Vasectomy

Vasectomy Care at UVM Health

A vasectomy is a minimally invasive procedure that safely and effectively blocks sperm from reaching the semen during ejaculation. Also called male birth control, a vasectomy prevents pregnancy.

Choosing whether or not to have a vasectomy is a major decision. Our caring and skilled professionals talk with you and answer all your questions. Our board-certified urologists take the time to understand your needs and goals, and we offer support as you make decisions about your options. We ensure you have the information you need to make the right choice for you and your family.

Why Choose UVM Health?

For vasectomy care, University of Vermont Health offers:

Expertise and experience: Our board-certified urologists have decades of experience performing vasectomies. Additionally, our dedicated urology nurses are highly skilled in caring for those who are preparing for, undergoing and recovering from a vasectomy.
Personalized care: You see the same physician from your pre-surgery consultation through your post-surgery check-up(s). Your physician is available to address questions and concerns throughout the process.
Complete information: We make sure you understand the vasectomy procedure and are confident in your decision. We also explain your family planning options, including the ability to freeze sperm for use as part of intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF).

What to Expect From a Vasectomy

At UVM Health, we perform hundreds of vasectomies each year. You can feel confident that you are receiving world-class, compassionate care before, during and after your procedure.

Pre-Procedure Consultation

Before you schedule a vasectomy, we meet with you to explain the procedure, what you can expect and how you should prepare. The goal of this consultation is to ensure you understand that a vasectomy:

Does not impact your sex life. A vasectomy does not alter your sex drive or ability to have erections. The amount of semen you release when you ejaculate is the same, but the semen will not contain sperm.
Does not cause severe pain. You may experience some pain during and after the procedure. Most men report their pain is minor and goes away after a few days.
Is permanent. Vasectomy reversals are possible, but they are difficult and may not work. You should consider a vasectomy to be permanent birth control.

Vasectomy Procedure

Most vasectomies take place in the provider's office. The procedure takes about 30 minutes from start to finish. Before the procedure you may request medication to help you relax. After cleaning the area, your provider:

Uses medication to numb your scrotum
Makes a tiny cut or pinhole (no-scalpel vasectomy) in the scrotum to locate the vas deferens, the tubes that carry sperm from the testicles to the urethra
Pulls a small section of the vas deferens out of the scrotum
Cuts the vas deferens and seals the ends with sutures or heat (cauterization)
Returns the ends of the vas deferens to the scrotum
Closes the incision or allows the pinhole to heal on its own

After Your Vasectomy

You should be able to go home right after surgery. If we gave you medicine to help you relax, you will need someone to drive you home.

When you return home, you should:

Rest for the remainder of the day
Hold an ice pack or cold pack against your scrotum for 10 to 20 minutes at a time to help with pain and swelling
Wear snug underwear or compression shorts to help ease discomfort and protect the area
Avoid heavy lifting for a week

Resuming Sexual Intercourse

You can resume sexual intercourse as soon as you are comfortable. Most men find this takes about a week. However, you can still get your partner pregnant until tests confirm there is no sperm in your semen. You should use another form of birth control until then.

We will test your sperm count two to four months after your vasectomy. When your sperm count reaches zero, you do not need another form of birth control. After your provider confirms that you are sterile, vasectomy is 99.9% effective at preventing pregnancy.