Is Vasectomy Season in the Air?

Anecdotally speaking, urologists nationwide share stories of vasectomy spikes during the annual NCAA Basketball Tournament. The on-court action keeps devoted basketball junkies glued to TV screens across the country for several weeks in March and into April. The phenomenon doctors speak of is an increase in male patients scheduling vasectomies to use their recovery time for screen time.

While we can’t vouch for the uptick in March vasectomies at UF Health Jacksonville, we do frequently perform the routine procedure. Urologists such as Joseph Costa, DO, perform vasectomies year-round.

“We typically perform two to eight vasectomies each week,” Costa said. “The procedure is 99.9 percent effective in preventing unwanted pregnancy by most men.”

The procedure is safe and has minor risks for patients. Costa recommends patients take it easy for one to two days following the procedure and avoid strenuous activity for five to seven days afterward. Regular activity can resume once discomfort goes away. The recovery time is the perfect excuse to kick back, relax and binge-watch one of the most exciting sporting events of the year.

If you’re considering a vasectomy, keep in mind:

• Vasectomies are common. More than 500,000 men in the U.S. get a vasectomy each year, according to the American Urological Association.
• A vasectomy is not immediate in its effects. Men still need to use other forms of birth control until it fully prevents pregnancy, typically around three months. Your doctor will discuss sperm testing following the procedure so you are aware when sperm count drops to zero.
• A vasectomy can be reversed. If you decide later in life to have children, a simple procedure can reverse the effect. However, Costa recommends that men who opt for a vasectomy consider it a permanent procedure. If there’s any doubt, he recommends you hold off until you are certain.

While no procedure is right for every person, vasectomies have consistently proven to be an excellent family planning method for men since the 1800s, when they were first introduced.

Like many of our faculty and staff, Costa is a fan of the NCAA Tournament and follows the opening round all the way to the title game. His Final Four picks were Duke, Gonzaga, North Carolina and Tennessee.

Visit ufhealthjax.org/urology/ for more information about UF Health Urology – Jacksonville.