Vasectomy

Preparation for the vasectomy

• To avoid infection, the vasectomy is performed under sterile conditions. The scrotum must therefore be completely shaved before the procedure. Do not use a razor, but a trimmer or clipper instead.
• Wash yourself thoroughly on the day of the operation to avoid infection.
• You can eat and drink as usual on the day of the operation, you must not sober remain.
• Bring a pair of tight trousers or swimming trunks that you can wear for 24 hours after the operation.
• Take the day of the operation off work.
• If you are taking blood-thinning medication, you should mention this when you make your appointment. Your doctor will then advise you whether and for how long you need to stop taking this medication before the procedure.

The intervention

The vasectomy is performed under local anaesthetic and takes about 25 minutes.
After disinfecting the scrotum, two small incisions are made in the skin of the scrotum. The vas deferens are exposed. A piece of both vas deferens is removed and the ends are connected with sutures. The skin wounds are then closed with sutures. As the vas deferens run through the inguinal canal, there may be a pulling sensation in the groin and/or lower abdomen during the procedure.

After the procedure

• You can return home straight after the procedure. It is advisable to have someone drive you home so that you do not have to drive yourself.
• Wear tight-fitting trousers for the first few days. In the first 24 hours, we also recommend cooling the scrotum with a cool pack (wear the cool pack between two pairs of trousers so that it does not come into direct contact with the skin).
• Avoid strenuous physical activity for the first 5-7 days.
• Bathing or swimming is not recommended for a week. However, you can shower as normal from the day after the procedure.
• Sexual contact is not recommended during the first week.

Remember that you may only have unprotected sexual intercourse without hesitation once it has been proven that No more sperm in the seminal fluid are. You can submit the first semen sample to your urologist after 16 ejaculations at the earliest or after 3 months at the latest. The second sample 6-12 months after the operation.

Side effects and complications: Vasectomy

Serious complications are very rare after a vasectomy. However, mild side effects may occur after the procedure, such as

• Swelling and (bluish) discolouration of the scrotum/penis. This is temporary and disappears by itself after 1-2 weeks.
• Pain and a painful feeling in the testicles or pain when walking. This usually lasts a few days. In 1% men it can be permanent.
• Sometimes a feeling of congestion occurs after sterilisation. This can lead to pain before ejaculation. This is usually temporary.
• Sometimes a small clot forms at the dense end of the vas deferens after the procedure. This is an accumulation of sperm. It is harmless and does not need to be treated.
• As the operation is performed close to the blood vessels to the testicles and these can be damaged, the blood flow to the testicles can be impaired. The testicle then becomes smaller, but this is a rare occurrence.

Please contact a doctor if,...

• you develop a fever (over 38.5 °C).
• there is severe swelling and/or reddening of the scrotum.
• the wound continues to bleed.
• you are in (very) great pain.

Result of the vasectomy

In the first three months after sterilisation, live sperm are still released during ejaculation. Therefore, during this time you should use a Use another contraceptive. Three months after the procedure, you should have a semen analysis to determine whether there are still live sperm in your semen and whether they are moving. If no sperm or less than 100,000 immobile sperm are found during the examination, you are considered infertile and the sterilisation was successful.

Good to know

1. Sperm tests are carried out at the hospital in Weert (St Jans Gasthuis) (or of course at your urologist). In order to be able to interpret the results of the sperm test correctly, it is important that the sperm fulfil certain conditions. This will be explained to you after the test.
2. There is a very small chance that the ends of the vas deferens will grow back together (even after a long time) so that sperm cells can get back into the seminal fluid. This occurs in around 1 in 1,000 men.

FAQ - Vasectomy

We have compiled a list of frequently asked questions about vasectomy for you here.

What does vasectomy mean?

A vasectomy is the sterilisation of a man. This involves cutting the male vas deferens by means of a small surgical procedure on the testicles.

Who can I contact if I wish to undergo sterilisation?

A vasectomy is performed by specialists in urology, in specialised clinics such as the Acura clinic or urological practices. In addition to urology specialists, you can also contact the relevant counselling centres for advice on a possible procedure.

Can complications occur during the procedure?

Compared to female sterilisation, vasectomy is a low-risk procedure. Slight pain, bruising and swelling may occur on the first day, but these are not prolonged. Wound healing disorders or post-operative bleeding are very rare. However, it remains an operation in which complications cannot be completely ruled out.

Is pain to be expected during the procedure?

The operation is usually painless. The short prick of the needle can only be felt during local anaesthesia.

Is male sterilisation easier than female sterilisation?

Yes, as male sterilisation is a minimally invasive procedure that can generally be performed under local anaesthetic. Female sterilisation must be performed under general anaesthetic.

How safe is vasectomy contraception?

How safe is vasectomy contraception? Vasectomy is clearly the safest contraceptive method for men. Statistically, around one in 2000 partners of sterilised men becomes pregnant, regardless of the method of operation.

How long does the vasectomy procedure take?

Depending on the type of anaesthetic and the method used, male sterilisation takes between 20 and 40 minutes.

When can you become sexually active again?

In order not to impair wound healing, sexual intercourse should be avoided for about a week, depending on the type of procedure. However, it is important to choose an additional contraceptive method, as there are still sperm capable of fertilisation in the ejaculate in the weeks following the vasectomy.

Is the man unable to conceive immediately after the vasectomy?

No, it will be several months before you are completely unable to conceive. It is therefore essential to use additional contraception. The urologist performing the operation will carry out spermiograms at regular intervals to check whether there are still sperm cells in the ejaculate that are capable of fertilisation. Infertility is only confirmed when there are no sperm left.

What happens to the sperm after a vasectomy?

Semen continues to be produced in the testicles, but is absorbed by the body. It is assumed that production decreases over time.

What about sexuality and potency after a vasectomy?

Orgasm and hormone production are not affected by the procedure. The ejaculate of a vasectomised man only changes insofar as there are no more sperm in the seminal fluid after the procedure. The number of sperm only accounts for approx. 5 % of the fluid. Otherwise, there is no visible difference in quantity, consistency or colour. The male hormone testosterone is also still produced in the testicles, so that potency is not impaired.

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