One of the most common questions about vasectomy is, “Will I gain weight after a vasectomy?” A vasectomy does not make you gain weight. What can affect your weight is if your lifestyle after the vasectomy changes and negatively impacts your weight. A vasectomy doesn't make a man feel less masculine or less productive.
After a successful vasectomy, your testicles will continue to produce the male hormone (testosterone) just as they did before the procedure. Your sex drive, sensation and ability to have an erection won't be affected. The only difference is that there'll be no sperm in your semen.
Some men report gaining some weight in the months following a vasectomy, but generally, their weight returns to its normal state after a while.
A very commonly asked question after vasectomy is will semen volume drop, or will the vasectomy impact ejaculatory function? Men do not notice a drop in semen volume when they ejaculate after vasectomy either because only 2 percent of the volume comes from the sperm cells made in the testicles.
A man who has had a vasectomy still makes semen and is able to ejaculate. But the semen doesn't contain sperm. The testosterone level and all other male sex traits stays the same. For most men, the ability to have an erection is unchanged.
Sperm After Vasectomy
Once you have a vasectomy, the sperm can no longer move out of the tube. The membrane (lining) of the epididymis absorbs most of the sperm where it dissolves. It's a natural part of the body's process.
Can a vasectomy cause hormonal imbalance? Hormonal imbalance occurs when the body produces too much or too little of a certain hormone. No current evidence suggests vasectomies cause hormonal imbalance in males. For example, a 2018 study showed that these procedures do not affect testosterone levels in men.
A vasectomy will not affect a man's virility or his testosterone level. He will still produce sperm. It will just not be able to get into the semen. There will be NO impact on his libido, sex drive, or sexual activity.
The ejaculate after a vasectomy looks identical to the ejaculate before a vasectomy. It has about the same color, volume, and thickness, and most people do not notice any changes. After a vasectomy, the body reabsorbs the sperm. Reabsorption of the sperm is normal and has no side effects.
Well the good news is that a vasectomy will not affect your sex life. It does not decrease your sex drive because it does not affect the production of the male hormone testosterone. It also does not affect your ability to get an erection or ejaculate.
Research has found that men who get vasectomy surgery rarely report erectile dysfunction as a side effect. In fact, a 2005 study from Brazil found that vasectomy surgery has a positive impact on sexual function in men, with no increased risk of ED following the procedure.
Vasectomy will not affect your sex life. It does not decrease your sex drive because it does not affect the production of the male hormone testosterone.
The fact is that noticeable differences are rarely reported. This is because only 3% of the volume of a man's ejaculate is made up of sperm. So your ejaculate will smell, taste and look the same as before your vasectomy. And no, you will not lose your sexual function!
People who undergo a vasectomy should not notice any changes in their sexual drive or function. There should also be no difference in the sensation of ejaculation or the appearance of the ejaculate. Most doctors advise waiting a week before having sex or masturbating to avoid infection or additional pain.
Vasectomy has a low risk of problems, but some men develop post-vasectomy pain syndrome (PVPS). PVPS involves chronic pain in one or both testicles that is still present three months after the procedure. Pain can range from a rare, dull ache to sharp, constant pain that can interfere with daily life.
Testicles feeling full – after a vasectomy, some men may develop the sensation that their testicles are “fuller” than normal. This is usually caused by the epididymis becoming filled with stored sperm. The epididymis is the long, coiled tube that rests on the back of each testicle.
While there is no definite age at which male ejaculation ceases, it has been suggested that it may happen when a man reaches his late 40s or early 50s. It is important to note, however, that this is not a universal rule and some men may continue to ejaculate at a later age.
Some studies suggest that moderate ejaculation (2–4 times per week) is associated with a lower prostate cancer risk. However, ejaculating more often doesn't mean your cancer risk drops even more.
Testing is the Key to Preventing Pregnancy after Vasectomy
The usual recommendation is to perform two (2) tests within 2-4 months following the procedure, and then once a year thereafter. The results of both tests should be negative.
The life cycle of sperm is 63 days. 80% of men will be sterile after 15 ejaculations or 6 weeks after a vasectomy. By 10 weeks, 85% of men will have no sperm in the ejaculate. Therefore, a safe time period to say would be approximately 3 months (12 weeks) after vasectomy with about 20 ejaculations.
Can my partner tell if I have had 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. This is particularly true if you have developed a granuloma.
The quick answer is: yes, a vasectomy will probably hurt a little bit. But – and it has to be said – not as much as childbirth. Never as much as childbirth. However, we must consider not just physical pain, but pain inflicted upon one's pride.