Snip....snip..snip..snip

[Lisa]

My DH had his done in Dec.
1) did your GP do it or does a specialist? Dh had his done through a GP that specialises in vascetomies. He was highly recommended by other Drs in our area.
2) so how does it work?.....see your gp and raise the issue, then get a referral...time frames?? We googled (lol) and called around to find the best place to have it done. Word of mouth and other GP's recommendations are the best way to go I think. Dh had to wait about a month to get an appointment to have the procedure done as the Dr only did them on Wednesdays.
3) costs?? if a specialist does it or the gp??? The initial consultation cost $60 and the procedure cost $250 and we got $170 back from medicare.
4)recovery. My DP has a pretty pyshical job...lifting furniture, unloading furniture trucks...so how many days off would he need?? DH is an electrician and he took 4 days off work (2 of those were weekend). Dh was working on the car and he drove 300kms twice during his first 2 days after. He said it was a dull ache but nothing else. DH was also found to have had a slight hernia which the Dr had to move which DH thinks was where most of the pain was from. DH took 1 pain killer and a panadol or 2 during his days after.
5) DP wants to know if when you go to the gp for the initial appt to ask for the referral as in I want to have a vasectomy...do they feel your balls? (Total man question!LOL but it worries him) Dh didn't get checked over until the day of the procedure.

Some extra info - DH had to shave his balls the day before the snip. He chose to use cream hair remover. DH went to the Dr's and straight away they gave him a valium. After it had kicked in the Dr checked him over and then gave him local anesthetic and performed the snip. It took 2 hours in total to be done, which included the pre op.

[Just Me]

1) did your GP do it or does a specialist?

Our GP referred DH to a GP that is an ex-surgeon. He gave us the choice of where we wanted to go and the waiting list was only a week to see this GP.


2) so how does it work?.....see your gp and raise the issue, then get a referral...time frames??

We saw our GP on the 11/02/11. DH got the referral. Rang the surgery for the other GP doing the procedure that afternoon. Had an initial consultation with him on the 14/02/11 and is booked in for his vasectomy next Wednesday (02/03/11). I was surprised how quickly it is all happening.


3) costs?? if a specialist does it or the gp???

DH paid $80 for the initial consultation and got $55 back from Medicare. The actual appointment will cost $500 and I think it is what Lisa said - $170 back from Medicare.


4)recovery. My DP has a pretty pyshical job...lifting furniture, unloading furniture trucks...so how many days off would he need??

No idea about recovery yet but DH's best mate had it done last year and he said one day of it being sore and then he felt fine. Both DH and his best mate have desk jobs though. DH is taking 3 days off and making it a 5 day weekend because he can


5) DP wants to know if when you go to the gp for the initial appt to ask for the referral as in I want to have a vasectomy...do they feel your balls? (Total man question!LOL but it worries him)

Our GP didn't but the GP who is doing the procedure did and showed DH where the incisions will be made. DH wasn't phased by it but I reckon it would be pretty awkward for lots of guys. I had to giggle at the pictures DH brought home that the doctor drew for him and the fact that the doctor went to uni for years, completed years of experience as a surgeon and now draws pictures of penises all day long ... most boys in high school sound qualified to do that job

Our initial visit with our own GP, he checked that DH and I were both prepared to go ahead with it and understood the procedure and took details like how many kids we have, DH's age etc. DH's consultation with the surgeon was basically the same thing and then he explained the procedure, the risks and scheduled a time for it.


Just in case you were wondering and weren't sure - they have to go for follow up testing 12 weeks after the procedure where they take a sperm count to see if there is anything left (DH will just have to provide a sample). So you have to continue to use protection for 12 weeks following the procedure and ejaculate (love that word) 20 times in the 12 weeks. If they fail the test, they wait for a few weeks and do the test again. Sometimes, it takes longer for some men to get it all out of their system than others. If they fail the test, they may need to repeat the procedure. Apparently it is possible for some men to have more than one tube on each side and if this is the case, they will remain fertile until the second tube is cut. It is really important to do the follow up testing.

The other thing to be aware of is that men still produce sperm, the tubes are just cut to stop it from being ejaculated but it is possible for the tubes to reconnect themselves down the track. Also reversal has a 40% success rate (also in case you were interested). Apparently a vasectomy is the most reliable form of contraception though, even more than women having their tubes tied (or so we were told).

I'll let you know how it goes on Wednesday if you are interested

[*Twinkle*]

I'll let you know how it goes on Wednesday if you are interested

That would be great Just Me!!

Thank you all for the quick responses. I might book DP into the GP to get the referral soon then. And damn its quite cheap to have it done! Great news!LOL Wish us(ok well him) luck!