Vasectomy in Dublin
Vasectomy in Ireland is a common and safe procedure. Vasectomy has been performed in Morehampton Clinic in Dublin for over 30 years.
Vasectomy is contraception for men that is safe, convenient and effective. Vasectomy is a minor procedure that seals the tubes which carry the sperm from a man's testicles to his penis. This is carried out under local anaesthetic and there are no needles, scalpels or stitches involved. Afterwards, the man's semen will no longer contain any sperm, removing risk of pregnancy. A follow-up test is performed to confirm the absence of sperm. It’s a cost effective solution to contraception.
Dr Gavin Keane carries out the vasectomies at Morehampton Clinic. He will be happy to chat to you about the procedure and answer any questions you may have. You can also check out our FAQs below.
What is a Vasectomy?
A vasectomy is a short procedure performed in our Donnybrook clinic in Dublin, it takes less than 30 minutes. There is also a quick recovery time. Vasectomy does not affect a man’s libido, hormones or sexual performance. Ejaculation will still happen as usual afterwards, but the semen will not contain sperm cells, preventing unplanned pregnancies.
Considering a Vasectomy?
If you would like to know more about vasectomy contact us today to make an initial appointment. Dr Keane meets all of his patients first to discuss the procedure and answer any questions they may have. If you would like to proceed, we will schedule the procedure for a later date that suits you.
Why Vasectomy?
It's Effective
Vasectomy is the most effective of all the methods of contraception.
It's Safe
Vasectomy ranks among the safest and most effective of any surgery. Technique has advanced by becoming less and less invasive. Now we use no scalpel incision at all and no skin stitches.
It's Convenient
There is an initial consultation to confirm it is the right procedure for you. If it is, the procedure is completed at the clinic on a date that suits you with local anaesthetic - and takes less than 30 minutes.
It's Painless
There is of course a big variety in people’s perception of pain, but the vast majority of men report that the discomfort is mild and that there is no pain after receiving the anaesthetic. For many, imagining the worst beforehand is a lot worse than the actual procedure!
A Quick Recovery Time
You must rest on the day of the procedure and avoid strenuous activity for one week but you can return to normal work and light activity from the very next day.
The Freedom
Enjoy the freedom from other contraceptive methods which can interfere with sex, freedom from worrying about accidental pregnancy, or freedom from concern about the effects of the pill on your partner's health.
How It Works
Before your procedure
A few things we would recommend prior to having your vasectomy:
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Have someone to drive you to/from our Dublin clinic (or take a taxi).
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If you are taking aspirin or aspirin-containing medications or blood thinners, please let us know in advance. You should also avoid ibuprofen/Nurofen and other anti- inflammatories two days before vasectomy. Paracetamol is fine at any time.
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Please wash the scrotum and groin area well the night before or the day of your vasectomy.
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Please shave or trim away the hair from the front of the scrotum.
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Wear a clean pair of snug-fitting underwear that give support to the scrotum. You could wear bike shorts or a Speedo if that’s easier for you.
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Eat plenty on the day of your procedure – do NOT fast.
At the Clinic
You should plan to spend between 60 to 90 minutes at the clinic. Your partner is welcome to accompany you. Again, you should be driven home by someone else for your safety and comfort.
Anatomy
Before describing the vasectomy procedure in detail, we will first discuss the male anatomy.
Each testicle - or testis – is an oval gland that sits in the scrotum. It produces sperm, which travels through the tubules within the testicle out to the epididymis, which sits on top of the testicle. From there, the sperm travels through another long tube out of the scrotum, through the prostate (where semen is added to enable sperm to travel easier) and out of the penis. The tube that carries sperm out of the testicle is called the vas deferens. In a vasectomy, we interrupt both vasa (left and right), thus preventing sperm from exiting altogether.The testes also produce the male hormone testosterone. It leaves the area via blood vessels, so this function is not affected by vasectomy in any way. Likewise, the nerves and blood flow that control erections are not in any way involved in a vasectomy. Crucially, sperm can be stored at various junctures along this path for several weeks, which is the reason why alternative contraception must be used after vasectomy, until a test of success after 12 weeks confirms that any and all residual sperm is gone.
The Vasectomy Technique
Vasectomy technique has advanced, becoming less and less invasive. Now we use no scalpel incision at all and no skin stitches. We administer local anaesthetic - without any needles, using a high powered spray device - to numb the skin and the areas involved. After this, while you will feel movements and some pressure, there should be no pain.
The Surgical Procedure
If you do not want to know all the details of the procedure; you may skip over this section. Others may want to know more – we are happy to address all questions at the initial consultation.
You will lie down on the exam couch. We often use a hot water bottle to help heat and relax the scrotum. Dr Keane will examine your genitals. He will clean the scrotum with a warm antiseptic liquid. To begin, he finds the vas deferens or tube on each side and administers local anesthetic. This numbs the superficial skin and both tubes. He then holds the right tube at the front of the scrotum and makes a tiny puncture opening in the skin to expose the tube, which is then brought out through the opening. The central part of the tube is blocked by electrocautery, which creates firm scar tissue. The tube is then separated and stretched apart. This method has proven to have a very high success rate. The left tube is then put back in place and then the right vas is located and held where it can be reached through the same central opening. The right tube is sealed and separated, just like on the left. The right vas is then put back inside. The opening is closed with the same electrocautery device and then packed with plasters and you’re done - no stitches involved!
After Care
No stitches are needed after the vasectomy. After a few minutes you get dressed and go home. To prevent complications you must go directly home from the clinic after your vasectomy and rest until the next day. You should wear tight underwear for a few days to keep the plaster in place for at least 24 hours. For the next 7 days you can return to office or light work, however you must avoid strenuous exercise and swimming.
All-in price €490
This includes:
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Optional pre-consultation in person
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Meet Dr. Keane & see the clinic
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The procedure
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no needles, no scalpels, no stitches
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All follow-up care as needed
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Semen testing to ensure success
GMS Medical Card patients living in South Dublin & Wicklow FREE
GMS patients living elsewhere €250
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HOW EFFECTIVE IS VASECTOMY?Vasectomy is the most effective of all the methods of contraception. It also ranks among the safest and most effective of any surgery. But nothing is perfect and no surgery is 100% safe or effective. The failure rate for this method of vasectomy has been reported as 0.5%. Out of 1000 vasectomies, there is a chance that 5 men could remain fertile. Why? How? The cut ends of the tubes have healed and regrown together. The healing area between the cuts can itself form a new channel. There have been cases where men have had an extra vas or sperm tube within their scrotum. If repeated semen tests still show sperm after several months, we would repeat the vasectomy for you for free.
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HOW PAINFUL IS IT?There is of course a big variety in people’s perception of pain, but the vast majority of men report that the discomfort is mild and that there is no pain after receiving the anaesthetic. For many, imagining the worst beforehand is a lot worse than the actual procedure.
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WHAT CAN I EXPECT AFTERWARDS?You might experience a dull ache in the testicles or the stomach after the anaesthetic has worn off in about an hour. Get ahead of this by taking regular paracetamol and ibuprofen for a few days after the procedure. And above all, no heavy lifting or strenuous activity. There may also be a small amount of oozing from the incision for a few days. There will probably be a bruise on the scrotum after two to three days. These are to be expected and are fine.
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CAN I DRIVE MYSELF HOME?For your safety and comfort, we strongly recommend that you have someone else drive you home.
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WILL MY SEX LIFE BE AFFECTED?Sex drive, erections, orgasms and ejaculation are not interfered with by the procedure at all. The only thing that a vasectomy does is block sperm. The male sex hormones in the blood do not change. Many men and women have said that the relief from worry about pregnancy improves their sex lives after vasectomy.
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WILL I STILL EJACULATE?Yes. The amount of semen a man ejaculates is decreased by 5% after vasectomy. Without a microscope, you could not notice the difference.
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WHAT HAPPENS TO THE SPERM AFTER VASECTOMY?The testes continue to produce sperm as before. The unused sperm cells are reabsorbed naturally.
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WHY IS VASECTOMY NOT EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY?The sperm stored ‘downstream’ in the vas deferens, i.e. after the interruption, can still be ejaculated and cause pregnancy. So the system needs to be emptied of stored sperm cells before a vasectomy can be considered effective. Hence the test of success is so important.
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CAN A VASECTOMY BE REVERSED?Vasectomy should be considered permanent. But the vas can in most cases can be reconnected in a hospital by an experienced surgeon. It is much, much more difficult than vasectomy. It is important to know that after reversals up to 50% will still remain infertile.
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SHOULD I SAVE SPERM BEFORE VASECTOMY?Sperm storage is available in Dublin. If you have any reservation about giving up the ability to father children, then you should not have a vasectomy.
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WHAT IS THE RISK OF COMPLICATIONS?Sperm storage is available in Dublin. If you have any reservation about giving up the ability to father children, then you should not have a vasectomy.
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ARE THERE ANY LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF VASECTOMY?Vasectomy has been in use for over 100 years. No long-term adverse side effects have been proven with vasectomy – and this has been studied extensively. Research has not demonstrated that vasectomy has any association with prostate or testicular cancer.
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DOES THE VASECTOMY EVER FAIL LATER?If you have a clear semen test check once, there is a very, very small chance (about 1 in 2000 or 0.05%) that you will experience what is known as a late failure, with spontaneous reappearance of sperm. You are welcome to bring in another semen sample for repeat testing if you want reassurance of sterility in the future.
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ARE THERE MEN WHO SHOULD NOT HAVE VASECTOMY?Yes. If a man is unsure whether or not he is going to want more children, he should not have a vasectomy.
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HOW WILL I FEEL ABOUT THE PROCEDURE AFTERWARDS?Almost all men who have vasectomy are completely satisfied afterwards. They enjoy the freedom from other contraceptive methods which can interfere with sex; freedom from worrying about accidental pregnancy; and freedom from concern about the effects of the pill on their partner's health. A small number of men do later regret having vasectomy. That is why it is so important to make the decision carefully, without any outside pressure. Your satisfaction depends upon your own thoughtful decision-making.
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WHAT ARE THE RESTRICTIONS ON ACTIVITY AFTER VASECTOMY?To prevent complications you must go directly home from the clinic after your vasectomy and rest until the next day. For the next 7 days you can return to office or light work, you must avoid strenuous exercise and swimming.