Making the decision to get a vasectomy procedure is a great option when you have decided that you no longer want to have children. A vasectomy is a very common procedure and takes only around 30 minutes to complete. After two or three days, everything will feel normal and you will be able to go back to work; however, there is one additional step you will need to go through – getting rechecked. Here are a few things you need to know about this.
Why Do You Need a Vasectomy Recheck?
When a doctor performs your vasectomy, he or she will cut or block two tubes, and the purpose of this is to stop the sperm your body produces from getting into your semen. After you have this completed, you may experience some pain for a couple of days, but the pain should go away within three days.
The goal of a vasectomy is to make you sterile, and this is done for birth-control purposes. The problem is that you will not instantly be sterile after having this done. There can be sperm trapped in a part of your body known as the vas deferens. This sperm can live there for months and can come out of your urethra when you ejaculate. Getting a vasectomy recheck is the only way to find out if you are sterile.
What Is a Vasectomy Recheck?
A vasectomy recheck is a procedure that tests your semen to see the sperm count in it. You are not sterile until your semen has no sperm in it. To get this rechecked, you will probably be asked to drop off a semen sample to your doctor. You will need to do this approximately two or three months after having the procedure.
If you want to make sure that you are sterile when you get rechecked, you should try to ejaculate as many times as possible after having your vasectomy. Most doctors recommend ejaculating at least 25 times before getting rechecked. Each time you ejaculate, you are flushing out your system, and this is what helps eliminate any trapped sperm in your body.
If you do not want to drop off a sperm sample to your doctor, there are mail-in kits you can purchase and use. These are often less embarrassing for men, and they are very simple to use.
Preparing for a vasectomy is not something most men look forward to, but it is one of the most effective birth-control methods available.
I have worked in a supportive role in the medical industry for over 20 years, and I have been amazed at the advances in medicine that have been made. While it is always great to hear about a new medication that helps cure a disease or a new surgical procedure that can help someone live a normal life again after an injury, I have been especially amazed at the research that has shown just how much our physical and mental health are connected. Since I keep on top of all of the amazing medical studies being performed and I know others are too busy to hunt them down themselves, I decided to start a blog to share my favorite health tips for keeping both your mind and body healthy.