Vasectomy
Comprehensive fee includes:
- Initial 15 minute consultation
- Procedure on a separate date
- Phone post-op check
- Notification of semen analysis at 6 weeks post-procedure
A vasectomy is a 30 minute office-based procedure designed to permanently block unwanted pregnancies. Compared to a female tubal ligation, a vasectomy is faster, cheaper, less invasive, and more effective.
At the initial consultation: Scott will ask your medical history and will do a quick exam to make sure that there are no surprises on the day of the procedure. In some cases, Scott may recommend that you have the procedure under sedation (light anesthesia) if your anatomy makes the office-based procedure challenging or if you’re feeling particularly anxious. The procedure and aftercare then will be discussed. The consent will be signed and a procedure date will be selected. Partners are welcome and encouraged to attend.
What to expect:
The night before: Please do a gentle shave of your scrotum and the hair around the penis.
Procedure day: Please arrive at least 5 minutes before your scheduled appointment time. You will then be brought into the procedure room and you will lay on a bed. Your penis will be taped out of the way. A soap prep of the scrotum will clean the area. Numbing medicine will be injected into the skin and into each of the vas deferens (the tubes). Often patients describe feeling a burning or aching sensation rise up the flank when this finishes. This is temporary. A small incision is made in the midline of the scrotum. Each tube is brought out this opening, a small section of the tube is removed, and the remaining ends are cauterized and tied off. A small, dissolvable stitch is often used to close the wound at the end. This stitch will fall out on its own. The procedure generally takes about 20 minutes.
When you get home: Hit the couch and watch some TV! You really want to rest as much as possible for two days. Its good to have a bag of iced peas to put on the scrotum. Ibuprofen and Panadol will be important for pain control. You are allowed to get up and walk around as needed and may shower the next day. No driving, sports, heavy lifting, or sex. Don’t put us in a position to say “we told you so!” if you over-do it. After two days, you may get back to light duties. After a week, you may slowly resume more strenuous activities. Listen to your body; it will tell you if you are doing too much. Scott will give you additional guidance based on your line of work.
Your homework: You are not immediately sterile after the procedure. All of the sperm need to get flushed out of the tubes before its safe. So, continue to use contraception until you’ve given a semen test that shows the sperm are gone. Usually it takes about 10 ejaculations to clear the tubes; you can do that however you like. Now its time to do the easiest test of your life and we’ll call you with the results.
Risks:
- Bleeding in the scrotum that creates swelling, bruising, and pain – common
- Infection – rare
- Chronic pain syndrome in the testicles – very rare (1 in 100 men)
- Failure of procedure – very, very rare (1 in 2000 men)