The Truth About Vasectomies vs Essure

August 27, 2015

Just because you’re done having kids, that doesn’t mean your done being intimate. These days, there are more options than ever for long-term birth control, but most of these ask a lot from the ladies in the relationship. Dr. Koushik Shaw and the Austin Urology Institute team have decades of experience counseling couples (or individuals) who are deciding between male and female birth control.

For people who are certain they are done having kids and are seeking a permanent birth control option, two comparable methods are vasectomy, a permanent form of male birth control, and Essure, a permanent form of female birth control.

If you’re deciding whether or not to pursue Essure or a vasectomy, consider these facts:

Vasectomy

  • An in-office procedure with local anesthesia (no needles)
  • The procedure takes about 15 minutes
  • Small incisions are made in the scrotum to access the vas deferens
  • The vas deferens is clipped, cut and cauterized to prevent the flow of sperm
  • The scrotal incisions are closed with absorbable sutures
  • Recovery time from the procedure is about a week
  • Permanent

Essure

  • Can be done either as an in-office procedure or outpatient surgical procedure
  • Small coils are placed into the fallopian tube via the cervix to prevent the sperm from reaching the egg
  • Permanent

Whatever birth control method you decide on, Austin Urology Institute is available to answer your questions. We’ll gladly walk you through your female birth control and male birth control options in Austin. Schedule a consultation at www.austinurologyinstitute.com/contact.