What exactly does a vasectomy do?

A vasectomy is a surgical procedure that permanently prevents pregnancy. It is one of the most effective forms of birth control, with a failure rate of less than 1%. Vasectomies can be performed in two ways: traditional and no-scalpel.

A traditional vasectomy is performed through an incision in the scrotum. The vas deferens, the tubes that carry sperm from the testicles to the penis, are then cut and tied. This prevents sperm from reaching the semen.

A no-scalpel vasectomy is performed through a small puncture in the scrotum. The vas deferens are then accessed through this puncture and cut and tied. This procedure is less invasive than a traditional vasectomy and has a shorter recovery time.

 

What is the process like?

There are three simple but mandatory components for a successful vasectomy.

First, you will have a 30 minute consultation with Dr. Barnes, during which time you will share information on your medical history, learn about your responsibilities during pre- and post-procedure, and as you are determined to be an appropriate candidate, you will be given a single-dose prescription for medication and a patch to numb the area (both are to be used prior to the procedure). Upon exiting your consultation, we will schedule your vasectomy as quickly as you’d like, which can literally be the next day so long as there is scheduling availability (unless there are length of time requirements with your health insurance).

If you take the medication for pain prior to your procedure, you are required to have someone drive you to and from the vasectomy. Upon arrival, you will check in and will be brought to our procedure room. We have a television mounted above the procedure chair, and you can choose what you want to watch (within reason) or you can wear earbuds to stream your finest calming music. To maintain efficiency, we will have already prepared sterile equipment and everything necessary for your procedure, meaning that you will spend less than 30 minutes in the procedure room. 

As you exit your appointment, you will be issued a satirical t-shirt that will undoubtedly contain some type of borderline inappropriate double-meaning. More importantly (at least to Dr. Barnes), we will provide you with a lab order for a sperm count, which can be done at the facility of your choosing. You will need to complete this test 90 days after the procedure. The results will be sent to Dr. Barnes, and a member of our team will call to ensure that the vasectomy was successful based upon the results of the test.

What does a no-scalpel vasectomy cost?
Many health insurances will cover some or all of the cost of both the consultation and the vasectomy, but this is not a blanketed policy and every policy is different. Our team is happy to reach out to your insurance company on your behalf prior to the procedure to ensure you are making an informed decision before moving forward.

If you are uninsured or prefer to pay out of pocket, the fee schedule is as follows:

$150 Consultation

$700 Procedure

 

Note that some insurance companies will reimburse feed paid after the procedure has been completed, so please keep in mind that payment is expected

at the time of service.

 

Can it be reversed?

Make an “oops”?

While no-scalpel vasectomies should be considered permanent, there are care providers who can reverse the procedure by reattaching the severed vas deferens.

We don’t offer the reversal procedure, but if you decide to change things up down the road, we are more than happy to help you find a provider.