Vasectomy is a surgical procedure for men who do not want to father any children in future. At London Urologica, our team of experts can offer you advice about treatment options and exceptional patient care.
Vasectomy
Also known as: Bilateral vasectomy, permanent male contraception, male sterilisation
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What is it for?
Permanent contraception for men
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Treatment overview
Vasectomy is a quick and simple surgical procedure which stops sperm being released into semen, preventing pregnancy. It is a quick and convenient treatment that is considered 99% effective. It can be a suitable option if you are certain that you do not want to father any children in the future.
Vasectomy is usually carried out under local anaesthetic that is injected into the scrotum. During the procedure, a small incision is made in the testes.
A cut is then made to the vas deferens – the tube that carries sperm from the testes to the semen – and a small section removed to stop it re-joining.
The ends are sealed with heat, stitches or clips. Dissolvable stitches are used to repair the incision. At London Urologica we also offer vasectomy under general anaesthetic and as keyhole surgery (no-scalpel vasectomy). Your doctor will discuss these options with you.
A vasectomy is usually carried out as a day case so you can go home the same day.
At London Urologica, our team of experts can discuss whether it will be suitable for you, as well as provide advice on other methods of contraception. There is a low risk of infection following a vasectomy or of sperm leaking into the testes, which will require treatment.
You may experience some bruising, soreness and swelling after a vasectomy but this normally fades over a few days. You may also notice blood in your semen for a short time. Some men experience some pain which fades in the weeks after a vasectomy. Occasionally, pain may last longer than this. There is a low risk of infection following a vasectomy or of sperm leaking into the testes, which will require treatment. An advantage of vasectomy is that it does not affect hormone levels, so your libido (sex drive) will be unaffected. Vasectomy does not provide protection against sexually transmitted infections.
Vasectomy should be considered permanent. Although an operation can be carried out to attempt to reverse the procedure, it is often not successful. If you are concerned that you might change your mind about having a vasectomy in the future, you should consider delaying the procedure until a time when you might be more comfortable with your decision. There are many other reversible contraceptive options available and our team at London Urologica will be happy to discuss these with you.
Having a vasectomy is a significant decision. Although it is not a legal requirement, we recommend that you discuss your decision with your partner before deciding to go ahead. At London Urologica, our team will be able to provide all the guidance and advice you need, including offering counselling if required.
Recovery from a vasectomy is normally straightforward and you should be able to return to work and your normal activities after one or two days. You will need to abstain from having sex for the first seven days. After around 8 to 12 weeks, you will be able to have a test at London Urologica to confirm that vasectomy has been successful and that your semen no longer contains sperm.
We offer Fixed Price Packages
Where possible, we’ll provide a fixed-price package for your hospital care. This covers your hospital stay, nursing, and use of our facilities, giving you a clear guide to what those costs will be.
- Pre-op assessment
- Hospital stay, nursing care and meals
- Tests, scans and physio during your stay
- Take-home medication (up to 5 days)
- Post-op follow-up appointments
- Standard equipment or prosthesis (if needed)
- Unplanned extended stay or ITU (if clinically required)
- Initial consultation and any tests done during it
- Consultant and anaesthetist fees (quoted separately)
- Physio or therapy before or after your stay
- Diagnostics before admission (unless agreed in your plan)
- Specialist medication beyond 5 days
- Ambulance transport or bespoke prosthetics
Your consultant’s fees are quoted separately and shared directly by their office after your consultation. These professional fees cover the time, expertise, and care provided by your consultant before, during, and after your treatment. See our full terms and conditions
Why choose The London Clinic?
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Full intensive care on-site
World-class 13-bed ICU for expert support if your care becomes complex.
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0% Finance Options
We’ve teamed up with Chrysalis to offer you funding options that allow you to spread the cost of your treatment.
If you choose to pay for your treatment at The London Clinic over 12 months, you can make use of a great 0% interest option and pay nothing extra. Or you can choose to pay over two to five years at 14.9% APR.
Trustees of the London Clinic Ltd trading as The London Clinic is an Appointed Representative of Chrysalis Finance Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The London Clinic is a credit broker, not a lender. The provider of a payment scheme which is not offered through or by Chrysalis Finance Limited may not be so authorised and regulated. Cancer treatments or transplants aren’t covered by finance packages. Finance options are only available for UK patients.