: One of the reasons many men are hesitant to undergo a vasectomy is fear of reduced sexual function. It’s definitely not unreasonable by any means- most men value their sexual ability highly. After all, vasectomies are ultimately a form of sexual contraception for men. So, does undergoing vasectomy affect sexual function?
In a survey done by Dr. Doug Stein, vasectomy patients from an secure database were asked to rate their sex drive, ability to obtain and maintain erections, stiffness of erection, strength of orgasm, semen volume, and frequency of testicular discomfort compared to prior the vasectomy. 119 responses were obtained. The table below outlines the results:
| Since your vasectomy, how have the following changed? | Much Less | Slightly Less | No Change | Slightly More | Much More |
| Sex Drive (Libido) | <1 (1%) | 6 (6%) | 81 (75%) | 18 (15%) | 4 (4%) |
| Ability to obtain and maintain erections | 1 (1%) | 6 (6%) | 96 (89%) | 5 (5%) | 0 |
| Rigidity (stiffness) of erections | 1 (1%) | 5 (5%) | 94 87%) | 7 (6%) | 1 (1%) |
| Strength of orgasm (climax) sensation | 0 | 3 (3%) | 95 (88%) | 6 (6%) | 4 (4%) |
| Semen volume (the amount of fluid that comes out when you ejaculate) | 0 | 17 (16%) | 80 (75%) | 7 (7%) | 2 (2%) |
The majority of those that responded to the survey reported no change in sexual function, which is expected. Detrimental effects to sex drive, erections are incredibly rare. In these cases, it’s probably the vasectomy that caused the effects, and it could be psychological. Vasectomy only prevents sperm from entering the semen- the other functions of the testicles which regulate sexual drive are not affected. Likewise, those that reported higher sex drive, stronger orgasms, stiffer erections, etc, were probably not linked directly to vasectomy, as there is no physical reason for vasectomies to effect these things. Most likely, it was a result of no longer having to worry about the fear of pregnancy.
