Preparing for your Vasectomy

There are some simple things that you can do in advance of your appointment, to get ready for your visit to the vasectomy clinic:

1. Be certain that you do not wish to father any more children.
2. Do not take aspirin or other anti-inflammatory medication for several days before you attend for the procedure.
3. Before you attend the clinic you should close trim the hair at the front of the scrotum (testicle sac) beforehand.

It is not necessary to shave the scrotum as this may in fact increase the risk of infection from minor skin trauma.

• We generally prefer you to keep the area dry for at least a couple of days after your vasectomy, so have a good soak in the bath or shower before you attend.
• Wear or bring a pair of tight well-supporting underwear such as briefs or very well-fitting boxers to provide additional support and help hold the non-adherent dressing in place.
• Prepare questions that you may have for the counsellor. You will be asked to sign a consent form stating that you understand the risks involved and that sterility cannot be guaranteed.
• We recommend you arrange for someone to drive you home after the procedure. Although most men may feel perfectly capable of driving themselves home afterwards as the anaesthetic does not cause drowsiness and there should be no discomfort whilst it remains effective, there is a risk however, particularly if you have a tendency to feel dizzy or faint after Medical or Dental appointments. It is for this reason that you are advised to arrange for someone to drive you home.
• If you have any localised infection around the genitalia, we would prefer to delay operation until this has been treated.
• Also, if you have any chronic illness, particularly any heart condition or blood disorder, please let us know well in advance, especially if you are taking blood thinning medication.  
• Remember that you should avoid heavy or strenuous activity for a week afterwards, so you may need to make prior arrangements for light duties only with your employer.

Your Vasectomy / at the Clinic

Most patients attend for the ‘one-stop’ service which includes both the counselling session and the procedure on the same day. This is on the understanding that you would have had the opportunity to read the information on this website beforehand. Patients have the opportunity to request separate counselling and operation appointments allowing for a ‘cooling-off’ period.

Counsellor appointment

The vasectomy counsellor will see you prior to your attendance in the operating room. The counselling session usually lasts approximately 20 – 30 minutes. The counsellor will discuss with you and your partner if they accompany you, all aspects of vasectomy and its effects. You will have the opportunity to ask questions and cover any uncertainties at this appointment. Arrangements for sample collection and post-operative care will also be explained.

We recommend that all patients should fully consider the alternatives to vasectomy especially long-term reversible forms of contraception which are available for women such as hormone implants and intra-uterine devices such as the copper coil and hormonal intra-uterine systems.

Vasectomy will not solve marital or sexual problems. But it can help you enjoy sexual relations more—free from the fear of unwanted pregnancy. And it can be the right choice if the female partner does not want or cannot take birth control pills or use other forms of contraception.

You will be asked to sign a consent form which will be sent to you beforehand; there is space on the form for your partner to sign, should you both wish, however, this is not compulsory. If Dr Boone is performing your vasectomy, your partner will be permitted to stay with you throughout the operation, if you both wish.

The vasectomy procedure

The operation itself usually takes under 10 minutes. The method used is the minimal access technique – a type of keyhole surgery. It is performed under local anaesthetic using a fast acting anaesthetic to initially numb a small area of skin then the tubes themselves. Only one skin access point is needed to approach both tubes. A segment is removed from the sperm tubes (vas deferens) and the ends are sealed with electrocautery. No stitches are used to close the tubes or for skin closure, although a stitch is used for fascial interposition. Blood loss is usually almost non-existent. Dr Boone and his team are very experienced at this technique and most men are pleasantly surprised to find the experience easily tolerated and almost pain-free.

After your operation, you should not be in any discomfort and after a short recovery period, you should be able to travel home. We recommend you ask your partner or a friend/relative to drive you home after the procedure, but many men choose to drive themselves.

Aftercare & Recovery

Recovery – What shall I do after the procedure?

After the operation, the remainder of the day should be spent preferably lying down and it is also wise to rest as much as possible for the following 2 days. Most men feel some degree of discomfort during the first few days after the operation, which varies from one individual to another. This usually settles with simple treatment, such as Paracetamol. It is not unusual to notice a few spots of blood on the dressings for a couple of days or so. Some men may notice some superficial bruising around the testicles which usually fades after a week or two.

We advise you to wear well-fitting underpants to support your scrotum day and night for 1 week. Although normal activities can be resumed shortly after the operation, we advise all men to take things easy and to avoid any strenuous exercise or heavy lifting for about one or two weeks. Sexual activity can be resumed as soon as you feel it will be comfortable, however, we do advise you to wait a few days. Occasionally, a drop of blood may discolour the semen in the first couple of ejaculations after the procedure which settles spontaneously and is generally of no concern.

When can I go back to work?

It is better to rest for a couple of days. If your job is non-manual or involves only light duties you can then return to work. If you have a heavy job involving manual work, it is better to wait for a week.

When can I resume sex?

Usually after 7 days to allow for the soft tissues to heal and for you and your partner to feel comfortable.