Vasectomy And Tantra: Does It Help With Semen Retention?

There are a lot of misconceptions surrounding vasectomy – the male equivalent of tubal ligation.

It is a very effective form of male contraception. But does it help with ejaculation control? What does Tantra say about having a vasectomy? What are the possible complications?

In today’s article, I’m going to shed light on the tantric perspective on male sterilization. What does it entail and how does it affect (or not) your tantric practice?

First off, let’s understand what really happens during a vasectomy. Many guys think sperm and semen are the same and that they are both emitted from the testicles. This is not the case.

And this is why it’s important to separate the words when we speak about this. Essentially, there are 3 main elements.

What makes up an ejaculation?

1. Sperm – Sperm cells produced in the testicles.
2. Semen – this is the seminal fluid that comes from behind the prostate – the fluid that carries and nourishes the sperm.
3. Precum – And finally, there is the pre-cum which is produced by the Cowper’s gland. This is helpful in flushing the urethra clean and working as a lubricant. The Cowper’s gland is located at the root of the penis. It is a clear liquid. This liquid can sometimes confuse men since they can emit almost 5ml of pre-cum. But it is important to note that pre-cum does not include sperm and can not cause pregnancy.

These are the 3 main elements of ejaculation and they come from 3 separate glands.

In this surgery, an incision is made into the scrotum. The testicular tubes are then snipped, essentially separating the sperm from the semen.

Although the seminal vesicle still produces sperm, the sperm are unable to escape from the man’s body.

Thus making it impossible to fertilize an egg. What happens to the sperm? It is quickly reabsorbed by the body. And so you will continue to ejaculate seminal fluid and pre-cum. But there won’t be any sperm.

Yes. You can ejaculate normally after vasectomy. The difference is that upon semen analysis, your semen will not contain sperm.

Tantric perspective on vasectomy

There isn’t a specific “tantric perspective” on the matter. This surgery is a modern practice. It is not something we can find in ancient tantric teachings from thousands of years ago. So unless and until we have enough tantric men who undergo this procedure and report back on the effects, we can’t possibly have a definite answer.

If we were to consider that yoga is trying to be in balance with nature and do things naturally? In that case a vasectomy might not be the ideal yogic thing to consider. This is because it’s not exactly “natural”.

Although based on this logic one could argue that no forms of contraception are natural – other than the pull out method or non-ejaculation.

As a member of my Facebook group said: “For me personally it is against human nature and man’s nature. I wouldn’t do this to myself.”

Vasectomy and Ojas energy

Speaking to my friend, a medical doctor, and a tantric practitioner, the most logical line of thinking is that vasectomy is not an effective tool in trying to conserve your life force energy. The Ojas energy – as is also commonly known – is still lost due to something called a “peak orgasm.”

A peak orgasm is an explosive orgasm where we drain our energy. It’s when we feel tired afterward, almost like a hangover.

It is similar to women losing energy through clitoral peak orgasm. No fluids are released during a clit orgasm but the life-force gets depleted. As said in Hatha yoga, the Ojas energy can’t be refilled. It’s like a battery with one charge that lasts a lifetime.

Ojas can be lost in other ways than just through the explosive orgasm. The draining of energy is not connected only to ejaculation. It is also drained by things like excessive effort and pushing yourself over the limit of physical capacity. Things like running a marathon or extremely heavy lifting could also deplete Ojas. What does all of this mean? It means that it’s unlikely that vasectomy will change the draining of ojas through orgasm. At least on a life force energy level.

Men’s feedback on vasectomy

I’ve had varied accounts of feedback from men who have undergone a vasectomy. I know a few tantric men that have had a vasectomy and still report a loss of energy when ejaculating. 

As discussed above, nothing really changed for them. But I also hear men in my Facebook group who have undergone a vasectomy and claim they feel fine. 

It makes sense that a man who has been snipped might lose less of the valuable nutrients in the semen, thus allowing the body to reabsorb them. But the masculine vital energy will not be preserved either way. 

Here’s what a man from my group who considered vasectomy said: “I considered this for a few years, when I finally made up my mind, found the place, and was ready. Suddenly, I had a deep insight that made me cancel my plans. I realized I would emotionally and energetically castrate myself further. If you know of the emotional castrations wounding that happens in childhood you may understand where I’m coming from.” 

I believe that he is talking about circumcision, which mostly only happens in the USA. I do believe this to be traumatizing for most boys.

Another man said:

“Do NOT do it! It is much much much more painful than they tell you. The ongoing hardness of the tubes feels shit, and can lead to testicular varicose veins!” That’s something else to consider. The hardening of the tubes and the possibility of creating varicocele. This is an enlargement of the veins in the testicles. It can cause pain and decreased blood flow to the testicles. And there’s not really any cure for this except taking painkillers to manage pain and discomfort. 

On the other hand, there are some positive accounts. One man said: “I did it 5 years ago since I have 3 kids already, and would absolutely do it again. I don’t feel a difference in energy circulation after a minimally invasive vasectomy.”

Opinion on this kind of contraception is clearly quite divided. In my opinion, more patient education is needed so that men can make more informed decisions.

More feedback:

“I did it two years ago and I am happy with the process and the results. I have two kids already and don’t want to have any more. My wife wasn’t happy with the pills and other contraception methods she used. She thought those were unnatural and her body didn’t respond well. From a practical sex perspective, I can’t notice any difference. The tantra techniques work just fine and the regular sex practices are also the same. I feel more relaxed and free when I don’t have to think about the risk of my wife getting pregnant. I would not have done it if I was young and did not have any kids, but as I am in my late 40’s, it was a good solution.”

So there are both positive and negative experiences with vasectomy. Each man has to decide for himself what feels right to him. Personally I wouldn’t do it. But that’s because I feel really safe practicing ejaculation control. Of course, I support those who do want to do it.

The biochemical effect of vasectomy

What about the biological and biochemical effects of a conventional vasectomy? After vasectomy, the sperm is restrained in the balls because of the cut and knot. But the so-called “the little death” of energy loss still occurs.

The trigger of the “little death” is the release of the pressure of fluids. Wherever the sperm cells are, you still lose interest when you ejaculate the semen.

Neurotransmitters like Dopamine and Oxytocin drop rapidly for 5-7 days, and you feel grumpy and irritated since these are your “feel-good hormones”. Simple plain facts, easy to prove with a blood test at the hospital.

If you release the seminal pressure and contractions appear, a physical trigger takes place that makes your happy hormones drop. This makes you feel weak and depressed.

Every single thing you FEEL is neuroscience. Without chemicals, you would feel nothing, have no emotions.

Tantric rituals after vasectomy

Certain tantric rituals make use of powerful cocktails of ejaculation and menstruation fluids. This is especially the case on the left-handed path of tantra. If this is something you practice, then it might not be not fully potent if you have had a vasectomy. But then again, not everybody practices such things.

Vasectomy substitute: natural birth control

The goal of performing a vasectomy is for birth control. You don’t want to have (more) kids. So why not learn to control your ejaculation instead? Then you don’t need a vasectomy at all.

Instead of a vasectomy – master semen retention. Some people will say that it’s not 100% safe because they tried it and failed. In my own experience and with all my colleagues I have never seen any unwanted pregnancies occur because of this practice. So between me and all the partners I’ve ever had, there has never been a fear of conception while practicing tantra.

But of course, there needs to be a level of mastery to it. If you’re still learning, it’s best to stay abstinent for a while. Before you’re truly able to master it, there’s always the chance you do something wrong.

For instance, say you ejaculated just recently. 

There might still be semen residue that might enter the vagina even if you are practicing tantric lovemaking. So in these cases, you need to be aware and take proper precautions before making love. But as long as you have total awareness of your arousal level, you should be good to go. 

Make sure you are properly trained by a professional teacher who has already mastered the practice himself. This is then a bulletproof method for prevention and birth control.

Sublimating sexual energy after vasectomy

What about vasectomy and sublimating sexual energy? Do I still need to move my sexual energy after a vasectomy? Since sexual energy is not only contained in the semen, men who have undergone a vasectomy still need to learn how to transmute sexual energy .

During a vasectomy, the ‘vas deferens’ tubes are cut. This procedure might seem like another quick fix to avoid learning how to manage sexual energy. But it’s just a dream for the lazy man.

If you have an explosive orgasm where you ejaculate fluids, you still lose Ojas. You still experience a chemical hangover. I’m sorry to disappoint anyone who thought that they could bypass spiritual practice by snipping their balls. Just like the million dollar point method, it’s an ineffective shortcut.

Another reason for non-ejaculation:

Practicing semen retention is not only about preserving your precious life-force. It’s also to be able to have full-body orgasms. To last longer in bed. A lot of tantric men can last for 2-3 hours in one single lovemaking session. It is also to be able to convert sexual energy into manifesting life goals.

So go and start your practice brothers. There are no excuses. 

In summary, you can have a vasectomy and have positive tantric experiences. But some also report a feeling of congestion and pain. Just remember it will not bypass the need to move and conserve your energy. And biochemically the same orgasm hangover will take place. 

So it’s up to you to decide what feels right for you. If you have what it takes to master semen retention, you can probably go that route instead of a vasectomy. 

If you have done a vasectomy and practice tantra, post a comment below about your experience because we need to hear from more of you guys! That’s all for today! Stay strong in your practice.

Video: what does tantra say about vasectomy?

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