| Vasectomy is a very good operation for family planning. It is the most frequently done surgical procedure on the adult american male. The procedure involves removing a small segment of the vas deferens through two small scrotal incisions, one on the left and one on the right so that both vas deferens can be identified. Once the vas deferens are identified, a small segment is removed from each side and the ends are cauterized and tied off. The failure rate of a properly done vasectomy is much less than 1 in 1000. The procedure can be done in the office and requires about twenty-five minutes. The procedure is done with some tranqualizer sedation, such as valium and a local anethstetic, Xylocaine much like the dentist uses. The patient needs to rest at home for about 12 hours, icing the scrotum and avoid strenuous physical activity for about a week following the procedure. Most patients are able to return to work the next day, except for those whose employment requires heavy labor. The cost for the procedure is about $600 and in most circumstances this is reimbursed by insurance. The patient needs to bring in semen specimens, obtained by masturbation at 30 and 60 days and two of these need to be negative be fore the patient can abandon their other methods of birth control. After the procedure is done most patients say the procedure was much easier for them than they anticipated. At Riverside Urology, Dr. Riemenschneider has done thousands of vasectomies, the patients have been pleased with the surgery and accomplish there goals of family planning. It should be noted that there are rare circumstances where a family situation can change and the technology for reconstructing the divided vas deferens is possible under a microscope and many patients treated at Riverside Urology, who decided to have their vasectomy reversed did so successfully. |
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