So, you were thinking of getting a vasectomy but then you heard all kinds of things about the procedure and now you’re no longer sure? According to Dr Muhammad Barmania, a urologist at Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre, a vasectomy is probably not as major an operation as you might expect. What’s more, with Mediclinic’s Fixed Fees Packages, it may not be as pricey as you expected either.
1. I heard you can only have a vasectomy after a certain age…
‘Any male who is fertile, sexually active and is certain that he would not like to have children in the future is a candidate for a vasectomy,’ says Dr Barmania. The key point comes down to that last part – being certain that you don’t want to have children. ‘Patients need to think of the procedure as a permanent form of contraception,’ he says.
2. Regular contraception is basically the same thing though, right?
With so many different contraception options available these days, you may think having a vasectomy is unnecessary. But Dr Barmania says it gives you more peace of mind. ‘After a vasectomy you don’t have to worry about potential failure of other types of contraception – like a broken condom or a failed oral contraceptive. It’s also less invasive than a woman having a sterilisation,’ he adds.
3. There’s no way I’m taking several days off work and gym right now
You might assume the procedure must be major surgery, but this isn’t the case. ‘It’s a day procedure that can be done in a hospital or day clinic under local or general anaesthetic, according to the patient and surgeon’s preference,’ says Dr Barmania. ‘Most of my patients take the day of the procedure off and maybe the next day. You can start gentle upper-body workouts two or three days after surgery, and up the intensity after about a week.’
4. If I decide I actually do want a child, it’ll be too late
It’s true that reversing a vasectomy (vasovasostomy) is a tricky procedure and the odds of success vary widely, says Dr Barmania. But this doesn’t mean you’re out of options. ‘The alternative is harvesting sperm from the testis by biopsy and using artificial fertilisation,’ he says. So, you could still father a child if you chose to, it would just need to be with medical assistance.
5. The cost is just way too high
Mediclinic’s private fixed fees give you a quoted amount for your procedure upfront so that you aren’t hit with a surprise bill afterwards. It includes your planned hospital stay as well as a prolonged stay in the event that a complication arises as a result of your planned procedure. It doesn’t include your meds, doctor and anaesthetist’s fees, tests or scans. Vasectomy is on the list of qualifying procedures Find out more about Fixed Fees procedures here.
But is it safe to go to a hospital?
All Mediclinic hospitals and day clinics have strict COVID-19 protocols and safety measures in place. There’s no need to put off any procedure.
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