present in the semen for up to three months after having a vasectomy.  Vasectomy is a form of birth control and not permanent sterilisation.  Having said this, vasectomy reversal is rarely completely successful so you should consider this procedure carefully before proceeding.

 

Myth 4: Having a vasectomy is a painful procedure.

Dr Read performs the vasectomy procedure in his clinic in Southport and as they are an outpatient procedure, do not involve any type of hospital stay.  With local anaesthetic, there is usually no pain. As with other minor surgery some discomfort or tenderness may be felt afterwards.  Any pain that may result from vasectomy is temporary and goes away after a day or so and can be managed with paracetamol.

 

Myth 5: The recovery is long and painful.

At the Gold Coast Vasectomy Centre, our vasectomy method of choice is a non-surgical procedure called a keyhole vasectomy. This involves only a small puncture in the scrotum and no stitches are necessary. The recovery time is estimated to be only a few days but you can resume sexual intercourse as soon as you feel comfortable.

If you would like to know more, or would like to book a consultation with Dr Read to discuss your suitability for a vasectomy, call us on 07 5531 3205 or contact us via the form on this page.

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    Dr Michael Read has thirty years’ experience performing vasectomy and circumcision procedures and an established reputation on the Gold Coast.

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