What A Male Should Know About A Vasectomy

When the topic arises concerning birth control and the male's role in preventing a pregnancy ultimately the procedure known as a vasectomy will pop up in the conversation. This conversation is either one that he initiates or one his sexual partner does. Many couples choose to explore the vasectomy option because it is a permanent birth control method. They choose to have a permanent birth control method when they are certain that they either do not want to ever have children or when they have had all the children that they desire or can afford to have. Sometimes couples will choose a permanent birth control method when having children is medically/genetically undesirable. During the conversation that the male will have with his doctor there are several terms that will be used by the doctor that the male may or may not already be familiar with and he should know what the terms mean so that the conversation has more meaning. It is vital that the male understand everything about the vasectomy before making his decision to have one or not.

Common terms used during conversations about having a vasectomy are:

Epididymis: This is the tightly coiled, and very small section of tubes that are covering the back and sides of the testicles. The epididymis is where the sperm are stored and where they mature after leaving the testis and before they are transported to the vas deferens.

The prostate gland: This gland is located below the bladder, and contributes significantly to the makeup of the seminal secretions. It is also where the ejaculatory ducts, the vas deferens, and also the urethra join together.

The scrotum: This is the sac that contains the testicles, the epididymis, and the vas deferens (the tubes that carry the sperm). The scrotum is where the incisions or openings are made during the techniques used to perform the vasectomies.

Semen: This is the glandular fluid that is made up of a combination of sperm and semen. The mixture consists of 1% sperm and 99% semen.

The seminal vesicle: This is a sac at the very end of the vas deferens that produces a part of the seminal fluid. This is the fluid (semen) that is ejaculated by the male during his sexual climax. This fluid not only transports the sperm, it nourishes the sperm too.

Testicles: The testicles are located inside the scrotum. They are the male reproductive glands with the purpose of producing sperm and also the male hormone testosterone.

The urethra: This is the passageway that runs from the bladder to the tip of the penis and is how the urine and the semen are transported out of the male body.

Vas deferens: There are two tubes each called a vas deferens. They are tubes located on either side of the scrotum. They are muscular tubes with the function of carrying the sperm from the testicle and the epididymis to the urinary tract where they are transported out of the urethra.

The vasectomy itself carries very little health risk and there has never been a death that has been associated with the male having had a vasectomy. The alternative permanent procedure, the one performed on the female – a tubal ligation, is associated with no fewer than 20 deaths each year. This is why, when a couple decides to have the "permanent birth control" conversation, a vasectomy is more appealing, because the health risks are much less for the vasectomy than for the tubal and the risk of death for the male is zero, compared to the risk that a female faces for death during or following a tubal ligation.

Recommended Reading

1. The Anatomy Of A Vasectomy - Have you ever wondered what happens when a male submits himself to the vasectomy procedure? Approximately 600,000 men each year...
2. Top Questions Everyone Wants To Know About A Vasectomy - Being fully informed about a vasectomy and what it entails is very important for men and even their partners. This...
3. Pregnancy After Vasectomy Still A Possibility - The whole point of going through a vasectomy is the fact that you don't have to worry about birth control...
4. Basic Steps To Expect During The Vasectomy Procedure - It is perfectly normal to be a bit anxious about having surgery, no matter how many people have previously gone...
5. Top Q And A About Reversing That Vasectomy - A vasectomy should always be considered as a permanent form of birth control and men who want it need to...