So maybe you finally feel like you’ve had enough children. There are currently three little ones running around you as you read this and you realize it’s time to talk to your partner about a permanent method of birth control.
Or, maybe enough children to you is actually zero. No matter what your reasoning is, we can provide you with the surefire prevention method your health class teachers always told you didn’t exist (besides abstinence).
Yep, we’re talking about vasectomies. But, we can understand why that wouldn’t be a topic of conversation in a school’s health class.
If you’re ready to stop failing to put on a condom or rely on your partner for birth control, ChristiMD Medical Group’s vasectomy near you in Houston can be your forever fix.
What is a vasectomy?
You may be new to the idea of a vasectomy procedure and that’s okay! We’re glad you’re here.
A vasectomy is a permanent form of male birth control in which a man’s vas deferens (sperm duct) are cut and sealed in order to block the sperm from releasing into the ejaculate, therefore never reaching an egg.
There are two types of vasectomy methods: one with a scalpel (surgical knife) and one without a scalpel (also known as a keyhole vasectomy).
We know what you’re thinking—but don’t click out of here and run away just yet—because our procedure at ChristiMD does not use a scalpel and it’s practically free of pain and discomfort! Can just any vasectomy near you in Houston offer such a clean deal?
Am I a candidate for a vasectomy?
If you are at least 18 years old with no major health conditions and are looking for permanent birth control, you are likely a candidate for a vasectomy. Schedule a consultation to get the process started!
How does the procedure process work?
Prior to the procedure, we will schedule a consultation to talk about your goals and reasonings for your vasectomy procedure and inform you on the implications it has on your reproductive future. We will then schedule your procedure!
During the procedure, you can relax and feel safe in the care of our team, who was named one of the top 3 urologist practices in Houston in 2018.
After we clean the area, we will apply numbing cream and let it sit for 10 minutes. Once the numbness has set in, we will apply a local anesthetic with a very tiny needle.
We will then use a sharp hemostat (a precise surgical tool that minimizes discomfort) to enter through your scrotum, raise the vas deferens, remove a short segment of each tube, and suture (stitch) the entrance site if it needs it.
Next, we will apply gauze if there’s bleeding and then use a clamp on the scrotum for 5 minutes in order to close the entrance site. Usually sutures aren’t needed; the incision is so small (like a keyhole) that the scrotum tends to close up on its own within a few minutes. Our bodies are pretty amazing, right?
Now the most common question: Does a vasectomy hurt?
If your surgeon for a vasectomy near you in Houston performs it with the scalpel-free, keyhole method, your vasectomy should be painless. With the numbing cream and local aesthetic we use, our patients rarely report discomfort.
Even though the procedure is painless, we understand that the anxiety and anticipation can sometimes inflate negative feelings. So, we have a third optional addition for you to use along with the other 2 methods. That’s right, ChristiMD offers 3 tools to alleviate any pain or discomfort during your vasectomy!
Pro-Nox is an FDA-cleared method of administering 50% Nitrous Oxide and 50% Oxygen to reduce procedure and pain-related anxiety. You simply breathe in through the mouthpiece and feel more relaxed!
With Pro-Nox, you have complete control over your intake and there are no negative after-effects of using it; the effects of the gas will wear off in just a few minutes.
A perfect concoction of numbing cream, local anesthetic, and Pro-Nox will have you completely worry-free and pain-free for the short procedure.
How long does the procedure take?
A keyhole vasectomy is only a 20-minute, one-time procedure! If you factor in the time for checking in for your appointment and letting the numbing cream sit, you’re looking at around 30 minutes in the office.
What is recovery like?
Easy and breezy, we can tell you that much. Truly, recovery is relatively smooth and painless. We recommend taking it easy for 3 days after your procedure and refraining from sex, ejaculation, and heavy exercise for 1 week.
During this time:
- Ice the area if needed.
- Take anti-inflammatories for any swelling and discomfort.
We usually perform vasectomy procedures on a Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday so you can take the weekend to fully recover!
When can I return to work?
You will be able to go back to work a few days after your procedure unless your job involves strenuous activity/physical labor. In this case, we’ll discuss when you can return to work.
How effective is a vasectomy near me in Houston?
Vasectomies are extremely effective; they are considered the next best birth control method after abstinence. The success rate is over 99%! Plus, vasectomies are much less invasive than tubal ligation (tube tying).
Just for fun, let’s take a look at the efficacy of a few other widely-used forms of birth control.
Male condoms: 98% effective with 2 out of 100 women becoming pregnant in a year of using this method.
Implants: Over 99% effective with fewer than 1 and 100 women becoming pregnant in a year.
Maybe your partner is tired of the hormones that birth control is releasing and certain side effects of them, such as moodiness and weight gain. It could be time to take one for the team and look into a vasectomy near you in Houston!
Will a vasectomy work immediately?
No! Listen up fellas: before a vasectomy goes into effect, you must ejaculate at least 30 times and conduct semen tests 3 months after your procedure. On the day of your procedure, you will receive a take-home test kit to collect your ejaculate 3 months later.
Even if you ejaculate 30 times before the three months is up, you are not necessarily in the clear. You’ll still need to wait the full 3 months! You will collect your ejaculate using the kit and send it to our specified lab in order to get your results.
The lab technicians will contact you and let you know whether or not your specimen contained sperm. If it didn’t, you’re in the clear! If it did contain sperm, we will let you know how long to wait until testing again.
Before you get cleared for being sperm-free, use alternative methods of birth control.
Is a vasectomy reversible?
The short answer is: yes, usually. However, at ChristiMD Medical Group, we treat vasectomies as a permanent procedure. The surgery to reverse them doesn’t guarantee success in getting pregnant, takes around 4 hours, and costs a lot.
We recommend viewing a vasectomy near you in Houston with the mindset that it is permanent. Make sure you do all the thinking and deliberating with your partner and loved ones.
Mythbusters: Vasectomy Edition
Interestingly enough, a lot of myths have formed around vasectomies. We wanted to take some time to bust these myths so you don’t let them inform your decision!
Our very own Dr. Christi does some myth busting in this video:
Will I still have erections?
Yes! Your vasectomy will not affect your ability to get and sustain an erection.
Will I still be able to ejaculate/orgasm?
Yes! A vasectomy will not affect your ability to ejaculate or orgasm. You will have full juice, just no seeds. Your ejaculate will appear normal and your orgasms will feel the same as they did before your vasectomy. Woohoo!
Will a vasectomy affect my sexual performance?
No, a vasectomy will not affect your sexual performance. You won’t last shorter or longer or have erectile dysfunction due to a vasectomy. Hormones will not change and urinary function will also remain the same.
Are you ready to go seedless?
If you’re ready to be kidless or kidless from here on out, you can go seedless with a vasectomy near you in Houston. Abstinence and birth control simply isn’t going to cut it, but a vasectomy will (literally)!
At ChristiMD Medical Group, we can be your trusted providers for your permanent solution. As great and successful of a procedure as it is, we recognize that it isn’t for everyone and isn’t a decision to be taken lightly.
During your consultation, Dr. Christi can talk you through the procedure and what to expect in a more personal, face-to-face interaction. Our compassionate team is here to help inform you on everything you need to know before making such a big decision.
Questions? We have answers!
Vasectomy or no vasectomy, we’d love to hear from you and answer any questions you have.