Bilateral Vasectomy
This webpage will give you information about bilateral
vasectomy. If you have any questions, you should ask your GP or
other relevant health professional.
What is a vasectomy?
A vasectomy is meant to be a permanent method of male
contraception. It involves cutting both the tubes (vas) that carry
sperm from your testicles. This prevents sperm from mixing with
semen and reaching your penis (see figure 1).
a - Before a vasectomy
b - After a bilateral vasectomy
So a vasectomy should stop your partner getting pregnant.
What are the benefits of surgery?
As a vasectomy is meant to be permanent, you or your partner
should no longer need to use another form of contraception.
Are there any alternatives to surgery?
There are two common methods of contraception for women, which
have a similarly low failure rate compared to a vasectomy.
- A coil or IUCD.
- Hormone implants.
Other methods of contraception include the oral contraceptive
pill and female sterilisation.
For men, the only safe form of contraception, other than a
vasectomy, is to use a condom.
What does the operation involve?
A vasectomy is performed under a local or general anaesthetic.
The operation usually takes about a quarter of an hour.
Your surgeon will make two cuts on each side of your scrotum or
just a single cut in the middle of your scrotum. They will cut the
tubes that carry sperm from each testicle to your penis and then
close the ends.
What complications can happen?
1 General complications
- Pain
- Bleeding
- Infection in the surgical site (wound) or in the scrotum
2 Specific complications
- Becoming fertile again
- Long-term pain in the testicles
- Congestive epididymitis
- Sperm granuloma
How soon will I recover?
You should be able to go home the same day.
Your testicles will probably ache for the first few days.
You should be able to return to work after a couple of days.
However, if your work involves strenuous physical activity, you may
need to stay off work for about a week.
Regular exercise should help you to return to normal activities
as soon as possible. Before you start exercising, you should ask a
member of the healthcare team or your GP for advice.
About three months after the operation your doctor will ask you
to give two samples of your semen a few weeks apart. The samples
will be tested to find out if there are any sperm left.
Summary
A vasectomy is an operation to cut the tubes that carry sperm
from your testicles. It is a permanent and effective method of male
contraception.
Acknowledgements
Author: Mr John Lemberger FRCS
Illustrations: Hannah Ravenscroft RM
This document is intended for information purposes only and
should not replace advice that your relevant health professional
would give you.
Copyright © 2011 EIDO Healthcare Limited
The operation and treatment information on this website is produced
by EIDO Healthcare Ltd and is licensed by Ramsay Health Care
UK. The intellectual property rights to the information belong
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You may not copy, print out, download or otherwise reproduce any
of the information other than for your personal, non-commercial
use.
The information should not replace advice that your relevant
health professional would give you.