Minilap vs Vasectomy

If you and your partner have decided that you do not want to have any more children, you may be considering permanent methods of contraception, such as sterilization. Sterilization is a safe and effective way to prevent unintended pregnancy, but it should only be done by individuals who are sure they do not want children in the future, as it is very difficult and costly to reverse. There are different types of sterilization procedures available for women and men. For women, the most common method is tubal ligation, which involves blocking the fallopian tubes to prevent eggs from reaching the uterus. For men, the most common method is vasectomy, which involves cutting or blocking the vas deferens to prevent sperm from leaving the testicles. Both tubal ligation and vasectomy are nearly 100% effective at preventing pregnancy, but they have some differences in terms of how they are performed, how long they take to become effective, and what risks and benefits they entail. In this blog post, we will compare one type of tubal ligation, called minilaparotomy (or minilap), with vasectomy, and explain why minilap may be a better option for some couples. What is Minilap? Minilaparotomy (or minilap) is one of the three most common techniques of tubal ligation for women. It involves making a small incision in the lower abdomen, just above the pubic hair or just below the navel, and accessing the fallopian tubes through this opening. The tubes are then cut and tied, or clipped or sealed with an electric current. The incision is then closed with stitches or glue. Minilap can be done at any time, but it is most commonly done right after childbirth or abortion, when the tubes are easier to reach. It can also be done outside of the postpartum period (6 weeks or more after pregnancy), but it may require general anesthesia and a longer recovery time. Minilap is effective immediately after surgery, meaning that no additional contraception is needed to prevent pregnancy. It has a very low failure rate of less than 1 pregnancy per 1,000 women in 5 years. It does not affect a woman's menstrual cycle, hormones, sexual function, or breast milk production. The main risks of minilap are infection, bleeding, injury to nearby organs, and anesthesia-related complications. These risks are rare and can be minimized by choosing a trained and experienced provider, following proper hygiene and infection prevention measures, and taking care of the wound after surgery. There is also a slight risk of ectopic pregnancy (when a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus) if minilap fails, which can be life-threatening if not treated promptly. What is Vasectomy? Vasectomy is the most common method of sterilization for men. It involves making one or two small incisions or punctures on the scrotum and accessing the vas deferens (the tubes that carry sperm from the testicles to the penis) through these openings. The tubes are then cut and tied, clipped, sealed with an electric current, or blocked with a device. There are different types of vasectomy techniques, such as conventional vasectomy (which uses scalpel and stitches), no-scalpel vasectomy (which uses a special instrument to make punctures instead of incisions), and Pro-Vas (which uses a titanium clip to block the tubes). The choice of technique depends on the preference and skill of the provider and the patient. Vasectomy does not become effective immediately after surgery. It takes about 3 months for all the sperm to clear from the tubes and ejaculate. During this time, another form of contraception must be used to prevent pregnancy. A semen analysis test must be done after 3 months to confirm that there are no sperm in the ejaculate. Vasectomy has a low failure rate of about 1 pregnancy per 1,000 men in 5 years. It does not affect a man's hormones, sexual function, ejaculation, or orgasm. It may reduce the risk of prostate cancer and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) by lowering the exposure to inflammatory agents. The main risks of vasectomy are infection, bleeding, bruising, swelling, pain, granuloma (a lump of sperm that forms at the cut end of the tube), sperm antibodies (which may cause infertility if vasectomy is reversed), and chronic scrotal pain (which may last for months or years after surgery). These risks are rare and can be minimized by choosing a trained and experienced provider, following proper hygiene and infection prevention measures, applying ice and wearing supportive underwear after surgery, and taking painkillers as prescribed.