{"id":5539,"date":"2021-10-28T14:21:51","date_gmt":"2021-10-28T14:21:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/givelegacy.com\/?p=5539"},"modified":"2024-06-13T17:09:32","modified_gmt":"2024-06-13T17:09:32","slug":"how-old-do-you-have-to-be-to-get-a-vasectomy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/resources\/how-old-do-you-have-to-be-to-get-a-vasectomy\/","title":{"rendered":"How old do you have to be to get a vasectomy?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A vasectomy is a medical sterilization procedure typically chosen by people who do not want to have a future pregnancy. According to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC7444157\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">research<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">American Journal of Men\u2019s Health<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the typical vasectomy patient is a male over age 35 who has two or more children. But what about younger people? Can men without kids get a vasectomy? Find out what a vasectomy process entails, how old you have to be to get one, and considerations before you get the \u201csnip.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Key takeaways:<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A vasectomy is a simple surgical procedure that results in a highly effective, permanent form of birth control<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vasectomy <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">reversal<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is an invasive and expensive surgery with variable success rates.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The legal minimum age for a vasectomy is 18. Because reversal is not easy or guaranteed, some doctors may refuse to perform the surgery even on a legal adult if they feel the patient is an inappropriate candidate.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Freezing and storing sperm is highly recommended for anyone considering a vasectomy, to preserve their fertility options, should they change their mind in the future.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is a vasectomy?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A vasectomy is a surgical procedure that cuts <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the supply of sperm to the semen, as a method of permanent birth control. After a vasectomy, the testicles will continue to produce sperm, but those sperm will no longer have a way out of the body, preventing pregnancy without affecting sexual health or function.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"klaviyo-form-Xj7rqE\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A vasectomy is a 30-minute outpatient procedure. First, the doctor will inject a local anesthetic into the scrotum with a small needle. If they are using a scalpel, the physician will make a small incision in the upper part of the scrotum; if they are opting for the \u201cno-scalpel\u201d method, they will make a small puncture in the scrotum instead of an incision. They will then insert an instrument to cut the vas deferens, the tube that connects the testes, where <a href=\"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/what-is-sperm\/\">sperm<\/a> are produced, to the ejaculatory duct, where they combine with semen. Finally, they\u2019ll tie off or cauterize the ends of the vas and sew up the incisions with a few stitches.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Mayo Clinic<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/tests-procedures\/vasectomy\/about\/pac-20384580\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">reports<\/span><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">that vasectomies are \u201cnearly 100 percent effective\u201d in preventing pregnancy. The procedure is less expensive and invasive than female sterilization, known as tubal ligation.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is a vasectomy reversible?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some vasectomies can be reversed through a separate procedure, called a vasectomy reversal or vasovasostomy. According to the Cleveland Clinic, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/health.clevelandclinic.org\/vasectomy-reversal-5-facts-men-need-to-know-2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6\u201310%<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of vasectomy patients change their minds and seek or undergo a reversal.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, vasectomy reversals are invasive, rarely covered by insurance, and should not be considered a \u201cguarantee\u201d to previous fertility. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/tests-procedures\/vasectomy-reversal\/about\/pac-20384537\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Research<\/span><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">shows that success rates of vasectomy reversal <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">range widely depending on how long ago the vasectomy was done, the type of vasectomy reversal performed, and even the experience of the surgeon.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In one <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/1997700\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">study<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of 1,469 vasectomy reversals, the chance of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sperm returning to the semen (called \u201cpatency\u201d) and pregnancy rates were highly impacted by the interval between the vasectomy and its reversal. The longer a vasectomy has been healed, the less likely a patient is to conceive after reversal:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td><b>Interval between vasectomy and vasectomy reversal<\/b><\/td><td><b>Patency rate after vasectomy reversal<\/b><\/td><td><b>Pregnancy rate after vasectomy reversal<\/b><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Less than 3 years<\/span><\/td><td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">97%<\/span><\/td><td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">76%<\/span><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3\u20138 years<\/span><\/td><td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">88%<\/span><\/td><td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">53%<\/span><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">9\u201314 years<\/span><\/td><td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">79%<\/span><\/td><td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">44%<\/span><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">15 or more years<\/span><\/td><td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">71%<\/span><\/td><td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">30%<\/span><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other factors that may contribute to an unsuccessful pregnancy after vasectomy reversal are <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">maternal age and the presence of underlying fertility issues in either partner.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The legal minimum age for vasectomy is 18, but it\u2019s up to the doctor\u2019s judgment<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Those who are certain they don\u2019t want children may ask, \u201cAm I too young to get a vasectomy?\u201d If you are wondering if you\u2019re a good candidate for vasectomy, it\u2019s important to talk to your doctor.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Though the legal minimum age for vasectomy surgery in the US is 18, a doctor can decline to perform the surgery if they feel the patient is not an appropriate candidate \u2014 perhaps because they are more likely to change their mind. For example, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/10332448\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">research demonstrates<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that people who choose to get vasectomies before the age of 30 are much more likely \u2014 12.5 times more likely \u2014 to seek a reversal than people who got a vasectomy at an older age. Younger vasectomy patients are also more likely to seek a reversal after a longer period of time, resulting in lower chances of success.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A patient may also be discouraged from seeking a vasectomy if they don\u2019t have any current children. However, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3783324\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">research<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> actually demonstrates that men with <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">more<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> children at the time of their vasectomy are more likely to seek a vasectomy reversal.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re too young to get a vasectomy but you\u2019re certain you don\u2019t want kids, the best option is long-acting reliable female birth control for your partner, such as an IUD. <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Learn about <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/resources\/male-birth-control\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">present and future male birth control options<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Freeze your sperm before a vasectomy<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even if you already have kids, it is highly recommended to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/sperm-freezing\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">freeze your sperm<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> if you are considering having a vasectomy. Sperm cryogenic storage is more cost-effective than vasectomy reversal, less invasive, and may have a higher success rate. <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Learn more about the <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/guide-to-sperm-freezing\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">success rates of frozen sperm<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><i><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/resources\/age-limit-on-male-fertility\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sperm quality declines with age<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3253726\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Research<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> shows that men over the age of 35\u201340 typically experience a decrease in sperm health, which may affect pregnancy rates, time to conception, risk of miscarriage and other adverse pregnancy outcomes, and offspring health risks. Men will generally see a 52% decrease in fertility rate between their early 30s and their mid-to-late 30s. Freezing your sperm also preserves the current quality of your sperm, which could be crucial if you decide to have a child at a later age.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/guide-to-sperm-freezing\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sperm freezing<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a fairly simple process: a semen sample, produced via masturbation, will be analyzed, washed, and frozen with liquid nitrogen to a temperature of less than -196\u00ba Celsius.&nbsp; Legacy makes it even easier with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/sperm-freezing\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">at-home sperm freezing kits<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Success rates of frozen sperm<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Survival rates for frozen sperm after thaw are <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/31371041\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">around 85%<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This small decrease does not greatly affect clinical outcomes. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/linkinghub.elsevier.com\/retrieve\/pii\/0002-9378(92)91548-O\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Research<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> shows pregnancy rates using frozen-thawed sperm in artificial insemination are just slightly lower than using \u201cfresh\u201d semen samples (16% vs. 21% per cycle).<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When using in vitro fertilization, there\u2019s <\/span><b>no<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> difference between fresh and frozen success rates. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fertstert.org\/article\/S0015-0282(16)60617-9\/pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Research<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> shows that chances of pregnancy with IVF are equivalent in cycles using frozen-thawed sperm compared to cycles with fresh sperm, Another <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/humrep\/article\/16\/3\/495\/642432\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">study<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> demonstrated that pregnancy rates are also equivalent when using frozen-thawed sperm in IVF with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), compared to fresh.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even long-term storage is unlikely to have an impact on outcomes. One <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/31371041\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">study<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> found nearly equivalent live birth rates for women undergoing artificial insemination with donor sperm frozen for up to 15 years.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Compared to the likelihood of pregnancy in couples who are seeking a reversal 15 years post-vasectomy, sperm freezing offers an improved chance of pregnancy, allowing you to safeguard your fertility options should you change your mind about your family plans in the future.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>According to research in the American Journal of Men\u2019s Health, the typical vasectomy patient is a male over age 35 who has two or more children. But what about younger people? Can men without kids get a vasectomy? Find out what a vasectomy process entails, how old you have to be to get one, and considerations before you get the \u201csnip.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":5572,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"%%post_title%% %%sep%% %%sitetitle%%","_seopress_titles_desc":"%%title%% Learn age requirements and more from the fertility experts at Legacy.","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[45,213,35,49],"tags":[48],"class_list":["post-5539","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-considering-vasectomy","category-vasectomy-process","category-understanding-male-health","category-vasectomy-understanding-male-health","tag-vasectomy"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5539"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5539"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5539\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":42409,"href":"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5539\/revisions\/42409"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5572"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5539"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5539"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5539"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}