Quicker Recovery Times with No-Needle No-Scalpel Vasectomy

Matthew Stafford has been the talk of the town, since helping the L.A. Rams to bring home the title of Super Bowl Champions in early 2022. More recently, he’s also been in the spotlight, after his wife, Kelly Stafford shared that the couple, who are parents to four, are trying to schedule the best time for Matthew to have a vasectomy.

Kelly shared on her podcast that timing the vasectomy was of upmost importance, because Matthew is concerned about how the procedure will affect his ability to train in the offseason.  This is a valid concern for not only a professional athlete, but for all men who are active, whether they hit the gym occasionally, or are bona fide weekend warriors.

Fortunately, Board Certified Urologist Dr. Gary Bellman, MD offers his No-Needle, No-Scalpel Vasectomy providing a quicker recovery time than traditional vasectomies. This means that most men will return to normal activities such as weightlifting in just about a week. Here’s what to expect with a No-Needle, No-Scalpel Vasectomy.

What is a No-Needle, No Scalpel Vasectomy?
No-Needle, No-Scalpel Vasectomies are sometimes also referred to as keyhole vasectomies. Before the procedure begins, the skin of the scrotum will be completely numbed, using either a topical numbing agent, or a local anesthesia. Nitrous oxide may also be offered, to help you relax during the procedure.

Instead of incisions made in the scrotum, a special tool called a hemostat will be used to make a small puncture in the scrotal skin sack. This allows your urologist to access the vas deferens. The vas deferens are coiled tubes that carry sperm from the testes to the urethra.

Once your urologist has accessed the vas deferens, each tube will be severed, and then the end will be cauterized, or ligated. The entire procedure often takes less than 30 minutes.

What is Recovery Like After a No Needle No-Scalpel Vasectomy?
Even though the No-Needle No-Scalpel Vasectomy is a minimally invasive procedure, it is important to follow your aftercare instructions. The day of your procedure you should plan to rest. A cold compress (ice pack) will help with any discomfort or swelling. You’ll need to keep activity to a minimum for the first day. Within a few days men can resume normal activities. However, heavy activity and sports should be avoided for at least one week. Before getting back into weekend warrior type activities, check with your urologist, as recovery times will vary with each patient.

Traditional Vasectomy vs. No Scalpel Vasectomy
No-needle, no scalpel vasectomies are equally as successful at preventing pregnancies as traditional vasectomies. However, in addition to a significantly quicker recovery time, no-needle, no-scalpel vasectomies also offer the following benefits:

• Minimal discomfort during procedure
• Quicker procedure
• Minimal post-procedure discomfort
• Less risk of bleeding
• Less risk of infection
• Less risk of complications