Please contact a member of nursing staff at the appropriate day unit if you wish to discuss your operation before your admission to hospital. (Contact numbers can be found at the end of this information)
The procedure
This operation results in permanent sterility. It involves cutting and tying the tubes which carry sperm. In exceptional circumstances this operation can be reversed, but the operation should be regarded as irreversible.
Vasectomy can be performed under local or general anaesthetic. Even if you have a general anaesthetic, some local anaesthetic will be injected into the wound in order to provide pain relief after the operation.
Before your operation
If you are having a general anaesthetic, you will have a pre-screening appointment to assess your suitability for day surgery, before you are given a date for your operation.
At this appointment the nurse will take details of your:
- medical history
- current medication
- home care arrangements after you havePlease use this opportunity to ask any questions about your surgery and aftercare. Where possible, the nurse will arrange a mutually convenient date for your surgery. S/he will also give you instructions about preparing for your operation, which will include advice about:
- having a bath or shower before you come to the hospital
- eating and drinking
- taking your normal medication, if appropriate. Note: Unless advised otherwise, if you normally take aspirin daily you should continue to take it. If you take clopidogrel, this should be stopped 1 week prior to your operation.
- returning to work after surgery
On the day of surgery
you should have a bath or shower before you come to hospital. If you normally wear contact lenses, you will need to remove these before your operation. Please bring your spectacles or an extra pair of contact lenses with you.On admission to the unit you will be greeted by a nurse who will check that your details are correct. The surgeon and the anaesthetist (if you are having a general anaesthetic) will talk to you and you will be invited to ask any questions you may have. A member of staff will escort you, as you walk to the operating theatre.
Following your operation
You will be transferred to the ward area where nurses will continue to monitor your condition. If you feel any discomfort, please inform the nurse looking after you, so that pain relief can be given.You will need to have something to eat and drink, before you can go home. After about 1-2 hours, if the nurse feels you are sufficiently recovered, you may be discharged home. You will not be allowed to drive yourself home (unless specifically advised otherwise) and therefore should arrange for someone to collect you from the unit.
Care at home
You may notice some bruising or swelling and, to help prevent this, you should rest for the first 24 hours after your operation.
Any bruising or swelling should disappear over the next few days but, if excessive, you should contact your General Practitioner. The stitches in your wounds may be dissolvable and the nurse will inform you of this before you leave the unit. If they do not dissolve, or become uncomfortable, you may need to see your Practice Nurse to have them removed.
Should the need arise, the day unit staff will give you a letter for the Practice Nurse. There is no need for a dressing, but a daily shower, and change of underwear is required. Please do not have a bath or submerge in water for 2 weeks.
Wear the scrotal support provided, or close fitting underpants to give your scrotum support. You may need up to 1 week off work and you should not do any heavy lifting for 7 to 10 days. It is sensible to avoid sport for at least one week.
You need to provide two semen samples, following your operation, and these will be inspected to confirm the absence of sperm. The nurse will provide you with two specimen pots and advise you when you need to produce the samples – usually 3-6 months, after your operation.
The samples should be produced, a week apart, and each specimen should be brought to the Pathology Department at the hospital, within two hours of production. Please do not bring samples to the Day Unit. You may have intercourse as soon as you feel comfortable, but you must use some form of contraception until you get confirmation of the absence of sperm.
Remember, you are still fertile until the sperm tests are clear
In some cases you may experience discomfort, particularly after intercourse, for months or years following your vasectomy, but this rarely requires any specific treatment.
On extremely rare occasions, the tubes may rejoin, months or even years later, making you fertile again, despite previous confirmation of sterility.
Back to topPossible complications
Please contact your GP, if you develop:
- a temperature
- fresh bleeding or bruising
- redness or swelling at the operation site
- pus or drainage from the operation site
- prolonged or severe pain
If you have any problems or cause for concern contact:
Your General Practitioner or the relevant Day Unit:
