The big snip

Discussing contraception is an essential part of every long-term relationship and, according to new statistics from Irish Life Health, one in four Irish men are considering getting a vasectomy. Vasectomies have grown in popularity so much in recent years, that the health insurer is now offering its members the opportunity to claim €360 back on vasectomy procedures across a number of their plans.

Getting a vasectomy is a big decision and there are a host of misconceptions surrounding the topic. We spoke with Dr Phillip Kieran from RTE’s You Should Really See A Doctor to learn more.

First things first, what exactly is a vasectomy?

“Well a vasectomy is a procedure where the tube that carries sperm from the testical up to the penis, which is called the vas, is cut and sealed to stop sperm from travelling up from the testicals. It’s a reliable and long-term method for male contraception,” says Dr Kieran.

“What I always say to patients who come in asking for information about a vasectomy is, well, first of all I give them all the information. I tell them about the procedure. I tell them about the potential risks associated with it and then I tell them that they should consider it as a permanent form of contraception for men because although technically it may be reversible, the success rates with reversal are very, very low.”

So what are the chances of getting a vasectomy reversed successfully?

“First of all, it’s a very technical procedure to try and reverse and it’s actually more difficult to try and reverse it than it is to do the vasectomy in the first place. The success rate post-surgery of reversal are only about, 10-19 per cent is what’s quoted in the international literature, so I would say, if you think about it, a 10 per cent success rate means a 90 per cent failure rate of reversal. I tell people if you’re making the decision to go down this route, you have to be okay with the fact it’s not going to be reversible.”

Dr Kieran says that according to international statistics, once a man has a vasectomy there’s a “one in 3,000 chance of conceiving” afterwards, making a vasectomy the most effective form of contraception.

With such effectiveness it’s easy to see why many men consider the procedure and Dr Kieran notes that the majority of men that come to see him about vasectomies fall into the “mid to late 30s” age bracket.

There are two types of vasectomies available to men: a scalpel vasectomy and a no scalpel vasectomy. Both procedures are carried out under local anaesthetic.

“With a scalpel vasectomy, they give local anaesthetic into the scrotum itself, make a small cut with a scalpel and then take the tubes into that cut area and they can separate it there,” explains Dr Kieran.

“With a no scalpel vasectomy, instead of using a scalpel to make that initial incision, they actually just use a needle which they can expand a little bit. It’s the difference between keyhole surgery and regular surgery. A scalpel vasectomy uses a very small cut. A no scalpel vasectomy uses a hole punched by a needle.”

But is it a painful procedure?

“It’s not a painless procedure, but most people describe it as a discomfort and for most men, the vast majority of men, they will be completely recovered or well on their way to recovery within 24-48 hours,” says Dr Kieran.

The procedure itself takes about 15-30 minutes and Dr Kieran says that most men are able to return to work within two to seven days, depending on their job.

“Obviously if you’re working a very physical job it’s going to take a little longer,” he says.

Another of the most common misconceptions about vasectomies is that it can have a negative impact on a man’s sex drive and Dr Kieran stresses that this simply isn’t true.

“I would say that is the biggest fear of people coming into me. People think that their libido, their sex drive, will go away completely and a lot of men worry that their ability to ejaculate will be gone completely,” he says.

“The research says that it has absolutely no effect on libido and, in some cases, because it removes the worry about contraception, it can actually relax [men] a little bit.”

Dr Kieran says that before a man decides to get a vasectomy it is important to discuss the topic with their partner if they’re in a relationship.

“In a stable, long-term relationship it’s important that decisions around contraception, around family planning, are shared,” he says.

And if you’re both on the same page about a vasectomy, there are simple ways you can support your partner through the process.

“Encourage the partner that nothing is going to change. That you support the decision that’s being made… Let them know that from your point of view nothing is going to change because, from their point of view, realistically, nothing is going to change.”

For more information about vasectomy benefits log on to www.irishlifehealth.ie