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UpgradeVasectomy
A vasectomy stops your body from releasing sperm in your semen when you ejaculate. It involves sealing off a tube called the vas deferens. This tube is in your scrotum and carries sperm out of your testicles (where it’s made).
Your levels of the hormone testosterone and your sex drive won’t be affected after a vasectomy. You’ll still produce semen, get erections, ejaculate and have sex in the same way after a vasectomy. But your semen won’t contain sperm. This means it won’t be able to fertilise an egg and cause a pregnancy.
The only thing a vasectomy does is make you sterile by preventing sperm from being released into your semen. It will not change your hormones, semen production, erections or sex drive.
It is important to remember a vasectomy does not protect you from getting or passing on sexually transmitted diseases so using a condom is still required for protection against STDs.
Vasectomies should be considered permanent as reversal procedures are often expensive and unsuccessful. If you are considering a reversal prior to having a vasectomy than this may not be the right decision for you.
Should you have any questions, please call our office and ask to speak to our Urology Team on 0114 2505510 Mon-Fri 8am-5pm.
For any urgent medical needs out of hours please contact 111or attend A&E.
One Health waiting times from consultation to treatment are 2 - 12 weeks on average.
Your urologist (or a member of their team) will briefly review your history and medications, and will discuss the surgery again with you to confirm your consent.
If you are scheduled to have your vasectomy under general anaesthetic, an anaesthetist will see you to discuss the options of a general anaesthetic or spinal anaesthetic. The anaesthetist will also discuss pain relief after the procedure with you.
You usually have very little trouble after a vasectomy. To ensure the best possible recovery however, OHG suggest that you:
· take things easy for the next 48-72 hours. There is no need to stay in bed, but too much activity can make healing take longer and may cause complications.
· wait 24 hours after the procedure before you shower to ensure the wound is kept dry and remove any dressings applied, before you shower.
· avoid touching the area to reduce the risk of infection. Post-operative pain, swelling and bruising are normal and will subside in the first few weeks.
· manage any pain after the procedure by taking over the counter pain relief medication, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen. Please note that you will not be given any pain relief medication to take home with you, you must buy your own.
· wear tight-fitting, supportive underpants (not boxer shorts) for the first week and avoid intercourse during this time.
· you should avoid any heavy lifting or strenuous physical activities for the first 1-2 weeks. If your work involves heavy lifting, you should take a full week off.
· avoid washing in a bath, swimming or using a hot tub until the wound(s) are fully healed, normally 7-10 days.
It’s important to look out for signs of infection, such as your wound becoming increasingly painful, or is oozing pus or discharge. Please contact your GP in this instance for treatment.
If you are treated for an infection after your procedure, please contact OHG to let us know so that we can update your records and inform your surgeon.
You are not sterile immediately after your vasectomy. This is because some sperm have already passed beyond the site where the tubes are cut. These sperm need to be cleared by normal ejaculations.
Sperm will be present in your semen for some weeks after your procedure. You must still therefore use contraception (e.g. condoms)during this time. Continued ejaculation is important to get out all remaining sperm. Usually at least 30 ejaculations are necessary to flush out all of the left-over sperm.
A test a sample of your semen will be requested 16 weeks after your procedure to check if the vasectomy has been successful. You will therefore receive a sample pot in the post with instructions on how to do the sample, this will be returned in the post to the labs for analysis. You will also receive a text message reminder that the semen sample is due.
Sometimes a further sperm sample is needed. If this is the case, we will contact you and send out a further sample pot. It is essential that you continue to use contraception until you have been told that your semen sample shows that the vasectomy has been successful.
We have over 40 clinics across the UK with 100+ expert consultants, providing a wide range of treatments to help you get better.
One Health waiting times from consultation to treatment are 2 - 12 weeks on average.
