Graham’s story: Experience of a private practice NSV in the UK

After my wife and I decided that we definitely did not want any more children I looked up vasectomy in our Family Health encyclopedia – the word “sterilization” being enough to put me off. Anyway, after a while, I took the plunge and via my GP was referred to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. It was then that I came across this website and information on the No-scalpel technique which to me was the way forward. The only snag is that it is not available in the Tyne and Wear area on the NHS. It is however available from the Hartlepool Vasectomy Clinic and the Langton Medical Suite on the NHS but only for people from County Durham. There did not seem to be much between them except for the price – to have it done privately was cheaper at the Langton Medical suite so I booked in there (cost £150). I had to arrange for my GP to send in a referral letter – I was though slightly surprised when he had never heard of the No-scalpel technique. Rather ironically when I and my wife were making love two days before I was due to have the vasectomy the condom ripped for the first time ever – needless to say this helped to dispel any remaining doubts that I may have had about going ahead with it.

The vasectomy itself was low key and really straightforward and took approx. 20 mins. The only people in the room were the Dr and me which probably helped as did lying completely flat so I could not see what was going on. There were maps of the world on the ceiling to help keep your mind off things. In terms of pain there wasn’t really any – the only slightly off-putting thing was the sound of sizzling vas when they were heat-sealed! It is now 5 days since the vasectomy and apart from the odd niggle everything seems back to normal – no bruising or swelling. My advice is that if you are certain you don’t want any more children then just go for it – there is really not much to it and once it’s done it’s done.

Here are a few additional pointers which may be of use:

• Going private is not cheap but at least you can book in a time and date that suits you best – handy for not raising suspicion if you want to keep things to yourself (though having it done on your birthday as I did maybe a bit extreme!). The No-scalpel technique is well worth going for as there is only one really small wound, there are no stitches and the vas is not bent double and then tied which in a mate’s case causes slight discomfort.
• With the No-scalpel technique I was told I only had to trim the hairs on my scrotum – tried this – kept nicking the skin so abandoned it and shaved instead – far more straightforward and much quicker – recommend using King of Shaves sensitive shave gel – has added menthol – helps keep things cool.
• Eventually found a pair of jockstraps in the sports dept. of Fenwick’s Dept Store in Newcastle to wear afterward (JJB Sports shops also sell them but only in one size). It turned out however that the effort trying to get them was not worth it as they didn’t give much extra support – wore Speedo-style swimming trunks instead – much better.
• I normally cycle to work – was advised to lay off the bike for a week.
• As I don’t live near the vasectomy clinic and the local NHS hospital only tests sperm samples of people who have had their vasectomy there, it has been arranged that I can send the samples to the clinic by post (apparently they don’t still need to be swimming!).

Submitted by Graham