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Vasectomy
A vasectomy is a surgical procedure performed as a method of birth control in men. It involves cutting the tubes (the vas deferens) that carry sperm from the testicles.
Only about 15 of every 10,000 couples get pregnant in the year after the man has a vasectomy.1
As part of a program of research on the safety and effectiveness of male contraceptives, NICHD supports studies and other activities advancing understanding of vasectomy.
General Information
A vasectomy is a surgical procedure performed as a method of birth control in men.
A vasectomy is usually performed in the office of urologist, a doctor who specializes in the male urinary tract and reproductive system.
Very effective. But men still need to use other birth control until the remaining sperm are cleared out of the semen. This takes 15 to 20 ejaculations, or about 3 months.
Discomfort after surgery and infection are minor risks of vasectomy.
Vasectomy will not affect your sex life. It does not decrease your sex drive or affect your ability to get an erection or ejaculate semen.
Research
NICHD conducts and supports research on vasectomy and on many disorders associated with it.
Find a Study
NICHD conducts and supports a variety of clinical research projects related to vasectomy.
More Information
Find answers to other common questions about vasectomy, such as whether vasectomy poses a cancer risk and if it can be reversed.
Links to websites of groups that study or provide information about vasectomy.
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