Vasectomy

Vasectomy can be performed with a local anaesthetic (numbing injection) or a general anaesthetic (completely asleep).

Vasectomy under local anaesthetic can be performed in our office in Brisbane city. Vasectomy under a general anaesthetic is
performed as a day surgery in a hospital.

Vasectomy usually takes 20 to 30 minutes.

We make one or two small incisions in the scrotum. We cut your vas deferens and seal one or both cut ends with stitches and/or cautery. We close the incisions with glue or dissolvable stitches.

We can perform minor variations to the standard vasectomy
technique, including:

• • Scalpel free vasectomy.
  • Open ended vasectomy.

We will discuss the best approach with you before your procedure.

You can’t ejaculate for one week after your vasectomy. After one week, you can have sex if you feel comfortable, but you will still need to use contraception.

You won’t be sterile for at least three to four months after your vasectomy.

You need to have a semen analysis three to four months after your vasectomy to confirm you are sterile.

You need to continue using contraception until a semen analysis confirms that you are sterile.

Sometimes there are still sperm in your first semen analysis. If this happens the test will need to be repeated until there are no sperm seen.

Vasectomy doesn’t protect you against sexually transmitted infections (S I) such as Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea and HIV. If you are at risk of getting an STI you need to continue using condoms.

There is a 1/100 chance of the cut ends of your vas deferens re-joining within a few months of the operation. If this happens your vasectomy will have failed and will need to be repeated.

There is a 1/2000 chance of unintended pregnancy due to the cut ends of your vas deferens re-joining months to years after your vasectomy, even if no sperm is seen on your semen analysis.

Vasectomy can be reversed, but a vasectomy reversal can be invasive, expensive, and is not always successful.

You should only have a vasectomy if you and your partner are certain that you have finished your family or don’t want to have children.