When deciding to get a vasectomy, you should speak with both your doctor and your loved ones to ensure you’re supported in making the right choice for you While talking is necessary, it can be difficult to begin those conversations and know what to say, so we’ve created this guide to help you talk about getting a vasectomy.
Talking to Your Doctor
When you’re thinking about getting a vasectomy, it’s important to talk to you GP. While vasectomies are safe, you still should talk with your doctor about the health effects of having a vasectomy. Many questions you have could be answered already online, but the online world doesn’t have any knowledge about the specific quirks of your body or your medical history, so it’s best to corroborate anything you learn online by having a conversation with your doctor. Some questions you may want to ask are:
What is a vasectomy?
As we specialise in providing vasectomies, we can actually answer this one for you – a vasectomy is a medical procedure that involves cutting the vas deferens (the tube that sperm travels through to get from the scrotum to the urethra) to prevent sperm from exiting the penis during ejaculation. There are many different ways of performing this procedure, so you should talk to your doctor about which procedure would work best for you.
Will I be able to conceive a child afterwards?
Vasectomies are the most effective form of birth control with a success rate of 99%. Therefore, you are not expected to conceive the natural way post a successful vasectomy. You may be successful in conceiving a child via testicular sperm aspiration (TSA) for IVF purposes, however, if this is your plan, we strongly advice you against having a vasectomy. If you have questions in regards to a vasectomy and TSA, you should discuss this with your doctor.
Are vasectomies permanent?
Yes. While some people have been able to successfully reverse their vasectomy, there is no guarantee that you will be able to reverse your vasectomy once you have it. This is why you should always treat vasectomies as permanent. If there is a chance you may want to have a child in the future, you should discuss this with your doctor as getting a vasectomy is not be the right choice for you.
What should I do to prepare for my vasectomy?
The main thing you need to do before getting your vasectomy is rest and look after yourself, this includes eating a healthy breakfast on the morning of your procedure. Beyond that, you should try avoiding taking aspirin and any other kind of medication that thins the blood in the week before the procedure as blood thinners effect the blood’s ability to clot. On the morning of your procedure, you should have a shower and shave your scrotum.
How long should it take to recover after a vasectomy?
It is expected you rest for 2 days. Most men will only require the use of paracetamol in the first 24 hours post a vasectomy. If you’re an office worker, you can return to work in 2 days. If you notice some swelling, you can apply an ice pack to the area to assist in your recovery. You should be able to return to your normal, daily life within 48 hours of the procedure, though we recommend not doing anything too physically demanding in the week after your procedure (this includes sex). You should ask your doctor about what side-effects are normal following a vasectomy so you can better tell whether you’re recovering as you should.
Talking to Your Loved Ones
While you should always have final say in what you do with your body, when you’re part of a family unit it’s important to understand that your decision to remove your ability to conceive a child will impact everyone. The person who is most relevant in making your final decision is your partner – some things you should discuss with them before getting a vasectomy include:
Whether they want another child
Most people who get vasectomies already have children and have decided that they don’t want any more. While you may not want another child, you need to make sure your partner is on the same page as you before you commit to getting a vasectomy. Conceiving and raising children should be a mutual decision in a relationship, so making a unilateral decision to have no more children could cause problems in your relationship.
Which contraceptive methods work best for your relationship
If you’re not currently trying to conceive, then you and your partner should be using contraceptives. You should discuss whether a vasectomy is the best contraceptive for you and your relationship and talk about how contraceptives will be used going forward. For example, if your partner is currently taking oral contraceptives, they may choose to stop after you get a vasectomy.
Finding the Right Vasectomy Clinic
Once you’re ready to get a vasectomy, you need to find the right provider for you. At Circumcision Vasectomy Australia, we can provide same-day vasectomies without the need for a referral from your GP. You can organise a consultation with us so you can have all your vasectomy questions answered and be sure that this is the right procedure for you. We ensure our patients are well-informed, well looked after, and experience minimal discomfort – contact us now to organise a consult.
