PRACTICALITIES

AND FAQs

Planning, Preparation, Your Visit, Aftercare, Your Test

PLANNING

MY VASECTOMY PLANNER

When can you get back into action? The following general advice gives you a good idea as to when you can get back to full duties – Sooner than most guys think.

Advice is general and should be confirmed with the doctor

AM I SUITABLE FOR AN ‘ALL IN ONE’ VISIT?WHERE ARE YOU?WHAT IS THE PRICE?CAN I HAVE A SEDATIVE?PLANNING YOUR TRIP CAN I BUY A VOUCHER?

AM I SUITABLE FOR AN ‘ALL IN ONE’ VISIT?

We offer an all-in-one visit. Traditionally, men are asked to make a separate appointment for the consultation, and even a 3rd appointment for suture removal following traditional scalpel vasectomy.

The majority of guys can simply make a vasectomy appointment online. This appointment automatically combines the consultation with the vasectomy. The vasectomy does not go ahead if you decide not to proceed or if you are not suitable. There is no need for a separate appointment.

We ask you to make an appointment for a consultation-only if you answer ‘yes’ to any of the following questions:

You have any uncertainties about ‘getting the snip’ – kind of obvious.
You are age under 30 without children.
You are age under 25 (with or without children).
Your BMI is greater than 45. You can calculate your BMI here.

For a consultation-only simply follow this link to schedule a ‘vasectomy suitability check’ – these appointments are only available in Cleveland. Please note you won’t pay more for deciding to visit us in advance. Your combined out of pocket costs for a vasectomy suitability check and later vasectomy will be the same.

WHEN AND WHERE ARE THE CLINICS?

Our locations are:

Clayfield (North Brisbane) – some thursdays
Greenslopes (South Brisbane) – some fridays
Cleveland (East Brisbane) – during the week
Ormeau (Gold Coast/M1) – some thursdays

WHAT IS THE PRICE?

The total is $595 and you get back $201 from medicare.

The price to you is therefore $394 (after your rebate).

Note that The Australian Medical Association suggest $50 more for a vasectomy than we charge.

CAN I HAVE A SEDATIVE?

The majority of guys do not need any sedative at all. Feedback from guys after their ridiculously-fine-needle, No Scalpel Vasectomy, show a very high satisfaction rate. Remember that it’s normal to be anxious. All clients are asked “how you are feeling?” prior to the procedure on a sliding scale from 0 to 10. The average score is 4 to 5.

The most powerful relaxant is banter – even if it’s one-way!

Men who feel very anxious about getting the snip may request a sedative tablet. Around 1% of guys take a sedative prior to the procedure. A sedative tablet is taken just after the consultation. The tablet takes around 30 minutes to work and you will need someone to drive you home. You can book online but call us at least 1 day prior to the procedure so we can give you an earlier arrival time which will be around 40 minutes earlier than your original appointment time.

PLANNING YOUR TRIP

We pride ourselves on being on time.

The best way for you to be relaxed is to arrive in good time! Please note that latecomers may be asked to reschedule in order to avoid the next guy having to wait. A return trip with both tubes intact is very disappointing for all concerned. Gold Coast & Brisbane traffic can be congested so phone us if you’re running late.

Plan to walk through the door 5-10 minutes prior to your appointment time to give yourself enough time to go to settle in and /or go to the toilet for that last minute nervous pee!

CAN I BUY A VOUCHER?

We get enquiries from wives or girlfriends asking if they can buy a vasectomy voucher. A voucher is available for men who have already made a clear decision that they wish to get a vasectomy. It goes without saying that the vasectomy would only proceed if the man is clearly making this decision that is elicited at the pre-vasectomy consultation.

Vouchers are regulated by Australian Consumer Law with a 3 year minimum expiry. However, we do not wish your partner to proceed with a medical procedure because of concern about upfront payment, and we therefore offer a simple refund at any time before the vasectomy, and this is stated clearly on the voucher itself.

The standard terms of the vasectomy voucher are:

Medicare rebate of $201 is paid after the procedure into the patient’s bank account.
Your partner is age >= 30 years,
OR age >=27 years and fathered a child
Your partner wants a vasectomy
Full Refund to you if your partner does not wish to make an appointment.
Full Refund to you if your partner is not suitable for a vasectomy – a separate minimal fee is charged for the consultation-only (the gap fee is around $50).
Full unconditional refund at any time before the vasectomy.
Please note that standard booking terms apply with $100 deduction for cancellation or rescheduling with less 48 hrs notice.
The voucher system is a nice touch for couples but we just have to check that your partner has not been coerced into having a vasectomy – sorry we have to put this in, but the obvious does have to be stated!
Expiry at 3 years if we have not been able to contact you to arrange a refund.

You can purchase the voucher here.

PREPARATION

CAN MY PARTNER COME?TAKING A SHOWER HOW DO I SHAVE OR CLIP?SHOULD I EAT?WHAT SHOULD I BRING?SHOULD I STOP BLOOD THINNERS?

CAN MY PARTNER COME?

Your girlfriend or wife is very welcome to attend the consultation and/or the procedure itself.

25% of guys come with their partner to the to the clinic – and around half of those go into the room during the procedure, of whom half take some photos!

TAKING A SHOWER

Have a shower before you attend the clinic if you can.

You will need to keep the area dry after your vasectomy and are asked not to shower until the following morning.

SHAVING & UNDIES

The area to shave or clip should include the upper-front and side of the scrotum (‘the sac’) before the procedure. The site of the procedure site is in the midline, and higher up than many guys think. Lift your penis out of the way to get to the area of the sac that needs most attention.

Go higher than you think!

Wet shaving has the edge over a beard trimmer, which tends to cause cuts.

You can shave slightly away from the skin to reduce nicks. Stubble is fine!

Wear firm or supportive underwear, and avoid boxer shorts. You can’t go wrong with Briefs.

SHOULD I EAT?

Absolutely!

Have a good breakfast to help keep up your energy levels.

WHAT SHOULD I BRING?

Please bring:

Your Medicare card.
Your debit card linked to your bank account used for medicare – to allow us to process your medicare rebate on the spot. This card may be different from your payment card that may be a debit card or credit card.

SHOULD I STOP BLOOD THINNERS?

Blood thinners include Warfarin, Plavix, Pradaxa, and Xarelto. No Scalpel Vasectomy is a low bleeding risk procedure. Patients taking blood thinners should continue them unless advised to stop by their doctor or specialist.

Men taking blood thinners may still go ahead and book an appointment online. However, please let us know in good time the name of the medication and the reason for taking it.

Patients who are taking blood thinners for a short period should consider postponing their vasectomy until the medication has been stopped. A typical one-off blood clot is treated with blood thinners for 4-6 months and it makes sense to postpone the vasectomy until the medication has been stopped.

Anti-inflammatory medications, such as Ibuprofen, Nurofen, Voltaren, Diclofenac, have a mild blood-thinning effect and you should generally stop taking these at least two days before the vasectomy. If you take some accidentally, please mention it to the doctor on the day, but it’s not likely to be a big deal.

Low dose aspirin is not a big deal. Continue ‘mini aspirin’ if you started taking it on the recommendation of a doctor – usually because of a high of cardiovascular disease.

YOUR VISIT

ARRIVING AT THE CLINIC THE CONSULTATION WHAT IF I AM NOT SUITABLE?THE PROCEDURE WHEN CAN I LEAVE?DRIVING HOME

ARRIVING AT THE CLINIC

Free Onsite Parking is available at all of our locations. Welcome to the Vasectomy Clinic!

On arrival, you are asked to fill out a form and look at some useful information. This will take around 15 minutes.

THE CONSULTATION

Dr Beatty will welcome you +/- your partner into the consulting room and discuss:

The obvious benefits of vasectomy.
The small risks of the procedure.
Aftercare is discussed both before and after.

You are invited to sign the consent form.

WHAT IF I AM NOT SUITABLE?

Please be prepared for the small possibility that you won’t be suitable for a vasectomy. This situation occurs less than 5% of the time but may explain why some vasectomy clinics insist that you make a separate appointment for the consultation.

Let’s say that you’re unlucky and cannot go ahead with the procedure. You would then be referred to a hospital facility for consideration of vasectomy under general anaesthetic.

What happens to the deposit payment if you are not suitable for the procedure? You are reimbursed the deposit and charged a smaller out-of-pocket expense to cover the consultation.

THE PROCEDURE

It’s time to hop onto the couch! You are first asked to slip off your belt & empty your pockets into a small box.

At this stage, you only need to remove your shoes before lying on the couch.

Dr Beatty will wash you down with warm antiseptic prior to covering the area with a drape. Only the front of the scrotum can be seen during the procedure. Your privacy is prioritised throughout the procedure.

A no-needle anaesthesia is used to spray the anaesthetic through your skin. There are times when fine needle anaesthesia is used to supplement no needle anaesthesia. The important thing is you won’t be knowing what’s going on. Just relax as best as you can as Dr Beatty does everything to minimise or eliminate discomfort completely.

You are in the procedure room for around half an hour.

WHEN CAN I LEAVE?

We’ll let you know when you are ready to leave the clinic! You will be able to leave the clinic soon after the procedure – usually within 30 minutes.

DRIVING HOME

You can drive home but take it easy! There is nothing specifically that excludes driving home after a vasectomy – any more than driving home after a tooth extraction or blood donation.

As a general rule we advise men who are driving home:

To wait at least 20 minutes before getting into the car.
To make 100% sure you feel fine before getting behind the wheel.
To carefully & in the left hand lane.

But it is possible to feel faint whilst driving. There is no good evidence as to this risk but it’s certainly very small.

So the bottom line is that it is generally safe to drive home afterwards as long as you feel fine after the procedure and you don’t jump into the car straight away.

AFTERCARE

WHAT SHOULD I DO WHEN I GET HOME?WHEN CAN I GO BACK TO WORK?WHEN CAN I HAVE SEX AFTER THE PROCEDURE?WHAT HAPPENS IF I GET SOME SWELLING OR BLEEDING?I’VE NOTICED BLOOD IN SEMEN CAN I CONTACT THE DOCTOR AFTERWARDS?

WHAT CAN I DO AFTERWARDS?

Lie up on the couch & relax when you get home.

The Anaesthetic wears off after 3 hours. Pain relief is not routinely required but Ibuprofen (Nurofen) 400mg may be taken three times per day.

Shower the dressing off the next morning, and replace with a bandaid (we supply) each day for the next week.

Continue with supportive underwear during the day for 5 days.

Avoid lifting >20kg fir the first 5 days. Light exercise can be started 5 days later, and Vigorous exercise or contact sport recommenced after 7 days. You may need to adjust these timelines if the recovery is taking its time.

WHEN CAN I GO BACK TO WORK?

Non-physical work – return a day or two after the procedure.

Physical work – ideally take at least 3 days off.

It is possible to get a haematoma even a week after a vasectomy. For this reason, guys doing very manual work are advised to take a few days off to recover, or at least ask if you can be on modified duties. Ask Dr Beatty for a Medical Certificate.

WHEN CAN I HAVE SEX AFTER THE PROCEDURE?

Great question – Ejaculation can start at least 48 hrs after the procedure, and sex from 5 days.

You absolutely must continue to use contraception until you get your all-clear.

Whilst our failure rate is very low, remember that you will remain fertile until the ‘swimmers have cleared the pipes’ – typically a few weeks. Your partner can easily get pregnant before the post vasectomy sample. Play safe, not with fire.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I GET SOME SWELLING OR BLEEDING?

Bleeding around the dressing may occur in the 1st 2-3 hrs. Apply 10 minutes of firm pressure followed by an ice pack (over a towel) for 20 minutes. Finally, apply a fresh dressing. Any bleeding should have stopped by then.

Bruising may be noticed for a few days. Bruising rarely lasts for more than 10 days. The bruising may occasionally look impressive but is itself harmless.

Both bleeding around the dressing and bruising are caused by bleeding from tiny blood vessels near the surface of the wound. This type of bleeding is almost always insignificant.

Swelling is rare, and usually caused by internal bleeding. Haematoma occurs in fewer than 1% of Vasectomies. The scrotum becomes swollen and painful. Haematoma typically occurs in the first 3-4 days of the procedure but rarely occurs on the same day as the procedure. ‘Taking it easy’ does help to reduce the risk of haematoma. Bleeding eventually stops, and the blood clot is gradually absorbed. A severe haematoma can take 3 months to resolve but may be painful.

The Vasectomist carefully audits his rate of haematoma that sits under 1 in 300 vasectomies.

I’VE NOTICED BLOOD IN MY SEMEN

Blood in the semen is frankly alarming. However, a little blood in the semen after the vasectomy is quite normal.

Please contact Dr Beatty if the blood is large in quantity, causes pain, or does not settle within a few weeks of the procedure.

CAN I CONTACT THE DOCTOR AFTERWARDS?

Dr Beatty’s mobile number is given to you after the procedure. Please text the doctor if you have any concerns at all and he will ring you back as soon as possible.

Thankfully, problems are unusual but you are encouraged to contact Dr Beatty with any issues.

The majority of aftercare issues are sorted out over the phone.

A follow up face-to-face appointment is rarely required. You may be asked to travel to Cleveland for the appointment, or prefer to see your own GP.

YOUR TEST

WHEN DO I DO THE TEST?How do I do the sample?Where do I take the sample?Am I charged for the test?HOW DO I GET MY RESULTS?

WHEN DO I DO THE TEST?

The simple answer is to shoot for doing your sample 14 weeks after the procedure.

Those ejaculating at least 2-3 times per week on a regular basis can do the test from 12 weeks, but don’t do the test before 12 weeks. You could in theory be all-clear if you did a test at 10 weeks but subsequent regrowth leads to the ‘swimmers’ getting through anytime up to 12 weeks after the vasectomy.

Guys ejaculating less than once per week are best waiting for >16 weeks. I tend to find that results showing high numbers of ‘non motile sperm’ are from guys who are less sexually active, particularly when the test is done after 12-14 weeks.

How do I do the sample?

Time to get serious …

You get the snip done for a reason and you must make sure it has worked.

TEST PRACTICALITIES

You will be given a pot and request form before you leave the clinic.
Phone your local pathology collection centre before you do your sample. The sample is tested fresh – the sample so make sure you do the test at a time when you can hand it in right away.

You must give advance notice to the Pathology Collection centre that the sample is coming! The sample may otherwise be turned away

DOING YOUR SAMPLE

Plan your test 14 weeks after the vasectomy.
Abstain from ejaculation for 2-5 days prior to the test.
You (usually you!) collect the sample into a pot. Make sure you catch the whole sample!
Write the time of collection on the pot.
Go straight to the collection centre, do not pass Go!

COMMON REASONS FOR NEEDING TO REPEAT THE TEST :

Small volume of semen. You normally ejaculate 2-6mls. A sample of < 1ml may need to be repeated. Abstaining, and collecting the whole sample will maximise chances of success.
Not writing the time of the sample on the pot.

Where do I take the sample?

You can take the sample to any pathology collection centre of your choosing but you must check that the collection centre accepts seminal fluid samples.

QML Pathology accepts samples anytime during their office hours at the following regional locations:

Murarrie, Everton Park, St Andrew’s Private Hospital, Wesley Hospital, Morayfield, and North Lakes.

However, many other QML collection centres accept fresh samples with prior arrangement. For example. July 2019 courier times include:

Capalaba 11.50am or 2.30pm
Beenleigh 2.20pm
Logan Central at 11.50am
Browns Plains at 12.45pm

You don’t want to go to the trouble of doing a sample and finding out that the collection centre won’t accept it. Find your closest QML website by selecting ‘Semen Fertility Analysis’ and phone the collection centre for a dropoff time.

Sullivan & Nicolaides accept samples at just two locations – Bowen Hills and Southport. We confirmed in march 2021 that SNP ‘accept Semen samples at their main HQ in Bowen Hills. Monday – Friday 7am – 6pm. No need to set a time just bring it in within the hour otherwise they have facilities on site to do the sample.’ However, you should obtain up-to-date information and can directly search here for for SNP locations that accept Semen fluid samples.

What is the price of a test?

Ultimately, the Australian government is responsible for ensuring a cost-effective health care service. We want 100% of our men to get the test done. It is therefore disappointing that there is a (small) out of pocket charge for post-vasectomy samples. Bear in mind the logistical challenges to analyse the semen sample within 2 hrs of production. The collection centre, courier and lab need to be ‘on the ball’ and we’ll coordinated for this to happen.

QML has the largest range of collection centres for post-vasectomy sample around Brisbane and The Gold Coast, and they seem to be the cheapest at $50. You may choose any pathology provider to perform your test although some providers charge >$75.

The cost of not getting a test may, if you are unlucky, be greater. You are also paying for peace of mind.

HOW DO I GET MY RESULTS?

Your results are sent to you via text. Please contact the clinic if you have not received your result within 2 working days.

>95% of results are sent by SMS within 2 working days, so what are the reasons for not receiving my results within 2 working days?

The pathology company are sending us the result by ‘snail mail’ – this is more likely for tests peformed outside Queensland. QML and SNP always send us results electronically.
Your mobile phone number on the registration form is incorrect – but you are asked to confirm that your mobile number is correct during your visit.
Dr Beatty does check results whilst on annual leave but there might still be a slight delay over times like Christmas.
The sample is lost – very rare.

READY TO BOOK?

It’s really simple.

Book Online

Dr Beatty

Last Reviewed / Modified: 10/5/2021

First Published: 5/2/2015