What Happens To Sperm Production After Vasectomy?
Vasectomy:
For male sterilization and permanent contraception, vasectomy is the best surgical procedure. In this procedure, the male sperm duct (vas deferens) cut or seal so that the sperm could not enter the urethra so by this stop the fertilization of a female through the sexual intercourse.
Vasectomy can be done in a physician clinic or in a veterinary clinic when performing on animals. As the procedure of vasectomy is not complicating so hospitalization is not required.
Vasectomy is the process of permanent contraception for males. In this procedure the sperm duct ( vas deferens) is either sealed or partially removed from both the sides, so in this way sperm from the testes are not able to ejaculate and have no chance to enter in the female reproductive tract to cause pregnancy.
Procedure to perform vasectomy:
Firstly, clean the scrotum area by using antiseptics. Now numb both the sides of the scrotum with the help of local anaesthetic. In some cases, the patient can also take general anaesthetics according to their choice. A small opening is made on the skin of both side of the scrotum (by incision or puncture). After puncture now separate the tube (vas deferens) from the surrounding tissues, cut and seal the tube. A small portion of the tube is also removed. All the structures are then placed at their positions within the scrotum. The incisions are then stitched by the dissolvable stitches (dissolve in the body and no need to remove). Some ointment and gauze should apply on the wound.
Different methods to perform vasectomy:
It is relatively a less time consuming and painless surgical procedure there are two methods to perform a vasectomy :
Conventional vasectomy
Non-scalpel vasectomy
Conventional vasectomy:
The first step is to numb the scrotum with the help of local anaesthetic. Then on each side of the scrotum skin make two small cuts to reach the vas deferens (a sperm carrying tube) that lead the sperm to the testicles. Then both the cuts are seal with the dissolvable stitches.
Non-scalpel vasectomy:
The first step is to numb the scrotum with the help of local anaesthetic. To reach the vas deferens, make a small puncture hole in the skin on each side of the scrotum it means no use of scalpel (surgical knife) and no cutting of skin is required. The tubes are then sealed and tied in the same way as conventional vasectomy.
It is thought that the no-scalpel vasectomy is less painful and less complicated procedure as compared to the conventional vasectomy. There are no stitches and a little bleeding.
The condition of patient and time required for vasectomy:
As vasectomy is a minor surgical procedure, so it can be done in a physician office using local anaesthetics. But in some cases, because of the patient demand, it can be performed in the operating room with the general anaesthetic.
Although the procedure takes almost 15-20 minute if use general anaesthetic then the time may exceed because of the recovery time of the patient from anaesthesia.
Postoperative instructions:
It’s ok to have mild discomfort and swelling for a few days that will go within one week.
It is recommended to take off from work for 1-2 days
Should apply ice on the scrotum
Avoid exercise for a week
Until the discomfort is gone avoid sexual activity
Don’t soak in pool, tube and in open water for at least 2 -3 weeks until the wound properly heals.
Postoperative complications:
Following are the risk and complications of vasectomy that may occur in 1-2% of patients, but it can be easily managed.
Infection
There is a mild risk of infection in any surgical procedure, so antiseptic techniques should be used. Should not shave the scrotum before surgery as it increases the chance of infection? Antibiotics are not recommended because the infection is not severe.
Pain:
1-2% of men experience chronic scrotal pain. The cause of pain is not fully understood, this may be due to the accumulation of sperm in the epididymis that may exert pressure and cause pain.
Bleeding
A minute amount of bleeding, discomfort and swelling at the area of the incision is usual and it recovers in almost 72 hours. It’s ok to have a small blood clot but a large clot or hematoma is painful. In this case, reopening of the scrotum and drainage of the blood clot is required.
Pros and Cons:
- this procedure is almost 99% effective
- if vasectomy is done a person does not have to worry about contraception
- After this procedure person semen does not contain sperm but he still has ejaculations and erections, so it does not affect your sex drive and ability to enjoy sex. But if patient experience fever and redness at scrotum, should ask a doctor.
- Sperm will present in the tube for at least 72 days, so the person should use contraceptives for at least 8 to 12 weeks after the operation.
- In some patient’s scrotum may be swollen and painful, but it is manageable.
- There is a minor risk of infection
- Before operating should be firm about your decision because it is very difficult to reverse.
- Vasectomy does not play any role in protection against STI’s (sexually transmitted infections) so condom must be used as well.
What is sperm and how is sperm produced in the body:
Testicles have seminiferous tubules (small coiled tubes) that produce sperm. The sperm nurse cells are present in these seminiferous tubules that manage the sperm stem cell (cells that made sperm). The testosterone producing cells are present around these tubes that impact the nurse cell to stimulate the development of sperm by controlling the sperm stem cell. A sperm is ready to perform its action after proper development that require almost 70 days.
After the Ejaculation of sperm, it needs a help that makes it able to swim to the egg to fertilize it. Before ejaculation through the vas deferens sperm goes to a duct that adds protein in sperm to improve its performance.
Vasectomy blocks the pathway of a sperm to ejaculate out of the male body and reach the egg to fertilize it by blocking the tubes (vas deferens). So, it is impossible for a sperm to reach urethra, where after mixing with seminal fluid it gets ejaculated out of the body during orgasm.
What happened to the sperm after vasectomy?
After a vasectomy, it is impossible for sperm to leave the body through the penis. But is no change in the production of the sperm by the testicles, but after vasectomy, they cannot ejaculate out of the body instead of this they break down and reabsorbed in the bloodstream. The fluids are absorbed by the epididymis, while the solids are broken down by the macrophages and then reabsorb in the bloodstream.
The maturation time of sperm is about 1 month in the epididymis before leaving the testicles. After vasectomy the membrane of the epididymis increase in size so that it can absorb more fluid contents and because of this they stimulate the immune system to produce more macrophages that break down the solid content that reabsorb by the bloodstream.
A vasectomy only blocks the sperm to ejaculate out of the body during sexual intercourse. It does not affect the production of the sperm, sexual drive, erection and the ability to enjoy sex. As after vasectomy sperm are not able to mix with semen but it does not even change the colour and texture of the semen.
In every person living there is a time when no availability of sex. In this time the body produces sperm, but these sperms are not used. These unused sperms are naturally reabsorbed by the body. After vasectomy body repeat the same process of reabsorption.
References:
- https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/…/vasectomy_85,P00731
- https://www.nhs.uk › Health A-Z › Your contraception guide
- https://www.healthline.com/health/mens-health/sex-after-vasectomy
- https://biology.stackexchange.com/…/after-vasectomy-where-does-the-sperm-go
- https://www.webmd.com › Sexual Health › Birth Control
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