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NSV technique is less invasive.
FEATURE ARTICLE
Scalpel vs. No-Scalpel Vasectomy?
What’s in a name? There’s more than one vasectomy technique. Here are some distinctions.
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About half a million American men each year choose vasectomy for permanent birth control. Vasectomy is considered nearly 100 percent effective, safe, and does not interfere with sexual pleasure.
Urologists perform most vasectomy procedures, but these surgeons may use different techniques. The No-Scalpel Vasectomy (NSV) method has grown in popularity with both doctors and patients. While the traditional and the no-scalpel techniques are both safe and effective, the no-scalpel approach is considered to offer some additional benefits.
Conventional or traditional vasectomy.
Until 1974, there was only one choice of procedure
for men who sought this permanent method of birth control. The traditional
vasectomy is a minor surgical procedure that is performed in the doctor’s
office, under local anesthetic, and is usually completed within 30 minutes.
The surgeon uses a scalpel to make one or two incisions in the skin of
the scrotum—one incision to access and expose the tiny vas deferens
tubes from each testicle.
The vas deferens is lifted, cut and tied, and often cauterized. The cut
tubes are then returned to the scrotal sac and the incisions are then
closed with three or four sutures (stitches).
The birth of No-Scalpel birth control.
In the early 1970s a new procedure known as "no-scalpel vasectomy" was developed in China by Dr. Li Shunqiang. This minimum-invasive procedure makes vasectomy an appealing option for some men who are otherwise uncomfortable with the idea of having their genitals ‘cut’. During the past few decades, over 15 million no-scalpel vasectomies have been performed with this technique now used around the world.
No-Scalpel Vasectomy surgeons take extra training.
Urologists who perform conventional vasectomies take additional training in order to perform the no-scalpel procedure. If this method appeals to you, you may want to identify a physician who possesses this advance training, expertise and experience and offers the no-scalpel method.
How the No-scalpel vasectomy is performed.
As the name suggests, the "no-scalpel" method involves no scalpel and no incisions. Instead, the doctor usually locates the patient’s vas deferens under the skin of the scrotum by hand, and holds the tiny tube in place with a small clamp.
A small pointed forceps separate the layers of tissue and then creates a tiny puncture in the skin to form an opening for the vas deferens to be gently lifted out, then cut, tied and/or cauterized and put back into place.
The surgeon may elect to close the opening in the skin with sutures. However, because the skin puncture is much smaller than a conventional incision, it usually closes quickly without the necessity of invasive, time-consuming suturing.
Like a conventional vasectomy, local anesthetic is administered to allow the patient to be comfortable. No-scalpel vasectomy, however, is a generally quicker procedure and can be completed in as little as 10 to 15 minutes.
No-Scalpel Benefits.
Many surgeons regard the less-invasive, no-scalpel method of vasectomy to be superior to the conventional method because this procedure produces little bleeding, a lower risk for complications, faster recovery time and generally less bruising and postoperative discomfort. (One study noted up to four times less infections and up to 20 times less bleeding.) And because the wound is smaller, scarring is minimal.
In Summary:
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