A vasectomy (pronounced va-SEK-tuh-mee) is a surgical procedure performed as a method of birth control in men. It involves cutting the tubes (the vas deferens, pronounced VAS DEF-uh-renz) that carry sperm from the testicles.
Only about 15 of every 10,000 couples get pregnant in the year after the man has a vasectomy.1
As part of a program of research on the safety and effectiveness of male contraceptives, the NICHD supports studies and other activities advancing understanding of vasectomy.
Common Name
- Vasectomy
Medical or Scientific Name
- Vasectomy
- American Pregnancy Association. (2003). Overview: Birth control. Retrieved May 23, 2012, from http://americanpregnancy.org/preventing-pregnancy/birth-control-failure/
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