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A vasectomy is a procedure to cause permanent sterility in a man by preventing the transport of sperm out of the testes.

A small incision is made in the scrotum, which is the skin containing the testes, and each vas deferens is tied off and cut apart preventing sperm from being released within the ejaculate.

The small skin incision is stitched closed.

A vasectomy does not affect a man's sexual function.

Review Date: 3/31/2024
Reviewed By: Sovrin M. Shah, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Urology, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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