+ Can my partner tell if I have a vasectomy?

Sperm adds very little to the semen volume, so you shouldn't notice any change in your ejaculate after vasectomy. Your partner may sometimes be able to feel the vasectomy site.

+ Will my sense of orgasm be changed by having a vasectomy?

Ejaculation and orgasm are not affected by vasectomy. The special case is the rare man who has developed post-vasectomy pain syndrome.

+ Will a vasectomy affect my sexual performance?

A vasectomy won't affect your sex drive or your masculinity in any way other than preventing you from fathering a child. Men have even reported higher sexual satisfaction after a vasectomy.

+ Can I develop erectile dysfunction after a vasectomy?

A vasectomy does not cause erectile dysfunction.

+ Can a vasectomy fail?

There is a small chance a vasectomy may fail. This occurs when sperm leaking from one end of the cut vas deferens find a channel to the other cut end. Once your urologist clears you with a sperm test showing no sperm or rare dead sperm, the risk of pregnancy is 1 in 2000.

+ Can I have children after my vasectomy?

Yes, but if you haven't stored frozen sperm you'll need an additional procedure. The vas deferens can be surgically reconnected in a procedure called vasectomy reversal. If you don't want to have vasectomy reversal, sperm can be taken from the testicle or the epididymis and used for in vitro fertilization. These procedures are costly and may not be covered by your health plan. Also, they don't always work. If you think you may want to have children one day, you should look into non-permanent forms of birth control before deciding to have a vasectomy.

+ Can a vasectomy increase the risk of certain cancers?

Although there have been some concerns about a possible link between vasectomy and testicular or prostate cancer in the past, there's no proven link.

+ Can it increase the risk of heart disease?

As with cancer fears, there doesn't appear to be any link between vasectomy and heart problems.