Here are a few things to consider before you commit to a vasectomy:
We’re happy to discuss the procedure and answer any questions to help you decide if vasectomy is right for you. Schedule a free, no-obligation phone consultation here.
The cost of vasectomy depends on your choice of location (Clinic or Day Hospital), health insurance status and whether you would like to have IV sedation.
Hornsby Clinic
Vasectomy at our Hornsby Clinic costs $890, with a medicare rebate of $233.90. There is no IV sedation available at this location and you cannot use your private health insurance.
Day Hospital with local anaesthetic
You will need to pay your health insurance excess (typically $0-500) in addition a fixed gap of $400 to Sydney Vasectomy Doctor. You need to check directly with your health fund regarding your eligibility and excess.
Day Hospital with IV sedation
There is a an additional $200 fixed gap which is paid directly to the anaesthetist. You will still need to pay the fixed gap of $400 and your health insurance excess as detailed above.
Vasectomy pre-consults and related aftercare with Dr Katelaris are bulk billed. These can be arranged via phone or in clinic.
Please see our Fees page for further information. If you don’t have insurance but want to self fund at one of our day hospitals, please submit an enquiry so we can provide you with a quote.
Not usually. Most people read this page, book and have the consult and procedure in the same visit. Book a free phone consult first if you want to talk anything through, or if you take blood thinners or have an extensive medical history.
The Hornsby clinic offers local anaesthetic only, at a fixed price with a Medicare rebate, and does not accept private health insurance. Day hopsitals offer both local anesthetic and IV sedation, and you can use private health insurance if you’re covered.
Send us an enquiry and we will arrange a quote before you book.
Men with no children under the age of 30 are required to have a pre-consult to discuss the procedure due to the high rates of regret and request for reversal in this demographic. Same day vasectomy is not available for these men. We do not offer vasectomy to minors under any circumstances.
There are several myths out there regarding vasectomy. You can be reassured about the following:
1. There is no evidence that vasectomy has any impact on testosterone production, erections or sexual function. Men often report that sexual function improves after vasectomy.
2. Vasectomy is not linked with testicular or prostate cancer.
3. You will still ejaculate after a vasectomy. Most of your ejaculate is made up of fluids from the prostate and seminal vesicles. Sperm only makes up 2-5% of the ejaculate. You will still produce sperm after a vasectomy – it is simply reabsorbed within the scrotum.
Local anesthetic is quick and comfortable, but some men feel more comfortable with the idea of having IV sedation. If you choose IV sedation, you will need to fast before the procedure and you won’t be able to drive for at least 24 hours after the procedure.
There’s a $200 gap fee paid directly to the anaesthetist, on top of the hospital and procedure fees. See our fees page for more information.
For most men, yes. The procedure is quick and most patients report is hurt less than they expected. Slight aching when the anaesthetic goes in is normal.
IV sedation is not suitable for some people, including those with a BMI over 35 and other high risk patients. The anaesthetist will assess you on the morning of the procedure.
Only for IV sedation. The hospital will tell you when to stop eating and drinking. On a local anaesthetic, you can eat and drink normally.
Yes, if you’re having local anaesthetic only. With IV sedation, you will need a lift home from a responsible adult and must not drive for at least 24 hours.
If you’re having your vasectomy at our Hornsby clinic please arrive 5-10 minutes early. If you’re attending one of our day hospital locations, the hospital will tell you when to arrive and if and when you should fast before the procedure.
The average procedure time is 10-15 minutes.
The total time commitment varies slightly depending on your choice of location and whether you want IV sedation.
1. Local anaesthetic vasectomy – offered at Hornsby Clinic and all Day Hospital locations. Please allow approximately 1 hour at the clinic. At the hospital locations you may be required to attend slightly earlier to allow for the hospital admission process.
2. IV sedation vasectomy – only available at Day Hospital locations. Please allow approximately 4 hours at the Day Hospital. You must have a lift home with a responsible adult. You should not drive for 24 hours following any IV sedation procedure.
Yes. Shave or trim the entire scrotum one or two days beforehand, taking care to avoid cuts and abrasions.
No scalpel. Dr Katelaris uses a single split of about 5mm in the midline of the scrotum.
The testicular end of the vas is left open, which reduces the risk of congestion and pain after the procedure. The upper end is sealed, and fascia is stitched between the two ends so they cannot rejoin.
With IV sedation, no. With local anaesthetic, expect minor aching as the anaesthetic is given and some tugging or dull aching in the scrotum, groin or lower stomach during the procedure.
For the first few days:
For the first week (or more):
Please contact the clinic with any questions or concerns after your vasectomy.
Avoid strenuous activity for 5 days, guided by your pain level. A medical certificate can be provided on the day of your procedure. If your work is physical, scrotal support helps when you return.
Tight underwear for scrotal support. Two pairs of elasticated underwear works, or a single pair with compression shorts or bike shorts over the top. Keep it on for as long as it helps.
Regular paracetamol for one to two days. Stronger pain medication is generally not needed. Anti-inflammatories carry a small theoretical risk of bleeding and are generally not needed either.
From 24 hours after the procedure. Avoid soaking or scrubbing the area.
After 7 days. That also applies to spas, hot tubs and saunas, so the split has time to heal.
Avoid ejaculation for 7 days.
Call the clinic. Follow-up is handled by phone and email for convenience.
Only after a semen analysis confirms it and we have contacted you with the result. Keep using contraception until then, because pregnancy is still possible.
From 10 to 12 weeks after the procedure, and after at least 30 ejaculations.
You ejaculate into a specimen jar and deliver it to a pathology centre within 60 minutes, labelled with your name and date of birth. We give you the referral and instructions on the day.
Some pathology providers bulk bill it and some charge a gap fee. Not every location is equipped to perform post-vasectomy semen analysis, so check before you go.
You may need a repeat test. Waiting the full 10 weeks and adding extra ejaculations before testing is the best way to avoid that. In rare cases low numbers of non-motile sperm persist, and we manage those individually.
Vasectomy should be considered irreversible, however reversal can be successfully performed in up to 70% of cases within 8 years of the initial procedure. Reversal is more invasive and expensive than vasectomy. If you are seeking a vasectomy reversal, please submit an enquiry – we can provide you with some recommendations and general advice.
Very rare with this technique, but some potential complications can include:
Yes, Dr Katelaris provides several other services regarding Men’s Health. For more information, view our Men’s Health page.
Vasectomy is the most reliable form of contraception. It is safe, quick and effective. The recovery is quick with minimal downtime from work.
Vasectomy is for men or couples who have completed their family or don’t want children. The vast majority of men are suitable for a no scalpel vasectomy, including if you have had prior scrotal surgery.
The no scalpel, open ended procedure is a minimally invasive modern technique. An open ended vasectomy means that the testicular end of the vas is left open to reduce post procedure congestion or pain. Modern vasectomy is done through a single small split (~5mm) in the midline of the scrotum. Each vas deferens (left and right) will be cut and the prostatic (upper) ends sealed to block the passage of sperm from the testis to the ejaculatory duct. A small piece of tissue known as fascia will be sutured in between the two ends to reduce the risk of them re-joining. Please see our procedure page for more information.
There are several myths out there regarding vasectomy. You can be reassured about the following:
1. There is no evidence that vasectomy has any impact on testosterone production, erections or sexual function. Men often report that sexual function improves after vasectomy.
2. Vasectomy is not linked with testicular or prostate cancer.
3. You will still ejaculate after a vasectomy. Most of your ejaculate is made up of fluids from the prostate and seminal vesicles. Sperm only makes up 2-5% of the ejaculate. You will still produce sperm after a vasectomy – it is simply reabsorbed within the scrotum.
Most men can have the consult and procedure on the same day. It is important that you read through all the information to make sure that vasectomy is right for you. In several cases a pre-consult must be done ahead of time either on the phone or at our Hornsby clinic:
If you are unsure please submit an enquiry. We are happy to discuss your concerns.
At Sydney Vasectomy Doctor we offer both options.
1. Local anaesthetic vasectomy is available at all of our locations.
2. IV sedation is available at our day hospital locations. You may choose to have IV sedation if you are anxious about your vasectomy. Some men are more sensitive to examination than others and may also choose to have sedation.
The cost of vasectomy depends on your choice of location (Clinic or Day Hospital), health insurance status and whether you would like to have IV sedation.
1. Hornsby Clinic – vasectomy at our Hornsby Clinic costs $890, with a medicare rebate of $233.90. There is no IV sedation available at this location and you cannot use your private health insurance.
2. Day Hospital with local anaesthetic – you will need to pay your health insurance excess (typically $0-500) in addition a fixed gap of $400 to Sydney Vasectomy Doctor. You need to check directly with your health fund regarding your eligibility and excess.
3. Day Hospital with IV sedation – there is a an additional $200 fixed gap which is paid directly to the anaesthetist. You will still need to pay the fixed gap of $400 and your health insurance excess as detailed above.
Please see our Fees page for further information. If you don’t have insurance but want to self fund at one of our day hospitals, please submit an enquiry so we can provide you with a quote.
4. Vasectomy pre-consults and vasectomy related aftercare with Dr Katelaris are bulk billed. These can be arranged via phone or in clinic.
The average procedure time is 10-15 minutes. The total time commitment varies slightly depending on your choice of location and whether you want IV sedation.
1. Local anaesthetic vasectomy – offered at Hornsby Clinic and all Day Hospital locations. Please allow approximately 1 hour at the clinic. At the hospital locations you may be required to attend slightly earlier to allow for the hospital admission process.
2. IV sedation vasectomy – only available at Day Hospital locations. Please allow approximately 4 hours at the Day Hospital. You must have a lift home with a responsible adult. You should not drive for 24 hours following any IV sedation procedure.
Men recover at different rates after vasectomy. Most men will feel back to normal within 5-7 days.
1. Men undergoing vasectomy under local anaesthetic can drive themselves to and from the appointment. Some men may experience mild lightheadedness following the procedure. In this case we will observe you at the clinic until you are well. We recommended having something further to eat and drink. You must feel completely alert and well prior to driving.
2. Men undergoing vasectomy under IV sedation must not drive for a minimum of 24 hours following the procedure. You must have a lift home from the day hospital with a responsible adult.
Most men can resume sexual activity after about 7 days.
You must use alternative contraception until your doctor has confirmed a negative semen analysis 3 months after your procedure. This will confirm there are no sperm remaining in your ejaculate. This test is known as a post vasectomy semen analysis. The referral and instructions regarding how to perform post vasectomy semen analysis will be provided on the day. You should only do your post vasectomy semen analysis after 3 months. It is best that a minimum of 30 ejaculations have been performed prior to doing post vasectomy semen analysis.
Complications are very rare following this procedure but it is important to be aware of the possible risks:
1. Haematoma
A haematoma is a very rare complication (less than 0.5%) after this type of vasectomy. It occurs due to the accumulation of blood in the scrotum. Small haematomas can be observed and will get better over 6 weeks. In the extremely rare case of sudden, massive scrotal swelling you should be assessed at the nearest Emergency Department
2. Infection
Surgical site infection is rare after vasectomy (approximately 1%). Infection usually presents between day 3-5 post procedure. Signs include scrotal redness, discharge from the scrotal split and pain. Contact the clinic if you experience these signs as prompt antibiotics are required. In the extremely rare case that you develop systemic signs such as fever or vomiting, please attend your nearest Emergency Department.
3. Pain syndrome (post vasectomy congestion)
Some men will experience a low grade, dull aching pain in the scrotum that extends beyond the expected post procedural period. Most men will incrementally improve over 3-6 months and the discomfort does not generally limit activities. Scrotal supports and simple analgesia may be used as needed. In very rare cases men will still report discomfort after 12 months and in some cases a further procedure may be required to manage the pain.
4. Sperm granuloma
A sperm granuloma is a pea size lump that is above and separate to the testis. It can occur at any time after a vasectomy. It is simply an accumulation of sperm cells. Granulomas can cause some discomfort but they are not dangerous. They will usually resolve spontaneously within 6-12 weeks.
Post procedure discomfort is normal and can include aching in the testes, groins and lower abdomen. We generally recommend the following simple measures:
1. Wear tight underpants for scrotal support such as:
– 2 pairs of elasticated underwear
– Single pair with a compression garment or bike shorts
2. Cold therapy – an ice pack 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off may help with minor bruising and swelling
3. Regular paracetamol is recommended for 1-2 days post procedure
4. Avoid straining, strenuous activity, swimming and sex
More detailed advice will be discussed on the day.
Vasectomy should be considered irreversible, however reversal can be successfully performed in up to 70% of cases within 8 years of the initial procedure. Reversal is more invasive and expensive than vasectomy. If you are seeking a vasectomy reversal please submit an enquiry – we can provide you with some recommendations and general advice.
Men with no children under the age of 30 are required to have a pre-consult to discuss the procedure due to the high rates of regret and request for reversal in this demographic. Same day vasectomy is not available for these men. We do not offer vasectomy to minors under any circumstances.
A referral from your GP is always appreciated, however, no referral is required. You can book directly with Sydney Vasectomy Doctor.