Vasectomy Summary Vasectomy is a type of surgery that prevents a man from being able to get a woman pregnant. It is a permanent form of birth control. Vasectomy works by blocking the tube through which sperm pass. The surgery usually takes no more than 30 minutes. Almost all men go home the same day. In most cases, recovery takes less than a week. Vasectomy can sometimes be reversed, but not always. Having a vasectomy does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases, such as HIV/AIDS. Men who have had vasectomy should still practice safe sex to avoid STDs. NIH: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Reproductive Sterilization National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Vasectomy National Institutes of Health Find an Expert Find a Urologist Urology Care Foundation National Institute of Child Health and Human Development National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Specifics How Is a Vasectomy Done? National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Statistics and Research Key Statistics from the National Survey of Family Growth: Vasectomy National Center for Health Statistics Journal Articles Vasectomy Related Issues Sterilization for Women and Men American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists What Are the Risks of Vasectomy? National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Encyclopedia Sterilization surgery – making a decision Array Vasectomy Vasectomy Vasectomy – slideshow Start Here Vasectomy National Institute of Child Health and Human Development