Frequently Asked
Questions
A vasectomy is a simple procedure where the vas deferens (vas) is cut to cause sterilization in a male by stopping the flow of sperm into the ejaculate. The vas is a tube that carries sperm from the testicles where it is made to the penis. On the way sperm is joined by semen so your ejaculate contains both sperm and semen. Sperm makes up a very small percentage (less than 5%), and therefore most men will not notice any change in the volume of their ejaculate after a vasectomy.
Most will take about 15-20 minutes.
There are a couple of ways to categorise the procedure methods
1. Traditional Vs No-Scalpel
The traditional method involves using a scalpel to make an incision on each side of the scrotum to access the vas.
The No-scalpel method uses blunt dissection and usually only involves one hole being made through which the vas from both sides is accessed. The no-scalpel technique results in lower complication rates such as bruising and bleeding.
2. Open-ended Vs Closed-ended
The open ended technique means that the end of the vas attached to the testicle is left open. Why does this matter? Well after a vasectomy the testicle is going to continue to make sperm and this sperm needs to go somewhere. By allowing it to be released into the scrotum we reduce the incidence of “congestion” or the feeling of pressure from sperm backing up (think of a kinked hose with the tap running).
The closed-ended technique means the testicular end of the vas is clamped with a suture or a clip.
This will depend on the doctor who is performing your vasectomy. For more information click here
It is our recommendation that you have someone drive you home by private vehicle or cab / Uber. Public transport is also acceptable.
If this is not possible it’s important you wait at least 20 minutes after leaving the procedure room, and feel 100% fine, before you commence driving. If you feel lightheaded while driving, pull over immediately.
Unfortunately, at this stage we only offer vasectomy under local anesthetic at our locations. For sedation or general anesthetic options, we recommend you obtain a referral to a urologist.
Yes. Please read our Preparing for your vasectomy page.
If you are asking yourself this question, you should really think twice about getting a vasectomy.
Yes, vasectomies can be reversed. But you should consider this procedure as permanent contraception. Reversals are not 100% and very expensive - sometimes more than $5000.
We do everything we can to reduce the rate of complications but all surgical procedures have risks you should be aware of. A full list of potential complications are outlined fully in your consent form.
After your vasectomy most men will notice some level of:
Bruising: You may notice some bruising in the days after your vasectomy but this will usually disappear after about a week
Mild pain and swelling: This commonly settles a few days after your procedure
Less common potentials complications include:
A scrotal haematoma: This is a large bruise within the scrotum. You can reduce your chance of getting a haematoma greatly by following our instructions regarding lifting heavy objects in the days after the procedure. If you work in a job that requires heavy lifting make sure you get some time off work or ask for light duties
Infection: We try to reduce the chance of you getting an infection by adhering to strict infection control protocol. Most infections are mild and be treated with oral antibiotics.
Post Vasectomy Pain Syndrome (PVPS): This complication that can occur anytime after a vasectomy. There is little agreement on what causes PVPS. In most cases pain will resolve eventually but in rare cases specialist review and even additional surgery or reversal may be required to attempt to resolve the problem. These procedures are not always successful
The procedure does not work immediately and you must consider yourself fertile until we tell you the vasectomy was a success. We request you do a semen analysis at 3 months to confirm you are sterile.
It's really important not to lift anything too heavy for the first week. If your job doesn’t involve much heavy lifting you can often go straight back to work, but if you are in a job with a lot of lifting you may wish to take some time off or request light duties. We can provide a medical certificate if you want to stay home
Most men can resume sexual activity after about 1 week.
Some men recover quite quickly from vasectomy while others may take up to 2 weeks. The average time to feeling back to normal is about 7 days.