No matter your College allegiance, nothing beats the thrills and upsets during the crazy days of NCAA basketball March Madness. Teams battle it out with a “win or go home” elimination attitude. This kind of attitude causes unbelievable buzzer-beating victories and pushes even the most talented players to their limits. March Madness has enthralled millions of people for decades and has become a solid tradition of American ludicrousy and obsession.
NCAA March Madness also proves to be the perfect time for men to undergo vasectomy, according to Houston Metro Urology (HMU), the largest urology group practice in the greater Houston metro area. “Every year, we see a spike in men getting vasectomies during the NCAA tournament time. In fact, we now cater to men having vasectomies at this time of the year. It’s perfect timing. Men often get a vasectomy on a Thursday or a Friday, then they get a doctor’s order to stay off their feet for 2 or 3 days to recover. In other words, they rest up while watching basketball. Plus, their partners usually are very happy they stepped up to the plate to take responsibility for birth control.”
Commonly Asked Questions About Vasectomy
Men have many misconceptions about vasectomy, often propagated by TV sitcoms. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about vasectomy.
Q: Will it ruin my sex drive?
A: No, No, and…..No! A vasectomy is a procedure that blocks a tube called the vas deferens, which carries sperm from your testicles to your penis. It does not affect the production of male hormones that occur inside the testicles. This is not like castrating a bull or becoming a eunuch. You will still will be able to maintain an erection, keep your biceps, and preserve the basic instincts the makes you the alpha male.
Q: How’s the pain?
A: Fair question since the procedure has to do with snipping away at your genitalia. The answer is “virtually painless.” You may feel some slight tugging ad discomfort during the procedure, but that’s it. It’s normal to have bruising, soreness, and swelling the first few days after the surgery, so be sure to whip out that bag of frozen peas and take a Tylenol® if needed.
Q: How long does the procedure take?
A: A vasectomy takes only 20 minutes and can be done in one of our 10 different office locations or in our Ambulatory Surgery Center. You will go home that same day.
Q: What are the risks?
A: As with every procedure, there are risks, even if they are minimal. Vasectomy is generally safe and effective. Vasectomy is an operation, and all surgery has some risk, such as bleeding, infection and pain, but serious problems are unusual. There is always a small chance of the tubes rejoining themselves, and this is the reason that sperm checks are necessary. There have been some controversies in the past about the long-term effects of vasectomy, but to our knowledge, there are no long-term risks to vasectomy.
Q: Can I have unprotected sex soon after the procedure?
A: After the vasectomy is done, you need to choose another form of contraception until a sperm check comes back all-clear. You can receive post-op checks in our clinic.
Q: How long is the recovery time (The important part)
A: You can resume your normal lifestyle after 2-3 days, which will give you an excuse to lounge out and watch some March Madness without getting the nagging of your better half. Just refrain from doing any manual labor for a week. Remember the two operative words, gentlemen: “Doctor’s orders”
Q: Are vasectomies reversible?
A: In the hands of a skillful surgeon, yes. You can increase the odds of a successful reversal by not letting too many years go by.+
Request a consultation or call 713-351-5000.
