Vasectomies

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A surgical procedure involving the cutting or sealing of the vas deferens to prevent sperm from entering the semen during ejaculation; typically performed for male sterilization; can be a reversible or permanent form of contraception
2. A medical operation that entails the division of the duct that carries sperm, effectively rendering a male incapable of impregnating; it serves as a method of birth control; may or may not be able to be undone in the future
3. The process of surgically altering the male reproductive system by interrupting the pathway for sperm, thus preventing reproduction; it is often chosen for permanent contraception; its reversibility varies based on technique and timing

Etymology: "Vasectomies" is the plural of "vasectomy," a surgical procedure in which the vas deferens, the tube that carries sperm from the testicle toward the urethra, is cut or sealed. The name is a compound of "vas," the Latin word for a vessel or duct and the source of the anatomical term "vas deferens" (literally "carrying vessel"), and "-ectomy," from Greek "ektomē," meaning a cutting out. The same suffix appears in older surgical terms such as "appendectomy" and "tonsillectomy," so the new word followed a familiar pattern. Because the name is built from a classical anatomical term and the regular surgical suffix, its meaning is transparent to anyone who knows those parts. The word itself is a modern coinage made from existing elements rather than a term that passed down through centuries of use.

Synonyms: surgical procedures, male sterilizations, operations, medical interventions, reversals