Vasectomy

Firstly, you will have a consultation with your surgeon where a date for your procedure along with instructions discussed.

Your vasectomy procedure will either be done under a local or general anaesthetic at the Dubbo Private Hospital.

A vasectomy is a surgical procedure performed on adult males in which the vasa deferentia (tubes that carry sperm from the testicles to the seminal vesicles) are cut, tied, cauterized or otherwise interrupted. The semen no longer contains sperm after the tubes are cut, so conception cannot occur.

The testicles continue to produce sperm, but they die and are absorbed by the body.

Your scrotum will be numb for 1 to 2 hours after a vasectomy. Apply cold packs to the area and lie on your back as much as possible for the rest of the day. Wearing snug underwear will help ease discomfort and protect the area.

You may have some bruising, swelling and minor pain in your scrotum for several days after the surgery. Over the counter pain medication such as Panadol should control this discomfort. Unless your work is strenuous, you will be able to return to work in 1 or 2 days. Avoid heavy lifting for a week.

You can resume sexual intercourse as soon as you are comfortable. But you can still get your partner pregnant until your sperm count is zero. 3 months after the operation it is necessary to have a sperm count. This will need to be repeated until there is no motile semen seen in the sperm. Prior to collection you will be given a pathology request form, a specimen collection jar as well as the following instructions:-

Collection of semen for laboratory

1.    You must abstain from sexual intercourse or masturbation for 3-5 days prior to the collection of the sample.

2.   Use only the laboratory collection jar provided.

3.   The preferred method of collection is by masturbation. Specimens collected by interrupted intercourse or by the use of a condom are not satisfactory.

4.   It is most important that the entire ejaculate is collected.

5.   Your name, date and the time of collection must be written on the collection sample.

6.   It is most important that the specimen reach the laboratory within two (2) hours of collection.

7.   After collection, the specimen must be kept warm preferably in your pocket.  DO NOT REFRIGERATE THE SPECIMEN.

8.   If you have any problems which you are unsure of, please contact a male laboratory technician, Dubbo on 02 6881 4400.