Vasectomy is one of the most widely used methods of family planning, ie; a permanent solution for those who consider their family complete. It has the advantage of freeing the female from having to take the pill with its possible side effects. It is also a good alternative to the risks of an IUD and appeals to couples who find mechanical methods reduce their intimate pleasure. With a normal situation and physiology, failure is virtually unknown as are any long term problems once the wound has healed. Vasectomy has no effect on sexual performance or sensation.

However, the decision to undergo vasectomy should not be taken lightly or quickly. It is well to ponder lifestyle scenarios which can change and might cause a couple to reconsider their situation; eg, the possiblity of the loss of a child or moving to a new relationship with a younger partner. Some people may benefit from counselling before they make their decision. The younger you are the harder it is to take this step.

Whilst there are reports of vasectomy being reversed, the operation is very difficult and time consuming, being skilled microsurgery. It is also very expensive and the failure rate is high. It is best to regard vasectomy as final.

Custom House assumes those who make appointments have taken time to consider these factors and both parties in the relationship are in agreement.

We offer a counselling pre-vasectomy consultation, and vasectomy for the busy gentleman at convenient appointment times during the evening. Our team operates from a large purpose-built surgery with pleasant consulting and treatment rooms, positioned in the heart of Royal Docklands, East London. See location map

The Operation
is performed by Dr Zuhair Zarifa, a qualified Surgeon and a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Glasgow.

A Vasectomy is a relatively simple procedure with a high success rate and very few complications. It is carried out under local anaesthetic and takes approximately 25-30 minutes to perform. Dissolvable sutures are used, these usually fall out approximately 7-10 days after the operation. We ask you to wait for 15 minutes after you have left the Treatment Room, then you may go home. It is always advisable to have someone drive you home.

Before the Operation

You will be sent a Vasectomy Request Form where you will be asked a number of questions for you and your partner to complete and sign. This form must either be posted to the Surgery ahead of your date or you may bring it with you on the day.

You should bath/shower before you attend and shave the skin around the operation site area.

On arrival at Custom House Surgery the Practice Manager, Sylvia Nicholas, will meet you and book you in.

You will then meet your surgeon, Dr Zuhair Zarifa, for a counselling consultation. He will go through the Vasectomy Request Form with you and ask you a number of questions, perform a physical examination and explain the operation to you. Dr Zarifa will explain that the operation is irrervesible and establish your understanding that you definitely do not wish you have any more children. You also have the opportunity to ask any questions or raise any concerns you may have.

Following this you will be seen by Sister Patricia Munroe, who will ask you to sign the consent form and, as part of the normal Vasectomy operation, will explain and provide you with the means to start a three-day course of antibiotics.

She will also give you two forms and, relating to them, specimen pots for semen analysis with written instructions of where to take the specimens. The first semen analysis should be at least 8 weeks after the Vasectomy, and a second semen analysis 2-4 weeks after the first test. There is a time factor here in that to be viable, the specimen has to be presented promptly after being taken. For some outside the geographical area of the laboratory with which we have an arrangement, this may not be feasible and an alternative will have to be made. This should be raised at the consultation.

You will then be taken to the Treatment Room for the Vasectomy. If you would like your partner with you during the procedure we welcome her.

After the Operation

Once the local anaesthetic has worn off, approximately 4 hours afterwards, you are likely to experience some tenderness in the area of the operation. This may last a few days.

Bruising around the scrotum may also appear. You will have been warned to watch for particular signs of redness, swelling or pain. Adverse infections are rare due the precautionary course of antibiotics, but you must consult Dr Zarifa immediately if any of the signs appear.

IMPORTANT!
After the operation you should remember that live sperm may be still in the tubes above the level of the cut. This means that the first few times you ejaculate after the operation, the fluid may contain live sperm capable of fertilisation. For this reason you must use other effective methods of contraception until TWO CONSECUTIVE SPERM TESTS SHOW NO LIVE SPERM ARE PRESENT.

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