Eli5: What exactly does a vasectomy do?

Question

I know it makes it’s so you can’t have kids, but how exactly? Like does the spirm no longer have the ability to impregnate or…?

In: 1249

Answer 1

The tubes that carry the sperm from the testicles to the penis are severed in the scrotum, then cauterised/folded & stitched (or both). This ensures that the sperm cannot travel through and join with the semen, but does not effect the semen at all – you ejaculate just fine but, done correctly, you’re “shooting blanks”.