Many men, especially as the get a little older, begin to contemplate the benefits of sterilization.  After all, the freedom to engage in sexual activities without the risk of pregnancy is pretty alluring.  Vasectomies are fairly inexpensive, simple operations.  The can be performed by the doctor at his office and take very little recovery time.  However, there are some drawbacks to getting a vasectomy that a man should at least be aware of before making the final decision to be sterilized.

Possible Sexual Side Effects

Once the vasectomy has been completed the testes remain in place in the scrotum.  The Leydig cells continue producing male hormones such as testosterone which is circulated by the bloodstream.  Though most studies indicate that as many as 90% of men experience no drop in sexual desire after getting a vasectomy, other studies place that number lower, suggesting that as many as 1 in 5 men will see a drop in their desire for sex after surgery.
Though not significant to many men, the volume of ejaculate is somewhat diminished after getting a vasectomy.  Sperm constitutes about 10% of the volume of normal ejaculate.  After getting a vasectomy, since the sperm is no longer present, the amount of ejaculate is decreased.  However, it has been indicated that getting a vasectomy does not significantly alter the appearance, texture, smell or taste of the ejaculate.

Changes in the Testicles

Once the vas deferens has been severed or clamped, the sperm can no longer exit the body via the penis.  Though the testicles continue to produce sperm, they cannot leave and so are reabsorbed by the body.  Most of the fluid content of is absorbed through the membranes of the epididymis.  The solid content gets broken down by macrophages which respond to its presence.  The broken down product is then absorbed into the blood stream.
Even in men who have not had a vasectomy almost half of sperm are reabsorbed in this manner.  After getting a vasectomy the membranes have to grow to be able to absorb twice as much fluid.  This can cause the immune system to respond by producing more macrophages for the purposes of breaking down the solid sperm to be reabsorbed.

Immune System Response

Within a year of getting a vasectomy, studies have shown that close to 70% of men begin to develop antibodies that attack sperm.  Some cases of vasitis nodosa, benign bodies within the ductular epithelium can result as well.  The buildup of sperm in the testicles can create pressure in the lower portion of the vas deferens and against the epididymis.  It has been reported that these structures can often rupture and become damaged.  Sperm ganulomas can also be form by the entry of sperm into the scrotum as the body attempts to trap the sperm that the body now views as foreign bodies.
Though most of these changes and side effects are slight, some can still pose an inconvenience.  Any man is well advised to understand these potential drawbacks before deciding if the benefits of getting a vasectomy outweigh the risks.