PPNCNY is Now Offering No-Cut Vasectomies in Our Plattsburgh, Watertown & Canton Health Centers!

No, a vasectomy won’t protect you or your partners from sexually transmitted infections. Semen (cum) can still carry STDs, even if it doesn’t contain sperm. And for some STDs, all you need is skin-to-skin contact to get them from someone.

Use condoms to lower your chances of getting or spreading STDs.

Getting a vasectomy is usually really safe. But like all medical procedures, there can be some risks. Things like temporary pain, bruising, and infection are the most common ones. You may need an antibiotic from your doctor to treat an infection.

Call your doctor if  you get a vasectomy and have any of these signs of infection:

• A fever over 100° F.

• Blood or pus coming from where the cut was made in your scrotum.

• Lots of pain or swelling in your scrotum or testicle area.

Other possible problems with vasectomies include:

• Bleeding where the skin was cut (but this usually stops on its own).

• Bleeding under the skin that may cause swelling or bruising (called hematoma). It usually goes away on its own. Putting ice packs on the bruise and taking over-the-counter pain medication can help.

• Swelling (called Spermatic Granuloma) caused by sperm leaking from your vas deferens. It usually goes away on its own, but a doctor may need to drain it.

• Temporary pain or discomfort are common. You can take over-the-counter pain medicine and wear supportive underwear that doesn’t let your testicles hang. Long-term pain is really uncommon, but possible. If this happens you should talk with a doctor or nurse for possible treatment.

Very rarely, the cut ends of your vas deferens grow back together, which can allow pregnancy to happen.

Vasectomies are meant to be permanent — they usually can’t be undone.

It’s sometimes possible to reverse a vasectomy, but there are no guarantees — your fertility may not come back. Vasectomy reversal is a complicated surgery, and it can be very expensive.

Whether or not a vasectomy reversal might work depends on:

• How long ago you got the vasectomy.

• The type of vasectomy you got.

• Whether or not your body has developed antibodies to sperm (when your immune system attacks sperm).

If you’re worried about reversal when thinking about getting a vasectomy, it’s probably best to hold off

The doctor makes one tiny puncture (hole) to reach both vas deferens tubes — the skin of your scrotum isn’t cut with a scalpel. Your tubes are then tied off, cauterized, or blocked. The small puncture heals quickly. You won’t need stitches, and there’s no scarring.

This method reduces bleeding and lowers the risk of infection, bruising, and other complications.

Typically, you can have sex a few days following a vasectomy, as long as you feel comfortable and aren't experiencing any pain.

It takes about 3 months after your vasectomy for your semen to be sperm-free. We highly recommend using another method of birth control, such as condoms to prevent pregnancy until your doctor confirms that the vasectomy was successful.

Your doctor will test your semen and tell you when the sperm are gone and the vasectomy is working as birth control.

Getting a vasectomy can cost anywhere between $0 and $1,000, including follow-up visits.

The cost of a vasectomy varies and can depend on whether or not you have health insurance that will cover some or all of the cost. Vasectomies may be totally free (or low cost) with some health insurance plans, Medicaid, and other government programs.

Even if your vasectomy costs more than other methods up front, it usually ends up saving you money in the long run, because it lasts forever. Vasectomies are about 6 times cheaper than female sterilization.