A vasectomy is a surgical procedure that is meant to protect against pregnancy permanently, making it a super effective form of birth control. During the procedure, the tubes in the scrotum that carry sperm from the testicles to the penis, called the vas deferens, are blocked or cut. This prevents sperm from leaving the body and mixing with semen during ejaculation, so the semen does not contain any sperm and cannot cause pregnancy. The procedure is usually done in a doctors office or outpatient surgery center under local anesthesia, which means the patient will be awake and have medicine to numb the surgery area. There are two types of vasectomies: the incision method and the no-scalpel (no-cut) method. No-cut methods lower the risk of infection and other complications and generally take less time to heal.

It is important to note that vasectomies are meant to be permanent, so they usually cannot be reversed. Therefore, it is recommended that individuals only get a vasectomy if they are 100% positive they do not want to be able to get someone pregnant for the rest of their life. After the procedure, it is necessary to have semen tested 8-16 weeks later to make sure there is no sperm in the semen.

Some potential risks and side effects of vasectomy include pain, swelling, bruising, and bleeding in the scrotum, as well as infection[[6]](https://www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/contraception/vasec...