Vasectomy is a safe and highly effective method of birth control accepted by many couples throughout the world. Vasectomy, a form of permanent contraception, is also known as male sterilization. This procedure can prevent pregnancy by blocking the transport of sperm out of the testes. Those who seek a permanent form of birth control may want to consider the potential benefits of vasectomy. Some benefits of vasectomy include the following:

• Simple outpatient surgical procedure
• Short recovery period
• Relatively inexpensive and often covered by insurance
• Highly effective and safe

When considering a vasectomy, it’s important to understand that failures can occur. CDC research has estimated there is a probability of 11 per 1,000 procedures over 2 years; half of the failures occurred in the first three months after the vasectomy, and no failures occurred after 72 weeks.¹ CDC research also examined regret among women whose partner underwent a vasectomy.² In interviews with female partners of men who received vasectomies, CDC found that while most women did not regret their husband's vasectomies, the probability of regret over five years was about 6%. This is why it is important to know facts about this and other permanent forms of birth control before making a decision.

1. Jamieson DJ, Costello C, Trussell J, Hillis SD, Marchbanks PA, Peterson HB. The risk of pregnancy after vasectomy. Obstetrics and Gynecology 2004;103:848–850.
2. Jamieson DJ, Kaufman SC, Costello C, Hillis SD, Marchbanks PA, Peterson HB. A comparison of women’s regret following vasectomy versus tubal sterilization. Obstetrics and Gynecology 2002;99:1073–1079.

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Facts about Vasectomy Safety (National Institutes for Health)

Comprehensive Health Information for Men (National Women's Health Information Center)

CDC Men's Health Links

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Page last reviewed: 9/22/08
Page last modified: 4/4/07
Content source: Division of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion