Have More Questions About Our Non Scalpel Vasectomy Services

Men choose to get the snip for a variety of reasons. It’s an effective, permanent method of birth control that doesn’t need ongoing hormonal treatment.
Book an Appointment Now

How Common is a Vasectomy?

Did you know that Kiwis have one of the highest rates of vasectomies in the world? About 1 in 5 New Zealand men have had a vasectomy, including 1 in 4 married men.1 There’s a good chance that one of your mates has already had the snip, and can tell you what it’s like.

...Who performs a vasectomy?

While vasectomies can be done by specialists in a hospital setting, many non-scalpel vasectomies today are performed by specially-trained GPs in a doctor’s surgery. A vasectomy done under local anaesthetic can take 15 to 30 minutes. At The Cooper Clinic, one of our experienced team members will explain the procedure and answer any questions you or your partner may have along the way.

At The Cooper Clinic, we offer a flat rate of $525 for our vasectomies. This includes pre-operative, procedure and post-operative follow-up. We accept payment by cash, EFTPOS and Credit Card.

You may be able to get this paid-for free vasectomy with approved insurance providers (E.g. Southern Cross, NIB, Partner’s Life etc.)

Sperm travels from the testicles (where they are made) and the epididymis (where they are activated) to the penis through a pair of tubes called the vas deferens (or vas).

A vasectomy works by cutting the vas deferens so that sperm can’t mix with the rest of the ejaculated fluid and leave the body. Only 5 percent of seminal fluid is lost this way, and there’s no noticeable difference to your ejaculate.

Some men find the idea of getting the snip scary. Be assured that at The Cooper Clinic, we’ve carefully treated thousands of men who are very satisfied with their vasectomy experience.

Here are some straight-talking testimonials from guys who have had the snip:

In no-scalpel vasectomy:
 
  • The doctor feels your tubes under the skin and holds them in place with a small clamp.
  • The doctor uses a special instrument to make a 5mm opening over the vas deferens and locates them.
  • Each tube is brought to the surface and cauterised, with our “laser” electrosurgical device called the Hyfrecator.
  • The vas is returned to the scrotum and the opening is left to heal naturally.
  • With a no-scalpel ‘laser’ vasectomy, there is very little bleeding. The opening won’t need stitches, and should heal quickly without leaving a scar.

After a vasectomy, it normally takes a few months for residual sperm to clear out of the ducts. It can help during this time to “clear the tubes” by performing about 20 ejaculations. After 3 months, about 4 in 5 men will have no more live sperm in their semen (for others it takes a bit longer). Until then, you still need to use some other form of contraception.

Plan to stay home and rest after your vasectomy. Expect some soreness and bruising down there for a few days. For most men, over-the-counter pain relief, cold packs and supportive underwear is all that’s needed. Chat with your doctor if you think you need stronger pain relief.

It’s OK to have sex after 7 days, but take it easy. Remember that a vasectomy doesn’t prevent STDs, so you may still need contraception.

You can probably return to light work after two days, but if your work is physically strenuous then you may need up to 1 week off work and then arrange only light duties for the following week.

Avoid heavy lifting, running or other strenuous activities for 7 to 10 days. You will also have to stop non-contact sport for up to 2 weeks and all contact sport for up to 4 weeks.

In some cases, operations aren’t successful and tests show there are still sperm present in semen. This happens in less than 1 in 100 cases. In this case, we will be in touch and offer you a redo free of charge.

No method of contraception is 100 percent effective, but vasectomies come pretty close. Once you’ve had two negative sperm counts, the risk of pregnancy drops to 1 in 2000.

About 1 in 2000 men who have had a vasectomy become fertile again months or even years later, even with an initial negative sperm count. It seems that in these men, the two ends of the cut tubes reconnect over time (recanalisation). Chat with your doctor if you have any concerns about long-term success rates.

It’s possible, but more difficult, to reverse a vasectomy. It’s an operation that is usually done under general anaesthetic by a specialist, and involves re-joining the cut ends of the vas deferens using microsurgery (surgery with the help of a microscope). If done correctly, sperm return to the ejaculate in at least 4 out of 5 vasectomy reversals.

On average, about 40–70 percent of couples achieve a pregnancy over the next 2-3 years of regular sex. Sometimes this is because a man develops sperm antibodies which can stop fertilisation happening.

If you might want more children, one option is to freeze some of your sperm before getting a vasectomy. Another option is assisted reproductive technology (ART) where sperm is directly retrieved from your testicles, followed by in vitro fertilisation (IVF) to achieve pregnancy.

If this is something you would like to consider, talk it over with your GP or vasectomist before your operation. At The Cooper Clinic, we work closely with Fertility Specialists and are able to plan your family planning needs.

It’s possible, but more difficult, to reverse a vasectomy. It’s an operation that is usually done under general anaesthetic by a specialist, and involves re-joining the cut ends of the vas deferens using microsurgery (surgery with the help of a microscope). If done correctly, sperm return to the ejaculate in at least 4 out of 5 vasectomy reversals.

On average, about 40–70 percent of couples achieve a pregnancy over the next 2-3 years of regular sex. Sometimes this is because a man develops sperm antibodies which can stop fertilisation happening.

If you might want more children, one option is to freeze some of your sperm before getting a vasectomy. Another option is assisted reproductive technology (ART) where sperm is directly retrieved from your testicles, followed by in vitro fertilisation (IVF) to achieve pregnancy.

If this is something you would like to consider, talk it over with your GP or vasectomist before your operation. At The Cooper Clinic, we work closely with Fertility Specialists and are able to plan your family planning needs.

There’s currently no clear evidence that vasectomy causes other health problems. Earlier suggestions of a link between vasectomy and getting prostate cancer aren’t backed up by current evidence. For example, a review of 53 studies including over 15 million men couldn’t find any association between vasectomy and serious prostate cancer. *2

There’s no legal requirement for your partner to give consent for a vasectomy. But it’s a good idea to talk through the decision with your partner, since getting the snip will affect both of you. You can also get a vasectomy if you have no partner or children.

No – there’s no evidence that vasectomy changes a man’s sex drive or testosterone (male hormone) levels. A vasectomy won’t interfere with your ability to get an erection, have an orgasm or ejaculate. Any sperm your body makes stops travelling in the epididymis, where it’s reabsorbed into the body just like other unused sperm. The only change is that you won’t be able to father a child.

References:
 
  1. Rebecca Walsh. Vasectomy – the pain NZ men queue to feel (NZ Herald, 10 December 2002). Available at:
    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=3008791
  2. Bhindi B, Wallis CJD, Nayan M et al. The Association Between Vasectomy and Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Intern Med 2017: 177(9): 1273–86. Available at:
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28715534/

Have More Questions About Our Non Scalpel Vasectomy Services

Men choose to get the snip for a variety of reasons. It’s an effective, permanent method of birth control that doesn’t need ongoing hormonal treatment.
Book an Appointment Now

How Common is a Vasectomy?

Did you know that Kiwis have one of the highest rates of vasectomies in the world? About 1 in 5 New Zealand men have had a vasectomy, including 1 in 4 married men.1 There’s a good chance that one of your mates has already had the snip, and can tell you what it’s like.

...Who performs a vasectomy?

While vasectomies can be done by specialists in a hospital setting, many non-scalpel vasectomies today are performed by specially-trained GPs in a doctor’s surgery. A vasectomy done under local anaesthetic can take 15 to 30 minutes. At The Cooper Clinic, one of our experienced team members will explain the procedure and answer any questions you or your partner may have along the way.

At The Cooper Clinic, we offer a flat rate of $525 for our vasectomies. This includes pre-operative, procedure and post-operative follow-up. We accept payment by cash, EFTPOS and Credit Card.

You may be able to get this paid-for free vasectomy with approved insurance providers (E.g. Southern Cross, NIB, Partner’s Life etc.)

Sperm travels from the testicles (where they are made) and the epididymis (where they are activated) to the penis through a pair of tubes called the vas deferens (or vas).

A vasectomy works by cutting the vas deferens so that sperm can’t mix with the rest of the ejaculated fluid and leave the body. Only 5 percent of seminal fluid is lost this way, and there’s no noticeable difference to your ejaculate.

Some men find the idea of getting the snip scary. Be assured that at The Cooper Clinic, we’ve carefully treated thousands of men who are very satisfied with their vasectomy experience.

Here are some straight-talking testimonials from guys who have had the snip:

In no-scalpel vasectomy:
 
  • The doctor feels your tubes under the skin and holds them in place with a small clamp.
  • The doctor uses a special instrument to make a 5mm opening over the vas deferens and locates them.
  • Each tube is brought to the surface and cauterised, with our “laser” electrosurgical device called the Hyfrecator.
  • The vas is returned to the scrotum and the opening is left to heal naturally.
  • With a no-scalpel ‘laser’ vasectomy, there is very little bleeding. The opening won’t need stitches, and should heal quickly without leaving a scar.

After a vasectomy, it normally takes a few months for residual sperm to clear out of the ducts. It can help during this time to “clear the tubes” by performing about 20 ejaculations. After 3 months, about 4 in 5 men will have no more live sperm in their semen (for others it takes a bit longer). Until then, you still need to use some other form of contraception.

Plan to stay home and rest after your vasectomy. Expect some soreness and bruising down there for a few days. For most men, over-the-counter pain relief, cold packs and supportive underwear is all that’s needed. Chat with your doctor if you think you need stronger pain relief.

It’s OK to have sex after 7 days, but take it easy. Remember that a vasectomy doesn’t prevent STDs, so you may still need contraception.

You can probably return to light work after two days, but if your work is physically strenuous then you may need up to 1 week off work and then arrange only light duties for the following week.

Avoid heavy lifting, running or other strenuous activities for 7 to 10 days. You will also have to stop non-contact sport for up to 2 weeks and all contact sport for up to 4 weeks.

In some cases, operations aren’t successful and tests show there are still sperm present in semen. This happens in less than 1 in 100 cases. In this case, we will be in touch and offer you a redo free of charge.

No method of contraception is 100 percent effective, but vasectomies come pretty close. Once you’ve had two negative sperm counts, the risk of pregnancy drops to 1 in 2000.

About 1 in 2000 men who have had a vasectomy become fertile again months or even years later, even with an initial negative sperm count. It seems that in these men, the two ends of the cut tubes reconnect over time (recanalisation). Chat with your doctor if you have any concerns about long-term success rates.

It’s possible, but more difficult, to reverse a vasectomy. It’s an operation that is usually done under general anaesthetic by a specialist, and involves re-joining the cut ends of the vas deferens using microsurgery (surgery with the help of a microscope). If done correctly, sperm return to the ejaculate in at least 4 out of 5 vasectomy reversals.

On average, about 40–70 percent of couples achieve a pregnancy over the next 2-3 years of regular sex. Sometimes this is because a man develops sperm antibodies which can stop fertilisation happening.

If you might want more children, one option is to freeze some of your sperm before getting a vasectomy. Another option is assisted reproductive technology (ART) where sperm is directly retrieved from your testicles, followed by in vitro fertilisation (IVF) to achieve pregnancy.

If this is something you would like to consider, talk it over with your GP or vasectomist before your operation. At The Cooper Clinic, we work closely with Fertility Specialists and are able to plan your family planning needs.

It’s possible, but more difficult, to reverse a vasectomy. It’s an operation that is usually done under general anaesthetic by a specialist, and involves re-joining the cut ends of the vas deferens using microsurgery (surgery with the help of a microscope). If done correctly, sperm return to the ejaculate in at least 4 out of 5 vasectomy reversals.

On average, about 40–70 percent of couples achieve a pregnancy over the next 2-3 years of regular sex. Sometimes this is because a man develops sperm antibodies which can stop fertilisation happening.

If you might want more children, one option is to freeze some of your sperm before getting a vasectomy. Another option is assisted reproductive technology (ART) where sperm is directly retrieved from your testicles, followed by in vitro fertilisation (IVF) to achieve pregnancy.

If this is something you would like to consider, talk it over with your GP or vasectomist before your operation. At The Cooper Clinic, we work closely with Fertility Specialists and are able to plan your family planning needs.

There’s currently no clear evidence that vasectomy causes other health problems. Earlier suggestions of a link between vasectomy and getting prostate cancer aren’t backed up by current evidence. For example, a review of 53 studies including over 15 million men couldn’t find any association between vasectomy and serious prostate cancer. *2

There’s no legal requirement for your partner to give consent for a vasectomy. But it’s a good idea to talk through the decision with your partner, since getting the snip will affect both of you. You can also get a vasectomy if you have no partner or children.

No – there’s no evidence that vasectomy changes a man’s sex drive or testosterone (male hormone) levels. A vasectomy won’t interfere with your ability to get an erection, have an orgasm or ejaculate. Any sperm your body makes stops travelling in the epididymis, where it’s reabsorbed into the body just like other unused sperm. The only change is that you won’t be able to father a child.

References:
 
  1. Rebecca Walsh. Vasectomy – the pain NZ men queue to feel (NZ Herald, 10 December 2002). Available at:
    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=3008791
  2. Bhindi B, Wallis CJD, Nayan M et al. The Association Between Vasectomy and Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Intern Med 2017: 177(9): 1273–86. Available at:
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28715534/