If you’ve tried researching vasectomies only to find that explanations that are filled with highly technical language, you’re not alone. Medical terms can often be confusing, and that’s why this guide was created. Here are five important vasectomy terms explained in such a way that anyone can understand them.
- Local Anesthesia
Local anesthesia refers to pain-blocking drugs that affect only the site of surgery. This is different from general anesthesia, which creates a numbing effect over the entire body. Local anesthesia is used during a vasectomy and is applied to the patient’s scrotum.
- Post-Vasectomy Pain Syndrome
This is a condition that can create debilitating pain in men after they receive a vasectomy. It’s estimated that about 20% of vasectomy patients experience this sort of discomfort after the procedure, but with proper treatment, more than 50% of those men will see their pain reduced.
- Sperm Count
Sperm count refers to the ratio of sperm to the total sum of a man’s ejaculate. After a vasectomy, most men can expect their sperm count to drop to zero, but this normally takes one to two months after the procedure is performed.
- Testes
The testes, also known as testicles, are the male reproductive organs located in the scrotum and are responsible for the production of sperm. After a vasectomy, the testes will continue to create sperm, but this sperm is simply reabsorbed by the body.
- Vas Deferens
The vas deferens is the part of the male reproductive system that transports sperm from the testes. During a vasectomy, doctors cut the vas deferens and seal both ends to prevent the movement of sperm.
