In the long river of life, family and children often occupy an important chapter. However, when a man decides to close the chapter with a ligation operation, many questions arise. The science and physiological implications behind ligation, a common method of male birth control, are often misunderstood or mystified. In this process, where will the "little tadpoles" who have played a key role in the fertility war go, and how do their fates resemble the natural processes that are common in everyday life?
The rationale for ligation surgery
Ligation surgery, medically known as vasectomy, is a common male birth control procedure. During the procedure, the doctor cuts and closes the vas deferens, which is the passage through which sperm travels from the testicles to the penis. Imagine putting up a roadblock on a busy highway to block traffic, and the vehicles in this case are sperm. The key to surgery is that it blocks the sperm transport pathway, but it does not affect sperm production. The testicles still produce sperm, but these sperm cannot pass through the severed vas deferens into the ejaculate fluid. It's like a factory that is still producing goods, but the goods can't reach the market due to the disruption of transportation routes. It is important to note that ligation is usually reversible. When needed, surgery can be performed to restore the patency of the vas deferens. However, the success rate is not 100% and decreases with the duration of ligation.
The life cycle and fate of spermatozoa
Although the ligation procedure cuts off the access to the sperm, the production of sperm does not stop. Normally, sperm is produced in the testicles and then stored in the epididymis to wait for ejaculation to be expelled from the body. After the ligation procedure, sperm are still produced, but they cannot advance through the closed vas deferens. So, where do these sperm end up? They will gradually lose their vitality in the epididymis and will be naturally absorbed and broken down by the body. It can be likened to a river whose flow is suddenly cut off and the river water eventually evaporates or seeps into the soil. In addition, people may worry that ligation surgery will affect sexual function or hormone levels, but in reality this is an unnecessary worry. Ligation surgery does not affect male hormone production or libido as these are not related to sperm transport routes.
Physiological changes after ligation
After ligation surgery, physiological changes in men are usually minimal. The most noticeable change is that ejaculation no longer contains sperm. However, this does not have a noticeable effect on the sensation or volume of ejaculation, as most of the semen comes from the prostate gland and seminal vesicles, not the sperm itself. There are concerns that sterilization can affect a man's sexual performance or hormone levels, but these concerns are unfounded. Ligation surgery does not reduce the testicles' ability to produce male hormones, such as testosterone, nor does it alter libido or performance. Still, just like any surgery, there are potential risks and complications associated with ligation surgery, such as infection or postoperative pain. But overall, it is a safe and effective long-term method of contraception.
Common misconceptions and facts about ligation surgery
Ligation surgery surrounds many misconceptions and myths. First of all, many people believe that ligation affects a man's libido or sexual performance, which is not true. As mentioned earlier, ligation does not alter a man's hormone levels or libido. Secondly, there is an opinion that ligation is irreversible. Although the success rate of reversal surgery is not 100%, in many cases, ligation can be reversed. There is also a common misconception that it takes effect immediately after ligation. In fact, it can take a while (usually weeks to months) and multiple ejaculations after the procedure to remove all the sperm that was produced before ligation. Therefore, other contraceptive methods may still be used for some time after surgery.