Vasectomy is a nearly painless procedure that cuts and ties off the vas deferens – the tubes that carry sperm from the testes to ejaculation. It used as a permanent form of birth control. The vasectomy usually takes 10 minutes and is done under a light sedation. There is absolutely no change in sexual function after the vasectomy. There is minimal recovery.
A vasectomy is less invasive than a tubal ligation (the procedure used to prevent a woman’s eggs from reaching the uterus) and more easily reversed. An increasing number of couples choose it as a means of permanent birth control.