A vasectomy is a permanent form of sterilization, in which the sperms path is blocked from leaving the body that a man can choose as a type of long-term birth control. After a vasectomy, a man cannot get a woman pregnant. Sperm are made in the testicles. The testicles are found inside a skin sac called the “scrotum.” Sperm are stored in the epididymis, which is a small organ that sits on top of the testicles. During ejaculation, sperm travel from the epididymis through tubes and out the end of the penis.
During a vasectomy, a doctor cuts and blocks a tube called the “vas deferens”. This prevents sperm from leaving the body. After a vasectomy, a man can still ejaculate fluid, called semen. But the semen does not have any sperm in it.
The vasectomy can be reversed but it is not 100% successful if you are unsure then we advise you not to do the surgery another option being storing the sperms in a sperm banl
Pre-Operative Consultation
You will have a consultation and examination prior to the procedure, where the steps involved in the procedure will be explained. The procedure can be done on the same day as consultation, however we advise that they are to be done on two separate days.
On the day of consultation, make sure to take the following steps:
- Inform the doctor if you are on any blood thinning agents or if you have any allergies.
- Aspirin – stop 5 days prior to the procedure
- Nurofen (Ibuprofen) or any non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs – stop at least 2 days prior
- Herbal remedies containing ginger or ginseng stop 7 days prior and gingko biloba at least 2 days prior
- You do not need to be fasting on the day or the procedure as the procedure is done under local anesthetic
- If you are anxious or nervous about the procedure you can take Diazepam 5mg tablet, half an hour prior to the procedure if there are no contra-indications for the medication
- Read and sign the consent form
The procedure takes 30-45 minutes, and you will be observed for 30 minutes post procedure before discharging home.
Post-Operative Procedure
We recommend that you take 2-3 days off work and rest after the procedure. Make sure you follow the procedures below after the operation:
- You may need analgesics for 24 – 48 hours
- Wear tight fitting underpants which can support the scrotum
- Applying ice can help
- Avoid bath for one to two days
- Do not lift heavy objects or exercise for 7 days
- Wait to have sex for 7 days. After that, you must use another form of birth control for a few months to prevent pregnancy. Vasectomy does not affect your masculinity, orgasms or sex drive.
- A semen analysis test is done after 3 months from the date of surgery. Until then you will need some other form of contraception until the semen is all clear for sperms. You may be required more then one semen analysis test.
Complications
- Bleeding – usually mild ooze can happen which will settle on its own. Rarely a large hematoma has been documented
- Infection is low risk and may need oral antibiotics
- Sperm granuloma – this occurs when sperm leak out from the cut ends of vas Deferens and forms small painful lumps. This occurs more commonly when open ended vasectomy is performed. During the operation in our clinic, we tie both ends and cauterize them, therefore chances for sperm granuloma are low.
- Chronic testicular pain – 1 in 10,000 patients develop testicular dull pain due to back pressure build up which may last weeks or months until the time sperms get absorbed in the body.
