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Vasectomy and vasovasostomy

Description

An in-depth report on vasectomy as a method of male birth control and reversal surgeries.

Highlights

Follow-Up Sperm Testing

About a quarter of men who have a vasectomy fail to return for follow-up semen analysis, indicates a 2006 study in BJU International . A follow-up test for live sperm is essential for confirming vasectomy success. It can take several months after a vasectomy to clear all remaining sperm. Until your doctor informs you that you are sterile, continue to use birth control.

Vasclip

The Vasclip implant procedure appears to work as well as standard vasectomy and has fewer post-surgical complications, according to a 2006 study in Urology . Compared to standard vasectomy, the Vasclip was less likely to cause infection or swelling due to sperm leakage (sperm granuloma).

Investigational Hormonal Contraceptives

• Research is progressing on a hormonal contraceptive for men. Several different types of male hormonal contraceptives are in clinical trials, although it will be several years before they become available. Most of these contraceptives deliver testosterone and progestin drugs through implants or injections.
• Male hormonal contraceptives are readily reversible, according to a 2006 study in the Lancet . Researchers analyzed data from over 1,500 men enrolled in hormonal contraceptive clinical trials. They found that most men regained their fertility within 3 - 4 months of stopping the contraceptive.
• Male hormonal contraceptives can cause unpleasant side effects including weight gain, acne, and mood changes. To avoid these side effects, researchers are also investigating non-hormonal male contraceptives.

Investigational Non-Hormonal Contraceptives

The intra vas device (IVD) is a non-hormonal male contraceptive that uses tiny silicone plugs to block sperm from passing through the vas deferens (the tube that carries sperm out from the testes). In 2006, the FDA granted approval to expand trials of the IVD. Clinical trials of 90 men are due to be conducted in two U.S. cities. In an earlier trial of 30 men, the IVD effectively stopped or drastically lowered sperm production in all of the participants. Researchers are still working on making the IVD reversible.

• Review Date: 10/20/2006
• Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, M.D., Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital

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