Ask the Doctor

From JD:-
I had a vasectomy performed about 5 months ago. While the procedure it self was unconfortable and painful, I have to say that I had not experienced many physical or psychological changes until now. It has been about a month since I noticed a sharp decline in my sex drive. Before I had the vasectomy I was having very satisfying sex at least twice a week. After the procedure, my urologyst advised to abstain from having sex for 1 week (or 10 days) I can’t remember. After that “healing” period had transpired, I resumed to having sex once to at least twice a week “although it was a little painful at times.” Over the last month or so it seems as if I completely lost my desire for sex, I am very often irritable, feel stressed out, I am always tired and sometimes anxious. I had never experienced all of these symptoms at once, and can only accredit them to my having this operation done and the psychophysiological changes my body has had to adapt to. This is taking its toll on me and my family, and don’t know what to do to aliviate the situation.

From Josh:-
Does having a vasectomy reduce sex drive?

Vasectomy does not have any effect on sex drive or erections unless something very bad happened during the vasectomy procedure and the blood supply to the testicle was damaged. A man’s sex drive is directly related to his testosterone level. A man continues to produce testosterone at the same rate even after a vasectomy. On the other hand, a man begins to loose testosterone production by approximately 1% per year starting as early as the age of 30. Yes, a form of male menopause (andropause), but less drastic than what occurs in women. If a man experiences symptoms of low sexual drive or desire he should have his testosterone level checked and if it is low, testosterone replacement can help restore a man’s sex drive. Physical evaluation and serologic testing can confirm low testosterone.