FAQs

There are several choices available for contraception. Each couple should choose the method that best suits their needs. Your doctor can also help you choose the best option for you.

Temporary and reversible methods of birth control include condoms, spermicides, a diaphragm, an IUD, the pill, the patch, and the Depo shot. Permanent methods include female sterilization by tubal ligation and male sterilization by vasectomy. These procedures cannot be performed in a way that makes them easier to reverse. This means only those who have decided not to have more (or any) children should choose permanent sterilization.

Sperm banking — freezing sperm for later use — is available through regional fertility laboratories. While it offers the possibility of future pregnancy, the process of storing and retrieving your sperm (and the assisted fertility procedures of artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization) can be complicated and costly, with no guaranteed results.

Vasectomy is a safe, simple, and minimally invasive procedure that is more than 99% effective. If you are deciding whether to get a vasectomy, it may be helpful to answer these questions: can you imagine a situation in which you would regret not having biological children? Would you consider adoption? You should also consider the risks and consequences of having an unintended pregnancy while using a reversible method of contraception.

Over several years, it would cost more to use the pill, an IUD, even condoms, than the one-time cost of a vasectomy.

A vasectomy is currently the only form of male permanent method of birth control. It is also safer and less invasive than a tubal ligation.

Vasectomy is the most effective of all the methods of birth control. It also ranks among the safest and most effective of surgeries. But nothing is perfect, and no surgery is 100% safe or effective.

The failure rate for this method of vasectomy is about 0.3%. That is to say, 3 out of 1000 men would remain fertile, even several months after the vasectomy. Failure can occur due to reconnection of the cut ends during healing, formation of a new channel through which sperm can travel, failure to identify and cut the vas, or duplication of the vas on one side.

At DrSnip, if your semen test is positive, we would repeat the vasectomy procedure at no cost to you.

During vasectomy, the vas deferens from each side is cut high in the scrotum. The sperm stored “downstream” in the channel leading to the prostate may still be ejaculated and cause pregnancy. The pathway needs to be emptied, which takes a variable amount of time, and will be complete in some men as early as 6 weeks, with at least 15 ejaculations, while other men require 6 months or more to clear.

Yes. The amount of semen you ejaculate after vasectomy is only decreased by about 5%. Without a microscope, you could not detect the absence of sperm cells in the fluid.

We understand you might not be “looking forward” to this procedure. We want to make your vasectomy experience simple, convenient, and comfortable. Vasectomy is what we do. We’ve performed tens of thousands of vasectomies using a proven and minimally invasive technique. Beyond the procedure, we are available to you. From your first communication through your aftercare, we’re here to help every step of the way.

However you like! You can register online or give us a call. We have appointments available almost every week. If you are using your insurance benefits, please allow us a week to check your benefits coverage for you. If you are paying privately, we might be able to see you within a week of receiving your completed registration forms.

Just one. We can perform your consultation and procedure in a single visit. During your consultation, we will discuss your procedure, your other birth control options, and your reasons for considering a vasectomy. We will answer any questions you and your partner may have. After your consultation, if you are ready to proceed, the doctor will perform the procedure.

Read our DrSnip Info Booklet. It contains essential information to help prepare you for your vasectomy. You can download it here.

Yes, it is our policy to require that patients arrange for transportation home after their procedure. On rare occasions a patient may feel lightheaded or faint, which would be hazardous while driving.

You may notice a mild ache in the testicles or the lower abdomen appearing later in the day or the next day. This ache, if it occurs, is usually mild and may be felt from time to time over the first few days, perhaps with activities such as getting up or moving quickly. It should not feel acute or severe. It will go away by itself. Anti-inflammatory medications can be of benefit, if needed.

Almost all men (99.2%) who have vasectomy are completely satisfied with the operation afterward. They enjoy freedom from other contraceptive methods that can interfere with sexual activity, freedom from worry about an accidental pregnancy, and freedom from concern about the effects of the pill or IUD on their partner’s health. A small number of men later regret having the operation. That is why it is so important you make the decision carefully, without any outside pressure. Your satisfaction depends largely upon your own preparation and thoughtful decision-making.

Vasectomy has been in use since the early 1900s and over 20 million American men have had one. To date, no long-term adverse effects have been proven to be caused by vasectomy. Ongoing studies have not demonstrated vasectomy plays any role in prostate cancer, heart disease, or autoimmune diseases. Chronic pain affecting the genital tract does develop in a small number of men, with or without a vasectomy. Medical scientists continue to explore the minor changes in the body associated with vasectomy. While it is possible there are undiscovered health risks caused by vasectomy, you would weigh this possibility against the known benefits.

As with any surgical procedure, complications do occasionally occur. With vasectomy, the risk is about 5%, or 1 in 20 men, and most of these complications are minor, temporary, and are easily treated with rest and medication.

Serious complications, by comparison, occur in less than 1% of all vasectomies, and less than 1 in 1000 at DrSnip.

When this rare complication occurs, it is usually painful, with a large purple lump, the size of a golf ball or larger, in the scrotum. Most hematomas occur within the first few hours after vasectomy, though they could also occur later in the week. A hematoma is not always due to overexertion or straining; it results from bleeding internally, which can occur spontaneously at the site of any surgery. Resting, especially on the first day, is the best prevention.

Vasectomy is usually covered by insurance plans. If your plan covers the procedure, your cost is determined by your insurance company. If the procedure is not covered by insurance and you are paying out of pocket, we charge $1,250, which includes your consultation and procedure.

If you are unsure if your insurance includes coverage for vasectomy, we will check on your coverage for you. Please start the registration process by clicking here and providing us with the necessary information on the insurance page. We will do our best to provide you with an accurate estimate of your share of costs.

You can also call your insurance company’s member services and inquire directly. Use the phone number on the back of your card. If you like, you can call us first and we will tell you exactly what to ask, so that you can obtain an accurate estimate from the insurance representative.

If you don’t have an active health insurance plan, if your plan excludes vasectomy, or if our doctors are not contracted with your plan, we offer a discounted rate that includes your consultation, procedure, and follow-up testing. Please feel free to call us to discuss.

We are contracted with most insurance companies, including Aetna, First Choice, UnitedHealthcare, Premera, and Regence. We also have many affiliate agreements through BlueCross and BlueShield. If you would like to know if your insurance company is contracted with us, please start the registration process by clicking here and providing us with the necessary information. We will do our best to determine if your insurance plan covers your vasectomy with DrSnip. You can also give us a call and give us the necessary information over the phone.

As with many medical procedures, many plans that cover vasectomy will first apply the cost of your annual deductible. If you have not met your deductible for the year, your patient share may total up to the full cost of the procedure. In such cases, any payment you make will be credited to your deductible and your out-of-pocket maximum for the year. If your deductible is partially or fully met, your plan may still have co-payment and/or co-insurance costs that you will have to pay.

We will check your benefits with your insurance company on your behalf and try to provide you with an accurate estimate of what your share of costs will be.

Please be aware that insurance companies will not guarantee your coverage, and you may owe a balance after they process your claim.