Vasectomy: Does the snip affect arousal, can it be reversed, and more questions answered

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Vasectomy is a minor surgical procedure that is a form of birth control that stops sperm from leaving the body.

It’s a process of cutting the vas deferens, or the sperm duct in the each testicle that carry the sperm to the urethra.

Mayo Clinic calls it a "low-risk surgery" while the NHS describes it a “very safe” procedure. It lists mild bruising and swelling of the testicles, a small yellow "harmless" lump on the scrotum and infection as among the side effects of vasectomies, and says severe side effects are rare. 

Although vasectomies are permanent, reversal is possible in some cases. But doctors say reversals are not guaranteed and depend on various factors, such as the amount of time after getting the procedure done, and the health of the vas deferens.

In recent years, the Commission on Population and Development promoted non-scalpel vasectomy as a form of contraception for men. It is said to be 99% effective in preventing pregnancy and is more effective than condoms or birth control pills.

So, for the men concerned, the million-dollar question is: Does undergoing a vasectomy affect arousal and sexual performance?

The short answer is no.

A vasectomy does not affect a man’s sex drive, arousal, or ability to engage in sexual activity, according to Dr. Juan Antonio Perez III, in a “24 Oras” report in 2018.

“Actually, patuloy ka pa ring magkakaroon ng emission o ejaculation sa kuwan. Ang mawawala lang, 'yung sperm na nagli-lead to pregnancy,” Perez said.

[Actually, you will still continue to have emission or ejaculation. The only thing that will be gone is the sperm that leads to pregnancy.]

In fact, a 2017 study found that one’s sex drive and confidence to engage in sexual activity can improve after getting a vasectomy.

Vasectomy became a talk of the town after Drew Arellano revealed he had undergone the procedure as a Mother’s Day gift to his wife, Iya Villania. He had shared his plans about getting a vasectomy back in 2023.

In an Instagram Stories post Monday, Iya shared Drew's vasectomry is actually already late as he was supposed to have gotten it last year. "Then Anya happened," she wrote, pertaining to the birth of their fifth child. "This time, he made sure," she said.    

The Kapuso couple has been married since 2014, and they have five children: Primo, Leon, Alana, Astro, and their bunso Anya. — LA, GMA Integrated News