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No-Scalpel Vasectomy
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 No-Scalpel Vasectomy

The no-scalpel vasectomy is a refinement of the conventional vasectomy technique developed by a surgeon in China and introduced into this country by the Association for Voluntary Surgical Contraception (AVSC) in 1987. Dr. Bours was one of the first doctors in this country trained in the procedure and has utilized the no-scalpel technique since 1988.

How does it work?
Sperm are produced by the testes. Two ducts - each called the vas deferens - carry sperm to the seminal vesicles, where they mix with semen, the fluid ejaculated at sexual climax.

Vasectomy prevents pregnancy by blocking each vas deferens, stopping the passage of sperm. The operation does not affect a man's testicles or his penis. It is not castration. After a vasectomy, a man continues to produce male hormones, to have erections, and to ejaculate normal appearing semen.

Sperm continue to be produced in the testicles following vasectomy, but they have no place to go. They are reabsorbed by the body. This process is a natural one and has no harmful effects. It also occurs in non-vasectomized men who abstain from sex for awhile.

How is it done?
After numbing the area, the surgeon uses a special instrument to make a small puncture in the midline of the scrotum, through which each of the vas deferens is in turn lifted out, cut and cauterized. No sutures are required to close the tiny wound.

Is it for me?
Vasectomy is a small procedure but a large decision with significant impact on a man's future. We will consider performing a vasectomy for any man who has seriously thought about the implications of his decision and who is sure he has had all the children he will ever want. While there is a 60% success rate in reversing vasectomies, we recommend vasectomy only for men seeking permanent birth control.

If you are dissatisfied or frustrated with your present method of birth control, vasectomy may make sex more pleasurable for you and your partner.

What are the complications?
Vasectomy in general is a safe, simple procedure with few complications, and the no-scalpel technique, because it is gentler on tissue, is even safer. The most common complication of vasectomy is bleeding into the scrotum in the immediate period following the surgery, resulting in a scrotal hematoma. This complication is best avoided by inactivity, relaxation, and ice packs for the first twelve hours after the procedure.

There is a small chance of failure (less than 1%) with every vasectomy technique. Vasectomy cannot be considered effective until a semen specimen has been examined microscopically, usually 4-6 weeks following the procedure, and found to be free of sperm.