Will a Vasectomy Affect My Sex Drive?
In general, a vasectomy does not affect your sex drive, or at least not in a negative way. And for some men, it can have just the opposite effect. But when considering having the procedure, it is important to understand what a vasectomy is and why it will not reduce your sex drive.
Sex Drive After a Vasectomy
Having a vasectomy will not reduce your production of testosterone, nor will it lower your sex drive or your ability to have an erection and ejaculate. A vasectomy does not reduce the amount of your semen. It will simply deny sperm the ability to get there. Sperm amounts to only a minor amount of the semen involved in ejaculation.
Understanding the Vasectomy Procedure and Your Body
A vasectomy is done by cutting and sealing the vas deferens, the tubes that carry sperm from the testicles to the urethra. This does not affect the production of testosterone or the ability of a man to have an erection, which begins with mental and sensory stimulation from the brain.
Roughly 95% of the ejaculate material comes from the prostate and its attached structures, and about 5% or less is from the testicles or vas deferens itself. Additionally, a small amount of fluid is added by the bulbourethral and urethral glands, with sperm making up between two to five percent of the total semen. While you will still produce sperm following a vasectomy with nowhere to go, the sperm will die off and be absorbed by your body.
A Vasectomy Will Not Lower Your Libido
There may be a bit of discomfort with ejaculation due to a slight swelling in the area for a few weeks, but a vasectomy will not lower your libido. In the long run, you won’t notice any reduction in your orgasm or the pleasure you receive from it.
While the penis and testes combined do define a man’s sexuality, they do have different nerves and blood supply vessels. During the development of a male fetus, the testicles develop near the kidneys. As they drop, your testicles continue to use the same blood supply and nerves, which are different from those supplying your penis. You can rest assured that a vasectomy is performed on the tubes of your testicles that transport sperm and cannot affect or damage your penis.
How Long After a Vasectomy Can You Have Sex?
In general, we recommend our patients resist having intercourse and ejaculation for a few days to one week following a vasectomy. This allows the tissue in the groin and testicles time to heal.
That said, you should continue with another form of prevention for two to three months. While no new sperm can escape your testes, you will still have sperm in each testicle’s epididymis, which will mix your semen before you ejaculate. It normally takes between 15-20 ejaculations for a normal, healthy man’s semen to be free of sperm.
Will I Last Longer After a Vasectomy?
The procedure of having a vasectomy should not physically change the longevity of your erection. But you may find other sexual benefits raising your satisfaction for you and your partner, such as:
- No more worrying about sex leading to a possible pregnancy.
- Increased spontaneity and pleasure without worrying about putting on a condom and whether it will hold for birth control
- Allowing the woman in your life to forgo hormonal contraception, which could include possible side effects, including the lowering of her libido.
Taking into consideration the reduction of stress as well as an increase in comfort and pleasure levels, you may find you last longer after a vasectomy.
Book your Visit with the Carolina’s Vasectomy King
Carolina’s Vasectomy King, Dr. Scott Donaldson, is a board-certified urologist with more than 25 years of experience in the field. Dr. Donaldson performs routine vasectomies from his offices in both North Carolina and South Carolina. Contact our office closest to you for a pre-vasectomy visit.
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