Vasectomy is a safe and highly effective method of birth control accepted by many couples throughout the world. Vasectomy, a form of permanent contraception, is also known as male sterilization. This procedure can prevent pregnancy by blocking the transport of sperm out of the testes. Those who seek a permanent form of birth control may want to consider the potential benefits of vasectomy. Some benefits of vasectomy include the following:
* Simple outpatient surgical procedure
* Short recovery period
* Relatively inexpensive and often covered by insurance
* Highly effective and safe
When considering a vasectomy, it’s important to understand that failures can occur. CDC research has estimated there is a probability of 11 per 1,000 procedures over 2 years; half of the failures occurred in the first three months after the vasectomy, and no failures occurred after 72 weeks.1 CDC research also examined regret among women whose partner underwent a vasectomy.2 In interviews with female partners of men who received vasectomies, CDC found that while most women did not regret their husband's vasectomies, the probability of regret over five years was about 6%. This is why it is important to know facts about this and other permanent forms of birth control before making a decision.
1. Jamieson DJ, Costello C, Trussell J, Hillis SD, Marchbanks PA, Peterson HB. The risk of pregnancy after vasectomy. Obstetrics and Gynecology 2004;103:848–850.
2. Jamieson DJ, Kaufman SC, Costello C, Hillis SD, Marchbanks PA, Peterson HB. A comparison of women’s regret following vasectomy versus tubal sterilization. Obstetrics and Gynecology 2002;99:1073–1079.
Selected Resources
Vasectomy in the United States, 2002.
Vasectomy is a medical procedure intended as permanent birth control for men. An estimated 526,501 vasectomies were performed in the United States in 2002, representing a slight increase from previous data available. This article presents information gathered on various vasectomy procedures and protocols used. Journal of Urology 2006;176(1):232–236.
National Library of Medicine
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