Men getting the snip free#

Studies are being carried out to find out whether sperm flow can be restored fully after the Vasclip is removed.

Men getting the snip free#

The cauterising technique used in the conventional operation can cause damage that blocks the free flow of semen once the tubes have been re-joined. And there are no guarantees that reversal will work. About 5 per cent of men who undergo a traditional vasectomy later change their minds.Īnd the number of men seeking reversals has risen with the increase in divorce and the desire of men to start a family with a new partner.Īlthough reversals are sometimes successful, reattaching the vasĪ deferens is a difficult and expensive microsurgical procedure. It also promises to make a reversal easier. Two years ago, Segermark decided to test his invention and became the first man to try the device.ĪYEAR-LONG clinical study showed the procedure to be less painful and result in fewer complications than traditional vasectomies, where wound infection and swelling can cause problems. It snaps onto each of the two vas deferens tubes to block the flow of sperm permanently.

It was a plastic clamp the size of a grain of rice. 'I just felt there had to be better way than cutting and burning in such a sensitive area of the body,' he says. Married, in his 30s, with two young children - and not planning to have any more - Segermark was told by his wife to have a vasectomy.īut, like many men, he chickenedout at the prospect, mainly because he found the procedure so primitive. The method of vasectomy was thought up by Jim Segermark, an executive for a company making medical devices. Since it was launched earlier this year, the Vasclip vasectomy has been carried out on thousands of U.S.

Surveys of men who have undergone a traditional vasectomy operation show that as many as 54 per cent report significant pain after surgery. In trials using the new method, doctors reported that 76 per cent of men who had the treatment reported no pain at all, compared to just five per cent who said they had significant pain. Men having a vasectomy can often smell the burning of flesh during the operation.Ĭontraception experts say that many men are put off by the thought of cutting and burning, and the often quite painful recovery they have to endure. To prevent a leakage of sperm, the ends are sealed off by cauterisation. There have been no significant new developments with vasectomy since it was developed after World War II.ĭoctors have always carried the operation by cutting a hole in the scrotum, pulling out the vas deferens tubes and then cutting them. Using a clip also means that it might be possible to reverse a vasectomy successfully should a man's circumstances change later. It is placed over the vas deferens tube that carries sperm from the testes to the penis. The new procedure - which is due to be launched in the UK at the beginning of next year - involves the use of a very tiny clip. But a new form of vasectomy - which is virtually pain free - could persuade thousands to change their minds.ĭoctors have developed a vasectomy that does away with the cutting and cauterising which causes most men's eyes to water. You can also read more about other forms of contraception.Many men are still wary of having the snip to end their baby-making days. Your doctor is available to discuss your fertility options. Retrieving sperm directly from the testes for use with assisted reproductive techniques, such as IVF, may be an option for men who have had a vasectomy and then decide they would like to father children. The chances of success decrease with time after the procedure.

Sometimes it is possible to re-join the vas tubes, but this does not guarantee the man will be able to produce another child. Can a vasectomy be reversed?Ī vasectomy is generally permanent. It is important to continue using condoms if there is any risk of STIs.

STI preventionĪ vasectomy does not protect against HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This is why it is important to use contraception until a semen test is clear. A semen test 3 months after the procedure will determine if it is safe to stop using other forms of contraception.Ī very small proportion of vasectomies fail. It can take several months and up to 20 ejaculations to clear the sperm in the vas deferens after the procedure. How soon will a vasectomy work?Ī vasectomy does not work immediately. Illustration of normal male anatomy showing the vas deferens which is cut during a vasectomy.