Can having a vasectomy lead to ED?
The main question concerning the vasectomy is how it can affect your sexual partner. Men concerned about impotence are afraid of losing their ability to satisfy their partners. Millions of men underwent a procedure called vasectomy. Vasectomy is a medical operation that makes a man infertile, after which he can no longer have children.
Although the man continues to produce sperm after vasectomy, the procedure saves sperm without spermatozoids.
The Urology Care Foundation (UCF), an official organization of the Association of Urology, argues that “uncomplicated” vasectomy can’t lead to impotence (usually called Erectile dysfunction (ED)).
A wide range of physical and psychological problems can lead to ED. These may include:
- stress, depression, anxiety;
- heart disease, diabetes and obesity;
- some prescribed drugs, tobacco or alcohol.
Operations affecting pelvic region can cause impotence as a physical factor.
However, the vasectomy procedure shouldn’t have any effect on the potency. A man after a vasectomy should have the same number of erections as before the operation. Although the vasectomy usually doesn’t lead to impotence, the procedure is not without risks.
There are other risks to consider when deciding on the vasectomy. For example, bleeding in the scrotum may occur after the surgery, but this side effect isn’t considered as serious one.
Most of the possible side effects of the vasectomy are relatively minor and rare.
In addition to bleeding, swelling, or infection, tumor may develop in the scrotum after this surgery. Benign tumor is called granuloma. It may cause mild pain or sensitivity in the genitals. This type of tumor may develop due to leakage of sperm into the scrotum.
UCF notes that the vasectomy usually doesn’t change the feeling of orgasm and ejaculation. But there may be rare exceptions.
According to UCF, after the vasectomy you should have the same volume of ejaculate. However, the partner may feel the place where the operation was performed.
Rarely, a patient after the surgery may develop a condition called “pain syndrome after the vasectomy”. This chronic pain syndrome can be treated with anti-inflammatory drugs. Some men who experience this syndrome may decide to stop the vasectomy.
While some men and their partners fear that this procedure can lead to impotence, there are other risks that are more likely. Most of the risks, such as minor bleeding or infection, are considered as minor side effects of the procedure.
Erectile dysfunction is not considered a risk for most men who have undergone the vasectomy, because the procedures aren’t associated with rare complications.
