Can you have vasectomy on nhs

You should not have a vasectomy if you and your partner are not completely sure, or if you are under any stress. Reversal operations are rarely available on the NHS and are not always successful. There are many other contraceptive methods available. Click for more information. For more information about male and female sterilisation visit the FPA website.

Vasectomy Services Vasectomy is a form of male sterilisation where the tubes are cut or blocked. For Vasectomy information in Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton, please see below: Please be aware that our Vasectomy Patient telephone line has changed to What happens during a vasectomy operation? If you have any concerns or problems it is important to seek medical advice as soon as possible. Information for new patients Information for men awaiting their operation pre-operative Information for men who have had their operation post-operative Information for patients regarding Chronic Post Vasectomy Pain CPVP Please note: All men will be required to sign a consent form after speaking to their surgeon on the day, prior to the procedure.

What if I am not sure if I would like a vasectomy? Usually carried out under local anaesthetic. The doctor will feel for the vas deferens tubes the tubes that carry sperm underneath the skin of your scrotum and then hold them in place using a small clamp. A special instrument is then used to make a tiny puncture hole in the skin of the scrotum. A small pair of forceps is used to open up the hole, allowing the surgeon to access the vas deferens without needing to cut the skin with a scalpel.

The tubes are then closed in the same way as in a conventional vasectomy, either by being tied or sealed. During a no-scalpel vasectomy, there will be little bleeding and no stitches. The procedure is also thought to be less painful and less likely to cause complications than a conventional vasectomy. Wearing close-fitting clean underwear, such as Y-fronts, during the day and at night will help to support your scrotum and will also help ease any discomfort or swelling.

Most men will be fit to return to work one or two days after their vasectomy, but you should avoid sport and heavy lifting for at least one week after the operation. It is considered permanent. It can be reversed but is not always successful and is not usually available on the NHS. After vasectomy it will take up to 20 ejaculations to clear the sperm from the tubes and during this time there is still a risk of pregnancy. At least 8 weeks after the procedure you will need to produce a semen sample which will be checked for sperm.

You will need to use another method of contraception until you have two clear semen tests. It is a big decision to end the part of your life where you could father a child. If you feel anxious or uncomfortable about the procedure, or if you think you would suffer mentally from being infertile, then it is not the best type of contraception for you. You can discuss alternatives with your GP or with a professional at a contraception clinic sometimes called a family planning clinic.

Although prostate cancer and testicular cancer can occur in men who have had a vasectomy, research suggests that vasectomy does not increase your risk of cancer. Your sexual health clinic or GP will ask about your circumstances and provide information and counselling before agreeing to refer you for the procedure.

In some areas, waiting list for vasectomy on the NHS can be quite long. You can pay to have the operation done privately. You should only be sterilised if you are certain that you do not want to have any, or any more, children. If you have any doubts, consider another method of contraception until you are completely sure. We use cookies, but in a good way. Our cookies do not track or store identifiable data.

Previous Next. Vasectomy male sterilisation. How it works Most vasectomies are carried out under local anaesthetic, and you can usually go home the same day. The ends of the tubes are then closed, either by tying them or sealing them using heat. The cuts are stitched, usually using dissolvable stitches that go away on their own within about a week. The doctor first numbs your scrotum with local anaesthetic.

They then make a tiny puncture hole in the skin of your scrotum to reach the tubes. This means they don't need to cut the skin with a scalpel. The tubes are then closed in the same way as a conventional vasectomy, either by being tied or sealed. There's little bleeding and no stitches with this procedure. It's thought to be less painful and less likely to cause complications than a conventional vasectomy.

Your doctor will ask about your circumstances, provide information, and may recommend counselling before agreeing to the procedure. You should only have a vasectomy if you're certain you don't want any more children or don't want children at all. If you have a partner, discuss it with them before you decide. If possible, you should both agree to the procedure, but it's not a legal requirement to get your partner's permission. Once you have had a vasectomy, it's very difficult to reverse it, so consider all options and use another method of contraception until you're completely sure.

Vasectomy reversal isn't usually available on the NHS. You may be more likely to be accepted for a vasectomy if you're over 30 and have had children. But your GP can refuse to carry out the procedure, or refuse to refer you, if they don't believe it's in your best interests.

But waiting lists can be several months, depending on where you live. Speak to your GP or ask at your local contraception clinic for more information. As waiting lists for vasectomies can be long, some men choose to pay to have the procedure carried out privately. It's common to have some mild discomfort, swelling and bruising of your scrotum for a few days after the vasectomy. You can take painkillers, such as paracetamol , to help.

See a GP if it's still painful after taking painkillers. It's common to have blood in your semen in the first few ejaculations after a vasectomy. This isn't harmful. Wear tight-fitting underwear or athletic support day and night for the first few days to help support your scrotum and ease any discomfort or swelling.

Make sure you change your underwear every day. It's usually safe for you to have a bath or shower after your operation — check with your doctor what's suitable for you. Make sure you dry your genital area gently and thoroughly. You can usually return to work 1 or 2 days after a vasectomy, but should avoid sport and heavy lifting for at least a week after the procedure to prevent complications. See a GP if you still have symptoms after a few days. You'll need to use another method of contraception for at least the first 8 to 12 weeks, as it can take this long to clear the remaining sperm in your tubes.

How long this takes varies from man to man. There's still a risk of pregnancy during this time. About 12 weeks after the procedure, you'll need to produce a sample of semen, which will be tested for sperm.

Once tests have confirmed that your semen is sperm-free, the vasectomy is considered successful and you can stop using additional contraception. Some men may need 2 tests. But until it's been confirmed that your semen is free of sperm, continue to use another form of contraception. A few men will continue to have small numbers of sperm in their system, but these sperm don't move and are less likely to make your partner pregnant.

If you're one of these men, your doctor will discuss your options with you. The test also helps to identify the rare cases in which the tubes naturally rejoin themselves. It's possible to have a vasectomy reversed. But the procedure isn't always successful and it's rarely funded by the NHS.

You have a better chance if it's done soon after the vasectomy. Even if a surgeon manages to join up the vas deferens tubes again, pregnancy may still not be possible, so you should be certain before going ahead with the vasectomy.

You should only have a vasectomy if you're sure that you don't want more, or any, children.