Ironwood Urology’s Blog

When it comes to contraception, a number of methods are available for both men and women. Most of the options are for women only, the most common of which is “the pill” for women. If a woman wants to become pregnant, she simply stops taking the pill.

You casually mention to an old friend that you’ve had a vasectomy. This friend stares at you incredulously. “Are you kidding me?” he gasps. “Do you have any idea what this means?” He then offers a litany of how life as you know it has ceased to exist.

A vasectomy is a surgical procedure for permanent male birth control. Every year, over half a million men in the United States undergo a vasectomy, making it the most common urological medical procedure in America. It is also a highly effective method of birth control. Typically performed as an outpatient procedure, a vasectomy involves the cutting of the vas deferens (which supply sperm from the testicles to the penis). As with any surgical procedure, the process surrounding having a vasectomy can leave a patient with many questions. Being well informed and ready for your procedure goes a long way towards being comfortable with your decision and the process involved.

After your vasectomy, it’s important to verify its success with a post-vasectomy semen analysis, or PVSA. Home sperm test kits claim to help you avoid this follow-up appointment, but should you use one?

The Bimek SLV is a new procedure to implant valves in sperm ducts that enable you to turn off your sperm. The procedure is in the works, currently at the clinical trials stage, and it will be made available to providers internationally once completed and approved.