• A vasectomy is a type of birth control.

• It works by blocking the tubes (vas deferens) that carry sperm.

• After a vasectomy:

  • You still make sperm, but it cannot get into your semen.

  • You still make semen (the fluid you ejaculate).

• Vasectomy should be thought of as permanent birth control.

• A vasectomy can sometimes be reversed, but:

  • It may not work for everyone.

  • It may need surgery and can be expensive.

• If you are worried you may want children later, you can ask about:

  • Sperm banking (freezing sperm before the vasectomy)

  • Vasectomy reversal or sperm retrieval later (if needed)

• A vasectomy is covered by provincial health insurance (Medicare) with no fee for the patient

• Vasectomy is very effective, but it does not work right away.

• Early failure (moving sperm still seen on semen test at 3–6 months) happens in about:

  • 0.2–5% (about 2 to 50 out of 1000 people)

• Late failure (rarely, the tubes reconnect later) happens in about about 1 in 2000 patients

• Scrotal hair / skin

  • You should trim scrotal hair the day before your procedure.

  • On the day of your procedure, have a shower and wear clean underwear.

• Plan for a drive home

  • Even with local freezing, some people prefer a ride because they may feel sore or uncomfortable afterward.

• Blood thinners and medications

  • Tell your doctor about all medicines you take, including:

    • Blood thinners (anticoagulants)

    • Aspirin or other “blood thinners”

    • Herbal supplements (some can increase bleeding)

• Time off work

  • Plan for easy, light activity after your vasectomy with no heavy lifting or exercise.

  • Many people can return to desk work in a few days, but jobs with heavy lifting often need more time.

• Most vasectomies are done with local freezing (numbing medicine).

• Some people may need sedation or general anesthesia if:

  • They are very anxious

  • They had previous surgery in the groin/scrotum (like orchidopexy or other scrotal surgery)

• The doctor then blocks the vas deferens

Soon after the procedure (early risks)

• Infection: (very rare)

• Bruising or blood collection / hematoma: (rare)

• Failure: (rare)

Later (late risks)

• Ongoing scrotal pain (rare)

• Late failure after a post vasectomy semen analysis showed ‘success’: (very rare: about 1 in 2000)

• Current data do not show a clear link between vasectomy and prostate cancer.

• Other long-term problems (like erectile dysfunction, hormone imbalance) have not been linked to vasectomy.

• You will be given instructions about:

  • Wound care

  • Scrotal support

  • Short-term limits on heavy lifting and strenuous activity

• Follow instructions to lower your risk of:

  • Bleeding

  • Swelling

  • Infection

  • Pain

• You can still make someone pregnant after a vasectomy if sperm are still present.

• This can happen because:

  • Sperm may still be in the system for a while

  • The tubes may reconnect early

  • Rarely, the vas may not have been fully blocked

• Use another form of birth control until your semen test shows it is safe to stop.

When to test

• Testing is usually done at about 3 months after the vasectomy.

How to collect the sample (important!)

• Your clinic/lab will tell you what container to use.

• Try to:

  • Avoid sex/masturbation for 2 days before collecting the sample

  • Do not wait more than 7 days without ejaculation before collecting

• Bring the sample to the lab quickly:

  • Within 30–45 minutes

• Keep the sample warm (close to body temperature) while you bring it in.

If the test shows:

• No sperm, OR

• Very few non-moving sperm

  • You may be told you can stop other birth control

  • You should still understand there is a very small late failure risk (about 1 in 2000)

If the test shows:

• Any moving sperm, OR

• More than a small number of non-moving sperm

  • Keep using other birth control

  • You will need a repeat semen test (often in about 4–8 weeks)

If moving sperm keeps showing up

• A repeat vasectomy may be recommended if moving sperm are still present several months after the procedure.

No! A vasectomy is covered by Medicare for eligible residents, so the insured procedure has no costs or fees.