About this page. This is a plain English summary of vasectomy. It does not replace medical advice from your own doctor or specialist.
For full information and references, please read the detailed page.
The most important point first
A vasectomy should be considered permanent. Although reversal is sometimes possible, it does not always work. Before booking a vasectomy, Dr Kooner encourages a careful conversation between you and your partner about whether you are sure you do not want any (more) children.
If you are not sure, it is better to use a different form of contraception for now and revisit the decision later.
What the procedure involves
A vasectomy can be done either under local anaesthetic or under a light general anaesthetic. The vas deferens (the tube that carries sperm from the testicle) is found through a small opening in the scrotum, and a small segment is removed. Dr Kooner ties off the upper end and tucks the lower end into a separate tissue plane, which reduces the chance of the two ends rejoining.
It is a day procedure - you go home the same day. Most men are comfortable enough the next day to return to non-strenuous work.
What to expect afterwards
- You are not sterile straight away. Sperm already in the system have to clear out. A semen sample is checked at 2 to 3 months to confirm there are no sperm. Until that test is clear, you still need contraception.
- There is a small chance - about 1 in 3,000 - that the two ends rejoin on their own (called spontaneous recanalisation), so the contraceptive effect is not absolutely guaranteed.
- A small number of men get ongoing scrotal discomfort afterwards (post-vasectomy pain syndrome).
- Bruising and some local swelling are common in the first week and settle on their own.
Storing sperm
If you would like to keep the option of future fertility, sperm storage can be arranged before your vasectomy. This is something to discuss with your specialist beforehand.
Important things to know
- Treat vasectomy as permanent - reversal is possible but not always successful, and is not usually covered.
- You are not sterile until you have a clear sperm count test, usually around 3 months.
- The small failure rate (around 1 in 3,000) means vasectomy is one of the most reliable forms of contraception available, but not 100%.
- A vasectomy does not protect against sexually transmitted infections.
- Your testicles continue to make testosterone normally - vasectomy does not change libido, erections, or how it feels.
What you can do next
- Read the full detailed page with references and patient brochures (including vasectomy reversal and the sperm count test).
- Other plain English pages.
- Request a second opinion if you are unsure.
- Call 02 8382 6980 to make an appointment.