Vasectomy

Every year around 65,000 men in the UK have a vasectomy.

Vasectomy is a safe and effective form of contraception for men. But it is permanent, so you should only consider it if you are sure you never want children or you and your partner do not want any more children. This is a decision that should not be taken lightly. Don’t consider a vasectomy immediately or soon after your partner has given birth, or had a miscarriage or an abortion.You shouldn't consider a vasectomy if you are under any stress, whether or not that stress relates to concerns about pregnancy or you relationship or anything else.

What does vasectomy involve?
When you have sex, sperm travels through two tubes (the vas deferens) and mix with semen before you ejaculate. With a vasectomy, the tubes are tied or sealed so that sperm cannot reach the semen. So you can still ejaculate, but your semen does not have any sperm in it, so there is no risk of pregnancy.

At bpas the actual operation takes about 10 minutes, and is usually performed under local anaesthetic injected into the skin of the scrotum. 

bpas does also provide a general anaesthetic option. Once the anaesthetic is working, the doctor then makes a very small incision in the scrotum and extracts the first of the two tubes. The tube is then cut and the two ends sealed.

The doctor places the tube back in the scrotum and seals the incision with a couple of stitches. The process is then repeated on the other tube. (The stitches dissolve after five days when the two incisions have healed.)

You will need to have a medical assessment before you have a vasectomy. bpas can provide that assessment for you, or you can get an assessment from your own doctor or local health care provider.

Please note the failure rate of vasectomy is one in 2,000. In other words, in rare cases pregnancy can occur even after a vasectomy.

Recovery
After the operation, you will be taken to a recovery room where you can relax and have a tea or a coffee. Recovery usually takes around half an hour. As the anaesthetic wears off, most men do feel some discomfort, which may last for a few days. You will be advised how to cope with this (low dose painkillers usually work), and also on aftercare which should include some relaxation and a few days off work, avoiding any strenuous activity, wearing supportive underwear, and keeping the area that has been operated on as dry as possible.

Some slight swelling may occur in the day after the vasectomy. This is normal. But if you are worried about this, or any signs of infection, see your own doctor or a bpas doctor as soon as possible. Any discomfort should disappear after two weeks.

It is important that you do not rely on your vasectomy as a method of contraception for at least eight weeks after the operation. We ask you to provide two separate semen samples for testing for sperm. Once these tests have been analysed, and are clear of any sperm, then you can be assured that your vasectomy has worked and you can have sexual intercourse without fear of getting your partner pregnant. Results of these tests can be retrieved on line, or by post or over the phone.

Non Scalpel Vasectomy
A second form of vasectomy is also available from bpas. It is called non scalpel vasectomy, and is a technique that makes operating time shorter and recovery quicker. The basic difference is that the tubes (vas deferens) are not cut but sealed with a microscopic instrument.

Between 12 and 16 weeks after the procedure you will need to provide semen samples to be checked for sperm. Failure rates for non scalpel vasectomy are one per cent, but it has far less likelihood of complications after the procedure.

When seeking advice about vasectomy, you should ask about the two different procedures to see which would suit you best. Both are safe, and very effective.

All bpas vasectomies are performed by specially trained doctors, and a full pre and posttreatment and counselling service is available too. All bpas clinics are Healthcare Commission registered.

Vasectomy FAQs

Where can I get a vasectomy?
A list of bpas clinics that provide vasectomy is available here.

How do I make an appointment?
To make an appointment, call our Booking Centre on: 08457 304030

How much will it cost?
A price list for services available from bpas clinics is available here.  

In addition, bpas provides vasectomy funded by NHS contracts in some locations, in which case the cost will be covered by the NHS. For a list of these Primary Care Trust (PCT) areas in which the service may be free, click here. In order to make an appointment under these contracts, you will usually have to book through your GP or local family planning clinic.

Will it hurt?
The procedure will be performed under local or general anaesthetic, so the actual operation should be painless. After the operation, most men do feel some discomfort for a week or so. During this time it is important to relax as much as possible, and not take any strenuous exercise. If you do experience discomfort or pain, painkillers should work. But if not, make sure you talk to your bpas clinic or your doctor.

What complications could occur?
About one per cent of men do develop a problem after their vasectomy. Most of these problems are minor and will get better without treatment. It is best to rest after the vasectomy to minimise the risk of bruising or swelling. Non scalpel vasectomies have one-eighth the complication rate of other methods of vasectomy, are quicker to perform, and men are reported to be more comfortable after this procedure.

There are no known long-term effects associated with having a vasectomy. However a very small number of men can occasionally suffer from minor testicular pain.

Will my sex drive be affected?
No. You will still have erections and produce the same amount of semen when you ejaculate. The only difference is that the semen won’t contain sperm.Your body will still produce sperm, but they can't travel out through your penis and are naturally reabsorbed by the body. Some men say that the ‘freedom’ of not worrying about their partners’ contraception helps and even improves their sexual activity.

What are the disadvantages of vasectomy?
You can’t rely on vasectomy to avoid pregnancy until you have had two sperm tests after the procedure.

And vasectomy does not protect you from STIs.

Does anyone need to know I’ve had a vasectomy?
You do not need your partner’s agreement although we do recommend that you discuss such an important decision with them. We will not inform anyone – including your GP - without your permission.

When can I go back to work and to the gym?
You will only be at the clinic for about an hour – the operation takes less than half of that. bpas carry out their non-scalpel operations on Fridays so that you are able to have the weekend to recover. If you have a very physical job, you may need as much as a week off work. You should avoid any physical sports or going to the gym for a couple of weeks after your operation. bpas is happy to advise you on your own situation.

What are the alternatives? 
Other contraceptive options include female sterilisation and long acting reversible contraception for women, both of which can be provided by bpas. However, female sterilisation (involving the sealing or severing of a woman’s fallopian tubes) has a slightly lower success rate than vasectomy, has a higher risk of complication, and takes far longer to recover from.

What about vasectomy reversal? 
bpas also performs vasectomy reversals.
More...