Vasectomy FAQs

Vasectomy is the medical name for male sterilisation. It is a simple surgical procedure which closes off the small sperm-carrying tubes (vas deferens) located in the scrotum to prevent sperm from getting into the seminal fluid you ejaculate. After the procedure, although you will climax and ejaculate as before, sperm produced in the testicles can no longer travel through these tubes, therefore eliminating the chance of conception.

If you feel your family is complete or are certain that you don’t want to have children, vasectomy may be the right choice of contraception for you. However it is a permanent procedure and should be considered very carefully before going ahead.

On the day of your vasectomy you will see a counsellor to ensure that you are confident of your decision. If you are under 25, it is recommended that you have extra counselling before making your final decision.

Vasectomy is probably the most effective method of contraception that exists. The failure rate is much less than 1%.

However, there is a slight chance of failure that can occur at any time. This may be due to the sperm-carrying tubes rejoining naturally. 80% of failures occur within two months of the procedure, so if sperm is detected in the follow-up semen tests, the procedure can be repeated at no extra cost.

At Marie Stopes International we perform vasectomy under local anaesthetic. An anaesthetic injection numbs the area and then a very small hole is made in the front of the scrotum. Through this opening, each sperm carrying tube (vas deferen) is cut and sealed off. Once this heals you will have a very small scar on the scrotum which will become invisible over time.

On average, the procedure takes around ten minutes. You will be required at the centre for about an hour and a half.

In order to prepare for your vasectomy please follow these important instructions:

• Do not use painkillers or anti-inflammatory medication, with the exception of Panadeine®, 24 hours before your procedure. If you are taking aspirin this must be stopped 1 week before your procedure after consultation with your doctor.
• Do not drink alcohol before your procedure.
• Shower the evening before, and again on the day of your vasectomy.
• Wear firm fitting underwear on the day of your vasectomy (ie: don’t wear boxer shorts).
• If you choose to undergo either conscious IV sedation or a general anaesthetic there are necessary fasting requirements which you are required to undertake. These will be explained to you by your doctor.

The procedure is performed under local anaesthetic, which might mean a short sharp pain from the injection, but it starts working straight away and will make the area feel numb. You may feel some sensation during the procedure, but this should not be painful. Afterwards you may feel some discomfort, but ordinary painkillers and cold packs will help and the soreness won’t last very long.

Vasectomy is very safe and long term effects are extremely rare.

However, like all other surgical procedures, there is a small risk of complication.

• You may experience some swelling and bruising which can be relieved by using painkillers and an ice pack. A small lump, the size of a pea, may develop on the wound site, and persist for a while. This is caused by the body’s natural healing reaction and specific treatment is not usually required
• There is a small risk of infection which can be treated with antibiotics
• A small amount of bleeding may occur, and occasionally this can form a swelling called a haematoma, especially if you have undertaken any strenuous activity
• Post-procedure pain can be experienced for a long period of time, sometimes up to two years or more. This is extremely rare and having performed over 90,000 vasectomies since 1979, we have seen very few cases of this kind.

Should you experience any worrying symptoms following your vasectomy or be at all concerned, please call us for advice. Post-procedure advice will be given to you before you leave.

There is no conclusive evidence linking vasectomy and cancer of the prostate or testicles. But we advise all men, whether or not they have had a vasectomy, to have regular health screenings, including an examination of their testicles.

You should consider vasectomy as a permanent method of contraception. Only men who decide they are absolutely certain they do not want to have any more children, or any children at all, should have the procedure. If you think you might change your mind, you and your partner should consider an alternative method of contraception and wait until you are definite about your decision, as there is no guarantee a vasectomy can be reversed.

With no change to your hormones, ejaculation or orgasm, there's no reason why having a vasectomy should have a negative impact on your sex life.

In fact, many couples find vasectomy improves their sex life, enjoying greater sexual freedom once they no longer have the worry of an unplanned pregnancy.

After the procedure, you can have sex again as soon as you feel comfortable. We recommend that you wait a few days to give the incision time to heal.

You will need to use another method of contraception until we write to tell you that your vasectomy has been effective from the results of the tests we take.

There is normally an appointment available within a few weeks. We ask you to give us dates which are convenient and we will then book you in for the first suitable appointment.

If you have decided to have a vasectomy please make an appointment by calling our National Support Centre on:

Freecall 1800 003 707

You can also email us your preferred time and date for an appointment to:

appointments@mariestopes.com.au.

Or you can chat online with one of our vasectomy experts.

In order to confirm your details, please ensure you include a contact telephone number in your email. All bookings must be confirmed over the telephone.

When making an appointment, one of our team members will give you details about the location of your closest Marie Stopes International Centre, how to prepare for your procedure, what you need to bring and the fees involved. Please note that we do not accept cheques, AMEX or Diners Club cards.

When you make an appointment for a vasectomy you will be asked to pay a $100 deposit. We can process credit/debit cards (Mastercard, Visa) over the telephone at the time of making your booking. The deposit is non-refundable if your appointment is cancelled less than 48 hours prior. On arrival at the centre you will be asked to pay the balance.

Please feel free to telephone us to discuss specific dates before making a booking. Our service is completely confidential and we do not inform anyone about your treatment including your GP, without your permission.

You will need to take things easy for a day or two and you may choose to take a few days off work. If you have a physically demanding job we would advise you to take a week off work. Please telephone us for advice if you are concerned about your particular circumstances.

We would also advise you not to travel for up to two weeks after your procedure so that you can contact us if a problem should arise.

You will see a Medical Practitioner, have your vasectomy, and then have a cup of tea. You will be at the centre for about two hours. Your partner is welcome to attend and you can see the counsellor together if you wish.

Afterwards, we recommend someone accompanies you home. It is not advisable for you to drive yourself.

Physically strenuous sports such as squash, soccer or rugby should be avoided for at least four weeks. More gentle exercise such as swimming can be resumed after about two weeks.

Please telephone us for advice at any time if you are unsure about certain activities.

You will not be sterile straight away. As there will still be some sperm left in your tubes, you will need to use another method of contraception for a few months until your doctor informs you that your semen is free of sperm.

Following the vasectomy, we will ask you to supply a semen sample around three months after the procedure. The sample is checked under a microscope to see if there are any sperm present. When there are no sperm in the semen sample we will send you an ‘all clear’ letter. You can then have sex without using another method of contraception.

Note however that a vasectomy cannot protect you against any sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. To protect yourself and your partner against these infections, you need to use condoms.

It can take quite a number of ejaculations (we recommend at least 20 ejaculations) to clear the tubes of sperm so we may need to ask you for more samples. You will be kept updated throughout the whole process.

There are still very few methods of contraception for men - either vasectomy or condoms. However there is a permanent sterilisation procedure for women - female sterilisation. There are also other very effective long-term (but not permanent) alternatives your partner could use. These include IUDs, contraceptive implants or injections.

If you have doubts whether or not you will want to have children in the future, you should choose one of the non-permanent, more short-term methods such as the pill or condoms. Marie Stopes International will be able to advise you and your partner on alternative contraceptive methods to suit your circumstances.

For more information, download a copy of the Marie Stopes International information brochure on Vasectomy (if you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader, you may download it from www.adobe.com).