Birth control by means of a vasectomy is often rejected because of the prospect of surgery and anesthesia, and the needles and scalpels deemed necessary to perform such a delicate procedure.

There is a relatively new and widely accepted vasectomy procedure which involves no needles for anesthesia and no scalpel or stitches. It is different from a conventional vasectomy in the way the doctor seals off the vas deferens. It also involves an improved method of anesthesia to help make the procedure less painful.

The procedure is called the No Needle, No-Scalpel vasectomy.

No Needle

The No Needle vasectomy uses a relatively new device which applies high pressure to deliver anesthetic through the skin and directly into the tissue around the vas deferens.

In a traditional vasectomy, a small needle is used to give a lot of local anesthetic in the area of the vas deferens. This may be somewhat uncomfortable and intimidating for many men.

No-Scalpel

The No-Scalpel vasectomy procedure eliminates the need to cut the patient’s skin in order to reach the vas deferens. Instead the physician identifies the tubes under the skin and then isolates them with a specialized clamp - after the anesthesia has been given.

He then makes a tiny puncture in the skin and stretches the opening so the vas deferens can be reached. The vas deferens from each side is pulled through the hole and one at a time each is cut and blocked. Unlike a conventional vasectomy, there is very little bleeding and scarring and no stitches are required.

Recovering from the No-Scalpel Vasectomy

As mentioned above, it is important to rest for a few days after the No-Needle, No-Scalpel Vasectomy. It is often recommended to wear a supportive jockstrap in order to feel comfortable. Placing ice on the surgical site immediately after the procedure will greatly reduce swelling. It is also recommended to refrain from exercise for a few days after the procedure.

Is a man sterile immediately after the vasectomy?

Once the tubes have been interrupted, there should be no new sperm released into the ejaculated fluid.  However, the reservoir of fluid that has already passed the point where the tube is interrupted may contain a sufficient amount of motile sperm to reach the egg.  A man will not be sterile until the reservoir is flushed out.  Starting at six weeks after the vasectomy, semen is evaluated, to determine if viable sperm is still present in the ejaculate.  Once the physician finds no sperm in the ejaculate, the man will be considered sterile.

What are the potential complications?

Although vasectomies are low risk procedures, and the No Needle, No-Scalpel vasectomy even lower, there are some complications that may arise:

<!--if !supportLists-->1.      <!--endif-->Infections – as with any procedure involving cutting of the skin or open wounds, there is a risk of bacterial or viral infections.

<!--if !supportLists-->2.      <!--endif-->Congestion – Is discomfort due to pressure caused by sperm in the testes and lower vas deferens. 

<!--if !supportLists-->3.      <!--endif-->Sperm Granuloma – This occurs because sperm is leaking from the cut vas deferens, which then hardens to form a lump (often the size of a pea). Although thelump is not dangerous and is almost always flushed out by the body over time, it often causes pain and discomfort.

<!--if !supportLists-->4.      <!--endif-->Recanalization – This is a very rare occurrence in which sperm manage to find their way across the blocked ends of the vas deferens and reappear in the ejaculate. This can occur whether the procedure is performed perfectly, or not.  

<!--if !supportLists-->5.      <!--endif-->Internal Bleeding (Hematoma) – Can occur spontaneously at the site of any surgery, however it is rare in the case of vasectomies. It may occur if a man strains or exerts himself after the procedure. Resting, especially on the day of the procedure, is the best prevention.

No Needle, No-Scalpel Vasectomy - A bit of history

The No-Needle, No-Scalpel vasectomy was developed by Dr. Shunqiang Li in 1974 in China.  Over 1,340,000,000 people live in his country and 51% male, vasectomy is the most common method of birth control. By 1998 over 10 million No-Needle, No-Scalpel vasectomies had been performed in China.  The procedure was introduced to Western physicians in 1985, when the "Association for Voluntary Surgical Contraception" (now AVSC International) sponsored an international team visit to China. At that time the technique was referred to as “The ligation of vas deferens under the direct vision."  In 1985, Dr. Marc Goldstein of the New York-Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Medical College of Cornell University was the first to perform the No-Needle, No-Scalpel Vasectomy procedure in the U.S.A.

Can a vasectomy be reversed?

A vasectomy is done to cause permanent sterility. Reversing a vasectomy is far more complicated and time-consuming than the No-Needle, No-Needle vasectomy.

The vasectomy reversal procedure is performed under an "operating microscope.” This microscope stands over the patient. During the procedure, the physician relies on the highly magnified microscopic view of the vas deferens, on which manipulation of small, fine instruments is carried out by the hands of the physcian.

Theoretically, it seems vasectomy reversal should be a process of reconnecting the two severed ends of the vas deferens. In reality, this is a very complicated task for a physician to fulfill.