When it’s time to stop having children, several options exist for couples. A vasectomy is one of these options in which a doctor cuts and seals the two tubes that cause sperm to travel to the testicles.  Vasectomies can be reversed, known as a reverse vasectomy, but Dr. Loren Smith of Urology at Pierremont, located at Willis-Knighton Pierremont, said patients should not keep this in mind when considering a vasectomy.  “They should think about it as a permanent procedure,” Smith said. “We can do reversals, and they’re successful, but you can’t rely on it being reversible.” Smith said patients should consider the added cost and recovery time of a reversal, too, helping ensure they are committed to the initial procedure.  Smith said men should be at least 25 and married with two children before having a vasectomy. He said he’s seen patients have vasectomies when they are divorced. When some of these patients remarry, they may want children again.  Vasectomies are a safer option for permanent contraception, Smith said. As an outpatient procedure typically performed in a clinic, the surgery lasts 15 to 20 minutes.  “If a guy comes in for a Friday procedure, he’s usually back to work by Monday,” he said. Recovery is usually one to two weeks with patients needing to elevate their feet and use ice to prevent swelling in the first days following the procedure. Patients can go back to heavy physical activity, like exercising, intercourse or heavy lifting after two weeks.  The usual alternative to a vasectomy is a tubal ligation, commonly known as “getting your tubes tied.” Vasectomies are less invasive and safer than a tubal ligation, Smith said.  “It’s a fairly simple procedure. The risks are fairly low,” Smith added. He also said the procedure is not as painful as some may think. “Guys like to give each other a hard time of pain and horror stories, but it’s really not,” he said.  Smith performs vasectomies in his clinic using local anesthesia, meaning the patient is not put to sleep for the procedure. Some doctors use general anesthesia, meaning the patient is put to sleep. General anesthesia can ensure the patient is calm and still during the procedure, Smith said, but risks are always present when general anesthesia is used.  Even though the procedure is generally an effective option, sometimes vasectomies fail.  “It’s not common, but it does happen,” Smith said. He said there’s about a one in 250 chance of a vasectomy not working. That’s why follow-up appointments to check for sperm are key to ensure the procedure’s effectiveness.  “It’s very important that we’re clear that they need to have their semen checked,” Smith said. If a patient comes in for a follow-up appointment and sperm is still present, they will have to check for sperm again. If there is still sperm present, a second vasectomy will be performed. Smith recommends using general anesthesia for a second procedure.  Vasectomies typically cost around $1,000 or less when performed in the clinic, depending on the physician and type of anesthesia used. As far as insurance coverage, Smith said about 50 percent of vasectomies are covered by insurance, depending on type of coverage.  “The cost of a kid and delivery of a child is so much more expensive than a vasectomy,” he said. Smith said patients tend to change carriers often. So, preventative care is seen as a loss as another carrier will reap the benefit.  “The biggest advantage to a vasectomy is it’s a much lower risk procedure with the same benefits [of a tubal ligation],” he said.