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URL of this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/anatomyvideos/000139.htm

Vasectomy

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Overview

A vasectomy is a procedure to cause permanent sterility in a man by preventing the transport of sperm out of the testes.

A small incision is made in the scrotum, which is the skin containing the testes, and each vas deferens is tied off and cut apart preventing sperm from being released within the ejaculate.

The small skin incision is stitched closed.

A vasectomy does not affect a man's sexual function.

Review Date 1/1/2022

Updated by: Kelly L. Stratton, MD, FACS, Associate Professor, Department of Urology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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