According to recent data from Indiana health officials, vasectomy has become an increasingly popular form of birth control among men in the state, leading to the lowest number of births in nearly 20 years. So why are more and more men in Indiana getting vasectomies? It’s not clear, but some speculate that it’s due to the fact that it’s cheaper, safer, and easier than tubal ligation, another form of female birth control that involves tying off the fallopian tubes.
It Could Be Dangerous:
It’s extremely important to make sure that you’re healthy enough for a vasectomy. If you have high blood pressure, diabetes, or other health issues, there is always a chance that something can go wrong with surgery—even if it’s performed by an experienced doctor. Some doctors recommend holding off on a vasectomy if your partner wants kids in the future because it’s possible to impregnate someone even after having one. Talk to your doctor about risk factors before making any decisions about birth control; also keep in mind that most insurance companies do not cover men getting a vasectomy unless there are specific medical reasons for needing one. All of these complications and more can be avoided by choosing different forms of birth control until you’re both ready to have children.
What Are Your Options?
A vasectomy is one of several forms of birth control for men. The basic principle behind it is to cut or block sperm from reaching its destination. This prevents pregnancy and has been shown to be more than 99 percent effective. Vasectomy involves either a local anesthetic or being put under general anesthesia. A doctor will make small cuts in your scrotum and remove a piece of tissue called a vas deferens that transports sperm away from your testicles before sealing it off at both ends so that semen cannot pass through. You can expect some soreness for about a week after you get a vasectomy, but in most cases, there are no serious complications.
How Does It Work?
During a vasectomy, doctors cut or seal off each of the two tubes that carry sperm to semen. Sperm cannot leave a man’s body if they do not travel through these tubes, so ejaculations will no longer carry sperm after a vasectomy. The procedure takes just 30 minutes and is non-invasive, with almost no recovery time. Typically, patients can return to work after just 24 hours and take care of themselves as soon as 48 hours later. The procedure is simple and has few side effects; men who have gotten a vasectomy report little to no pain during or after the recovery time. Vasectomies are over 99% effective at preventing pregnancies when performed correctly, though sperm may still be present in seminal fluid for up to three months after surgery.
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Benefits Of Getting A Vasectomy:
* It’s fast and effective * Only a quick 15-minute procedure * Most insurance companies cover it * It can be reversed later (unlike a vasectomy) If you are considering permanent male birth control, you’ll want to check out Dr. Karlson’s Indiana vasectomy center at Karlson Hospital in Noblesville, Indiana, just west of Indianapolis. They provide all aspects of male contraception, including vasectomy and condoms, in addition to several other men’s health services. You can also get a free consultation by calling 1-888-971-3499 or getting started online now. The sooner you begin your journey to permanent male birth control, the sooner you’ll start living life without worry or responsibility!
The Procedure:
A vasectomy is a minor outpatient surgery in which a doctor blocks or closes off the tubes that carry sperm from your testicles to your urethra. The procedure takes about 15 minutes and is performed with a local anesthetic, often combined with sedation. Afterward, you may experience some pain and swelling but are able to return to work in one or two days. You will be advised not to lift anything heavier than 5 pounds for about one week following surgery and told that it may be up to three weeks before you have sperm again in your ejaculate. Your doctor may recommend post-vasectomy testing—to check on whether all of your sperm have been removed, which can take 10 months or longer—but most men won’t need such tests.
Recovery time:
A vasectomy is considered relatively safe, but it does have an impact on your sexual pleasure. Though you can still orgasm and ejaculate after a vasectomy, there may be some changes to how you experience orgasm or semen. You may notice a color or consistency change in your semen as well as experience less fluid volume and/or strength of ejaculation. Some men also report experiencing less intense orgasms than before their vasectomy, especially if they had large testicles prior to surgery. Most men won’t experience any adverse effects post-surgery but about 20% of men will experience pain during orgasm for up to six months following a vasectomy procedure.
The Cost of It All:
For those who do choose to have a vasectomy in Indiana, the state is offering a 35 percent discount through January 31, 2014. Call it what you want—incentive, special deal, promotion—this discount for male sterilization has some folks asking why so many Indiana men are opting for this procedure. While we don’t have an exact answer as to why there’s been a surge in interest in Indiana vasectomies recently (we just wrote about them), it’s clear that attitudes toward birth control are changing and that male sterilization is becoming more common. Time will tell if these numbers keep growing or if they were just anomalies spurred by discounts; regardless, expect more trends like these as we transition into 2014 and beyond.
