Getting ‘the snip’: common questions on vasectomies answered

Written in association with: Professor Francis Chinegwundoh MBE
Published:
Edited by: Cameron Gibson-Watt

A vasectomy is a safe and effective form of birth control for men who are very sure they don’t want to father children in the future. But what happens during the procedure and how quickly does it take to work?


In this article, top consultant urologist Professor Francis Chinegwundoh from London, answers some of the most frequently asked questions by men who are considering getting ‘the snip’.

 

 

What happens during a vasectomy?

A vasectomy is the surgical procedure to render a man sterile, that is to say, incapable of naturally fathering (more) children.

 

The vasa are the thin tubes that carry the sperm from the testicles to the prostate, from which they are discharged when the man ejaculates (climaxes).

 

A vasectomy, which is done on both sides, involves dividing these thin tubes which lie next to the testicles in the scrotum. A bit of each vas is removed - hence the term the ‘snip’. The ends are then tied off to prevent any new sperm getting across the gap.

 

Is a vasectomy effective immediately?

A man is not sterile immediately afterwards. Sperm already in the tubes, downstream of the snip, still need to be discharged. Men are therefore asked to provide a semen sample four months after a vasectomy to check that there are no more sperm coming through when they ejaculate.

 

Most of the normal ejaculate is fluid made by the prostate and seminal vesicles, so there is no noticeable reduction in the volume of ejaculate after vasectomy. The more the man ejaculates, the faster the sperm in the tubes will be cleared.

 

Is a vasectomy 100% effective?

A vasectomy is 99.9% effective. Occassionally, the tubes somehow rejoin and pregnancy results. This is thought to happen to 1 in 2500 vasectomies, however, I have not come across a case in my 24 years as a consultant.

 

Where is the needle injected?

If the vasectomy is done with the man awake, the local anaesthetic injection is placed into the skin to either side of the testicles. The operation takes around 15-20 minutes.

 

During the procedure, the man has to stay very still. For this reason, men may opt to have the operation under general anaesthesia.

 

Does the procedure hurt afterwards?

There may be some mild discomfort afterwards. Men are advised to take paracetamol and avoid strenuous activities for two weeks. It is also a good idea to wear supportive underwear for two weeks.

 

About 1 in 8 men may experience long term scrotal discomfort afterwards. We believe this is due to the sperm that are still being produced having nowhere to go and building up in the testicles before being broken down.

 

Is a vasectomy reversible?

A vasectomy can be reversed but the success is by no means guaranteed. It is best for the man to be certain that he does not want any more children before he undergoes the procedure.

 

If you are interested in undergoing a vasectomy and would like to consult with a highly experienced specialist, visit Professor Francis Chinegwundoh’s Top Doctors profile and book a consultation with him.

By Professor Francis Chinegwundoh MBE
Urology

Professor Francis Chinegwundoh MBE is a renowned consultant urologist based in London, who specialises in treating prostate cancer, benign prostate enlargement, erectile dysfunction, and a wide variety of other urological conditions. Professor Chinegwundoh also provides medicolegal services. In addition to treating patients, he is a widely published researcher, lecturer, and professor, actively involved in teaching and also involved in charity work as Chairman of the charity Cancer Black Care and a trustee of Tackle prostate cancer. He was recognised with an MBE in 2013 for services to the NHS.

Since qualifying in medicine in 1984 from the University of London, Professor Chinegwundoh has accrued a wealth of experience and expertise. He obtained a Master of Surgery degree in 1994 and more recently a Master of Medical Law in 2010. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England and Edinburgh as well as a Fellow of the European Board of Urology. He established and runs the regional prostate low dose brachytherapy service at Barts Health NHS Trust. He has performed over 100 transurethral needle ablation of the prostate for benign prostate enlargement and over 1500 transperineal template prostate biopsies. He is also a medical legal expert.

Professor Chinegwundoh is currently urology lead at Newham University Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust and past chairman of the Prostate Cancer Advisory Group. He serves as an honorary clinical senior lecturer at Queen Mary’s College, University of London and has been an honorary visiting Professor in the School of Health Sciences, City University, London since December 2014.

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