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Our goal is to make sure you have everything you need so you can make the right decision on, if a vasectomy is right for you. Here’s how it all goes down.
The process
Step One
If you’re like us, you want easy to digest information, upfront costs and know what you’re going to get. Blanks is a service that can help you with all three.
A vasectomy is a simple procedure to stop the flow of sperm into the ejaculate. Ejaculate contains both sperm and semen.
The procedure typically takes about 15 – 20 minutes.
A vasectomy is a simple procedure where the vas deferens (vas) is cut to cause sterilisation in a male by stopping the flow of sperm into the ejaculate. The vas is a tube that carries sperm from the testes, where it is made, to the penis. On the way, sperm is joined by semen so your ejaculate contains both sperm and semen.
Sperm makes up a very small percentage (less than 5%), and therefore most men will not notice any change in the volume of their ejaculate after a vasectomy.
Step Two
Everyone is different, so once we know what works best for you we can book you in for a time that suits you.
Our specialists use the no-scalpel vasectomy technique, which only involves one tiny hole being made to perform the procedure.
No stitches are needed to close the opening, which heals quickly, without leaving a scar.
To prepare for your vasectomy please follow these instructions:
1. Cease any blood thinning medication at least 7 days prior to your procedure. You may wish to discuss this with your GP or specialist. If you are unsure please call 0800 BLANKS (0800 252 657) or email info@blanks.co.nz
2. On the morning of your procedure, please shave your full scrotum (front and back) with a razor. It is better to shave more rather than less, so if you are in doubt about how much to take off, shave it all.
3. Make sure you have some time off work planned if you have a physical job, or you have arranged light duties with no heavy lifting (any lifting that involves straining) for 7 days after your procedure.
4. Please read our consent form and bring this with you to the procedure. Don’t worry if you forget it, we will have more available on the day.
Step Three
You show up for your appointment, after the procedure plan to only take on light duties – that means no heavy lifting!
We do everything we can to reduce the rate of complications but all surgical procedures have risks you should be aware of. A full list of potential complications are outlined fully in the consent form.
We do everything we can to reduce the rate of complications but all surgical procedures have risks you should be aware of. A full list of potential complications are outlined fully in your consent form.
After your vasectomy most men notice some level of:
Bruising: You may notice some bruising in the days after your vasectomy which usually disappears within a week or so.
Mild pain and swelling: This commonly settles a few days after your procedure.
Less common potential complications include:
A scrotal haematoma: This is a large bruise within the scrotum. You can reduce your chance of getting a haematoma greatly by following our instructions regarding lifting heavy objects in the days after the procedure. If you work in a job that requires heavy lifting make sure you get some time off work or ask for light duties.
Infection: We adhere to strict infection control protocol to ensure we reduce the chance of you getting an infection. Most infections are mild and can be treated with oral antibiotics.
Post Vasectomy Pain Syndrome (PVPS): This complication can occur anytime after a vasectomy. There is little agreement on what causes PVPS. In most cases pain will resolve eventually but in rare cases specialist review and even additional surgery or reversal may be required to attempt to resolve the problem. These procedures are not always successful.
Step Four
After the procedure, plan to only take on light duties – that means no heavy lifting!
The average time to feeling back to normal is about 7 days, for some men it’s less, others up to 2 weeks.
You can drive home, head back to work (light duties only) and even jump back in the sack in as little as 2 – 3 days if it is comfortable to do so. Most men can resume sexual activity after about 1 week.
The procedure does not work immediately and you must consider yourself fertile until we tell you the vasectomy was a success.
We request you do a semen analysis at 3 months to confirm you are sterile. This will give you plenty of time to “clean out the pipes”!
The benefits.
- Safe
Our Specialists perform all vasectomy under local anaesthetic. Most procedures take less than 15 minutes, and our no-scalpel technique means a quicker recovery so you can get back to making sex faces usually within 7 days.
- Effective
Greater than 99%
success rate.
- No-Scalpel Vasectomy
Our specialists use the no-scalpel vasectomy technique, which differs from the conventional vasectomy as there are no incisions or stitches.
The no-scalpel method uses blunt dissection and usually only involves one hole being made through which the vas from both sides is accessed. The no-scalpel technique results in lower complication rates such as bruising and bleeding.
No stitches are needed to close the opening, which heals quickly, without leaving a scar.
- Affordable
We’re all about supporting families through healthcare decisions. We offer payment plans of 10 interest free payments to cover the cost of your procedure.
The total cost of the procedure will need to be made before we book in the service.
Preparing for your vasectomy.
Like any minor surgical procedure, there are risks of bruising, discomfort and infection. These are generally mild, and can be minimised by resting, and wearing supportive underpants for a few days after the procedure. Simple measures such as frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel work well as a first measure, as well as Paracetamol and/or Ibuprofen.
If your work is very physical and involves heavy lifting or extreme movement, then you will need to go on light duties for a week after the vasectomy. If light duties are not possible we are happy to provide a medical certificate for up to 2 weeks.
If you are desk based or quite sedentary in your work, then you should be able to return to work the day after having your vasectomy. Try to avoid sitting for long periods, bike riding and contact sports for the first 2-3 weeks. It is normal to experience a background aching feeling for one to two weeks post-vasectomy. It will eventually go away. Take Paracetamol and/or Ibuprofen as required.
Frequently Asked Questions.
What & How?
A vasectomy is a simple procedure where the vas deferens (vas) is cut to cause sterilisation in a male by stopping the flow of sperm into the ejaculate. The vas is a tube that carries sperm from the testes, where it is made, to the penis. On the way, sperm is joined by semen so your ejaculate contains both sperm and semen.
Sperm makes up a very small percentage (less than 5%), and therefore most men will not notice any change in the volume of their ejaculate after a vasectomy.
Our specialists use the no-scalpel vasectomy technique, which differs from the conventional vasectomy as there are no incisions or stitches. The no-scalpel method uses blunt dissection and usually only involves one hole being made through which the vas from both sides is accessed.
The no-scalpel technique results in lower complication rates such as bruising and bleeding. No stitches are needed to close the opening, which heals quickly, without leaving a scar.
There are a couple of ways to categorise the procedure methods.
Open-ended vs Closed-ended
The open ended technique means that the end of the vas attached to the testicle is left open. This is important because after a vasectomy the testicle keeps making sperm and this sperm needs to go somewhere.
By allowing it to be released into the scrotum it will reduce the incidence of “congestion” or the feeling of pressure from sperm backing up.
The closed-ended technique means the testicular end of the vas is clamped with a suture or a clip.
The procedure typically takes about 15 – 20 minutes.
To prepare for your vasectomy please follow these instructions:
1. Cease any blood thinning medication at least 7 days prior to your procedure. You may wish to discuss this with your GP or specialist. If you are unsure please call 0800 BLANKS (0800 252 657) or email info@blanks.co.nz
2. On the morning of your procedure, please shave your full scrotum (front and back) with a razor. It is better to shave more rather than less, so if you are in doubt about how much to take off, shave it all.
3. Make sure you have some time off work planned if you have a physical job, or you have arranged light duties with no heavy lifting (any lifting that involves straining) for 7 days after your procedure.
4. Please read our consent form and bring this with you to the procedure. Don’t worry if you forget it, we will have more available on the day.
The Procedure
No you can book directly through us.
We do everything we can to reduce the rate of complications but all surgical procedures have risks you should be aware of. A full list of potential complications are outlined fully in the consent form.
After your vasectomy most men notice some level of:
Bruising – You may notice some bruising in the days after your vasectomy which usually disappears within a week or so.
Mild pain and swelling – This commonly settles a few days after your procedure.
Less common potential complications include:
A scrotal haematoma – This is a large bruise within the scrotum. You can reduce your chance of getting a haematoma greatly by following our instructions regarding lifting heavy objects in the days after the procedure. If you work in a job that requires heavy lifting make sure you get some time off work or ask for light duties.
Infection – We adhere to strict infection control protocol to ensure we reduce the chance of you getting an infection. Most infections are mild and can be treated with oral antibiotics.
Post Vasectomy Pain Syndrome (PVPS) – This complication can occur anytime after a vasectomy. There is little agreement on what causes PVPS. In most cases pain will resolve eventually but in rare cases specialist review and even additional surgery or reversal may be required to attempt to resolve the problem. These procedures are not always successful.
The procedure does not work immediately and you must consider yourself fertile until we tell you the vasectomy was a success. We request you do a semen analysis at 3 months to confirm you are sterile. This will give you plenty of time to “clean out the pipes”!
If you are asking yourself this question, you should really think twice about getting a vasectomy.
Yes, the procedure can be reversed, but you should consider this procedure as permanent contraception. Reversals are not always effective and are very expensive ($5000+). A second option after vasectomy is direct retrieval of sperm from the testicle, then In Vitro Fertilisation to achieve pregnancy.
Another option is to freeze some of your sperm so that they can be used later. If this is something you would like to consider, talk it over with your doctor or vasectomy counsellor before your operation.
We provide a local anaesthetic for the vasectomy.
Your Recovery
The average time to feeling back to normal is about 7 days, for some men it’s less, others up to 2 weeks.
Yes. It is safe to drive after a vasectomy.
It’s really important not to lift anything too heavy for the first week. If your job doesn’t involve much heavy lifting you can often go straight back to work, but if you are in a job with a lot of lifting you may wish to take some time off or request light duties. We can provide a medical certificate if you want to stay home.
In as little as 2 – 3 days if it is comfortable to do so. Most men can resume sexual activity after about 1 week.