To schedule your vasectomy consult with our Urology team today, call (970) 777-2953.
Vasectomy
Vasectomy Procedure
Colorado Mountain Medical’s urology team offers vasectomies and consults for those wanting to discuss the procedure, future planning and options in the procedure. A vasectomy is a medical procedure that involves cutting or removing a portion of the vas deferens (tubes that carry sperm) to permanently prevent pregnancy.
Vasectomy FAQ
A vasectomy is a procedure cutting or removing a portion of the vas deferens (tubes that carry sperm) to permanently prevent pregnancy.
Vasectomies are done as permanent procedures. Although reversals are possible, they are expensive, have higher risks than a vasectomy, and there is no guarantee the reversal will work.
You should plan to stay home for 2-7 days to recover after a vasectomy depending on daily level of activity. For one week following the vasectomy you should not lift over 15 lbs or do any hard exercise.
The outcome of a vasectomy is sterility. The vasectomy will not change any of your sexual abilities. Your ability to have an erection, your ejaculation, and your sex drive will all remain the same.
Vasectomy is highly effective, but no contraception other than abstinence is 100% effective. Luckily, vasectomy is over 99% effective making it one of the most effective forms of contraception.
It does not work right away and you will need to use another form of birth control in the meantime. Three months after the vasectomy there will be a semen analysis to determine if sperm is still present. If sperm is present your provider will reach out and a semen analysis will be repeated at a further date.
A vasectomy is typically a self-pay procedure and the patient is almost always responsible for the cost. However, it is suggested that patients check with their insurance company on coverage level prior to the procedure.
Procedure Overview
What to Expect
Prior to Procedure
The care team may meet with you to talk about:
- Anesthesia options
- Any allergies you may have
- Current medicines, herbs, and supplements that you take and whether you need to stop taking them before the procedure
- Arranging for a ride to and from the procedure
Anesthesia
Specific instructions will be discussed between the patient and physician.
Procedure Description
A vasectomy may be done in one of these ways:
- Conventional approach—One small or single incision will be made bilaterally or on one side of the scrotum. The vas deferens will be pulled through the openings. The tubes will then be cut. A small piece of the tubes may also be removed. The ends of the tube will be sealed off with stitches, clips or cautery. The vas deferens will then be placed back into the scrotum. The incision will be closed with stitches.
- Vas clip vasectomy—The vas deferens will be exposed in either of the two methods described above. Special clips will be placed around each vas deferens and cinched in place. The clips will block the flow of sperm beyond the position of the clip.
How Long Will It Take?
The procedure will take about 20-30 minutes.
Post-Procedure Care
It will take 2-7 days to heal and some activities will be limited during this time. If experiencing discomfort, it is ok to take Tylenol or another non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs as needed. Birth control should be used until tests show that the vasectomy was successful.
When To Contact Your Doctor
Call the doctor if you are not getting better or you have:
- Signs of infection, such as fever and chills
- Redness, swelling, excess bleeding, or discharge from the wounds
- Pain that you cannot control with medicine
If you think you have an emergency, call for medical help right away.