Surgical ligation of the vas deferens or vasectomy , prevents sperm from becoming part of the sperm and makes pregnancy impossible. It guarantees definitive male sterility. It is one of the options twhen a definitive contraceptive method is the objetive. This can happen under various circumstances, for example: In the long term, there is the certainty that having children or having more children is not is not an option; The man carries a genetic mutationor has a genetic disease that can be transmitted and he does not want to run the risk of this happening; The woman, in a couple, cannot become pregnant for health reasons. What about after the vasectomy? In order to decide to have a vasectomy, you also need to know what will happen after this intervention is carried out: The appearance of the sperm with the naked eye will be the same, only under the microscope can be observed that it does not contain spermatozoa; The amount of sperm in the ejaculate changes, but not significantly, because spermatozoa represent a small percentage of the ejaculate volume; There will be no negative impact on male hormone levels, virility, libido, erection or orgasm; The fact that the fear of pregnancy disappears may even give rise to a more liberating sexual experience with less constraints. Condom use remains mandatory to protect from sexually transmitted diseases, because vasectomy is not a barrier method. It is also necessary to bear in mind that: The decrease of spermatozoa in the sperm is progressive and for some time after the vasectomy the ability to get a woman pregnant is still kept; On average 20 ejaculations and 3 months after the vasectomy are necessary for spermatozoa no longer be present in the sperm; The absence of spermatozoa must be ensured through a spermogram performed according to medical indication. After this transition period, the risk of pregnancy after a vasectomy is around 1 in 2000. Vasectomy is thus a method with high efficacy and safety and a low risk of complications. Vasectomy is also a simpler surgery than the female equivalent: tubal ligation. What if life changes? Even when a man has a vasectomy after carefully considering all the details, life circumstances can indeed change, with wish to have a child. The most common reason is a change of partner, even though there was a stable relationship when the vasectomy was decided and performed. In this case, it is possible to reverse the vasectomy. However, despite the evolution of surgical techniques, the reversal of a vasectomy is a more complex and delicate surgery, more time consuming, with more possible complications, with a lower success rate and possibly more expensive than a vasectomy. In addition to vasectomy reversal by microsurgical techniques, other methods are also available to dispose of sperm from men who have undergone vasectomy, but for use in in vitro fertilization. Vasectomy and vasectomy reversal are surgeries performed by urologists, who are also responsible for the necessary preparation and follow-up before and after these interventions. Autor: José Preza Fernandes The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
