Will it hurt?
The procedure will be performed under local or general anaesthetic, so the actual operation should be painless. After the operation, most men do feel some discomfort for a week or so. During this time it is important to relax as much as possible, and not take any strenuous exercise. If you do experience discomfort or pain, painkillers should work. But if not, make sure you talk to your bpas clinic or your doctor.

What complications could occur?
About one per cent of men do develop a problem after their vasectomy. Most of these problems are minor and will get better without treatment. It is best to rest after the vasectomy to minimise the risk of bruising or swelling. Non scalpel vasectomies have one-eighth the complication rate of other methods of vasectomy, are quicker to perform, and men are reported to be more comfortable after this procedure.

There are no known long-term effects associated with having a vasectomy. However a very small number of men can occasionally suffer from minor testicular pain.

Will my sex drive be affected?
No. You will still have erections and produce the same amount of semen when you ejaculate. The only difference is that the semen won’t contain sperm. Your body will still produce sperm, but they can't travel out through your penis and are naturally reabsorbed by the body. Some men say that the ‘freedom’ of not worrying about their partners’ contraception helps and even improves their sexual activity.

What are the disadvantages of vasectomy?
You can’t rely on vasectomy to avoid pregnancy until you have had two sperm tests after the procedure.

And vasectomy does not protect you from STIs.

Does anyone need to know I’ve had a vasectomy?
You do not need your partner’s agreement although we do recommend that you discuss such an important decision with them. We will not inform anyone – including your GP – without your permission.

When can I go back to work and to the gym?
You will only be at the clinic for about an hour – the operation takes less than half of that. bpas carry out their non-scalpel operations on Fridays so that you are able to have the weekend to recover. If you have a very physical job, you may need as much as a week off work. You should avoid any physical sports or going to the gym for a couple of weeks after your operation. bpas is happy to advise you on your own situation.

What are the alternatives?
Other contraceptive options include female sterilisation and long acting reversible contraception for women, both of which can be provided by bpas. However, female sterilisation (involving the sealing or severing of a woman’s fallopian tubes) has a slightly lower success rate than vasectomy, has a higher risk of complication, and takes far longer to recover from.

What about vasectomy reversal?
Click here for more information on vasectomy reversal.

Contact bpas
To book a fast and convenient appointment call 08457 30 40 30 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              08457 30 40 30      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              08457 30 40 30      end_of_the_skype_highlighting and speak to one of our trained vasectomy advisors, our contact centre is open 7 days a week. If you are calling from outside the UK, please call +44 1789 416569 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              +44 1789 416569      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              +44 1789 416569      end_of_the_skype_highlighting