This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Male sterilization

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Vasectomy is a surgical procedure used to produce male sterilisation. It is a relatively simple procedure performed under local anaesthetic and associated with minimal morbidity.

The vas deferens is identified at the top of the scrotum by palpation and separated from adjacent blood vessels. Part or all of it is then excised

The patient must be warned that sterility is not immediate and that other forms of contraception should be employed until the ejaculate is confirmed to be sperm free.

Two negative specimens, starting three months after the operation and taken one month apart, are recommended before certifying that the patient is sterile. With these precautions, less than 1 in 1000 sterilisations fail. This is usually the result of recanalisation of the vas (1).

However, DNA-qualified fatherhood has occurred in the absence of clinically-detectable spermatozoa within semen (2).

Reference:

  • Journal of Clinical Epidemiology (1993), 46, 697-927.
  • Smith, J.C., Cranston, D., et al., (1994). Fatherhood without apparent spermatozoa after vasectomy. Lancet; 344: 30.

Create an account to add page annotations

Add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation, such as a web address or phone number. This information will always be displayed when you visit this page

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.