In many relationships where neither partner wants children, the women take responsibility for birth control solutions through the use of the pill, IUD, and barrier devices (diaphragm, cervical cap, sponge). The following article discusses the reasons why men should embrace taking permanent birth control precautions through no-scalpel vasectomy. Dr. Chirag A. Patel MD PhD. of NorCalVas has dedicated his career to providing communities all over the world with safe, fast, and effective vasectomy procedures.

Couples who are certain they either want to remain childless or don’t want to add more children to their families may want to consider a no-scalpel vasectomy. The procedure is the most effective form of birth control available (besides abstinence) and presents no adverse side effects for either the short or long term. However, many couples choose to rely on female birth control measures, which are, on the whole, less reliable than vasectomy and – in the cases of hormonal birth control – can lead to challenging, and sometimes serious, side effects. Here are a few of the hormonal effects of common female birth control solutions.

Increased risk of cervical and breast cancers are associated with the use of oral birth control.
Increased risk of blood clots associated with the use of the patch.
Increased risk of yeast infections associated with the use of the ring.

Additionally, many female birth control options require consistent and sometimes complex maintenance – they’re not a set-it-and-forget-it solution. The pill must be taken regularly; the transdermal patch must be replaced weekly for three weeks until menstruation; the ring must be changed after three weeks.

Of course, barrier birth control solutions do not release hormones into the body and therefore will not influence mood or potentially cause worrisome medical conditions. However, diaphragms do have a failure rate of up to 12 percent in women who use it regularly, and cervical caps have a 14 percent failure rate. IUDs have a low failure rate – only 1% -- but can be highly problematic in the event a pregnancy occurs. An IUD can increase the risk of ectopic pregnancies, which can lead to severe internal bleeding.

Vasectomies do not require any follow-up after confirmation that there is no longer sperm present in the patient’s semen. The procedure itself is usually under 45 minutes and does not require a significant period of recovery. Vasectomies do not affect male hormones, do not reduce libido or change sexual sensation.

If you and your partner are certain that you want permanent birth control solutions, a no-scalpel vasectomy may be right for you. If you’re concerned about having a vasectomy performed, be aware that no-scalpel vasectomies are more comfortable, resulting in far lower complication rates, and are faster than standard vasectomies that require sutures. NorCalVas offers safe and affordable no-scalpel vasectomies to the Sacramento, Elk Grove, and Redding communities. To schedule a consultation, please visit our contact page.