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Dr. Chrysoula I. Liakou MD, PhD
- Treated online: Assessment online. A doctor can talk through whether a vasectomy suits you and help with recovery questions; the procedure and semen tests are in person.
- How well it works: about 1 in 2,000 vasectomies fail, making it one of the most effective methods, but only once a semen test shows there are no sperm.
- Not straight away: use other contraception until a semen test, usually about 12 weeks after the procedure, confirms there are no sperm.
- Sex afterwards: hormones, sex drive and erections are not affected, and you still ejaculate, but the semen contains no sperm.
- Emergency: call 112 for heavy bleeding that will not stop, or a high temperature with feeling very unwell, after a vasectomy.
After a vasectomy, call 112 or go to an emergency department for heavy bleeding that will not stop, or a high temperature with feeling very unwell. Pain or swelling that suddenly gets worse, a lump in the scrotum that keeps growing, or blood or pus from the wound needs an in-person check promptly.
Can an online doctor help with a vasectomy?
No, a vasectomy cannot be done online: it is a minor operation on the scrotum, carried out in person by a trained doctor, and the semen tests afterwards are done in a laboratory. What a doctor can do by video is talk through whether it is the right choice for you and the alternatives, prepare you for the procedure and the recovery, help with pain, swelling or worries afterwards, and tell you when an examination is needed.
How an online consultation helps with a vasectomy
- Is it right for you?: How permanent it is, the reversible methods that work as well, and the situations linked to regret.
- What to expect: How the procedure is done, the no-scalpel technique, and the days afterwards.
- Until it works: Contraception until your semen test, and how the test works.
- Help afterwards: Pain, swelling and lumps, and which signs need an examination.
What the doctor checks in an online vasectomy consultation
The doctor asks about any warning signs first, then about your plans and your health. The doctor asks about:
- Warning signs after a vasectomy: pain or swelling that is getting worse, a growing lump, bleeding, pus or a high temperature.
- Your plans: whether you are sure you do not want children in the future, and how you would feel if your circumstances changed.
- Your situation: your age, whether you have children, and whether the decision is being made at a stressful time.
- Your health: bleeding problems, blood-thinning medicines, earlier operations on the scrotum or groin, and any testicular pain.
- Contraception meanwhile: what you and your partner will use until the semen test is clear.
Before the call, write down your questions. If you have had the procedure, note the date, what you were told about the semen test, and any symptoms since.
What is a vasectomy, and how does it work?
A vasectomy, or male sterilisation, is a minor operation that cuts and seals or ties the tubes that carry sperm from the testicles, so there is no sperm in the semen. It is usually done under local anaesthetic; the procedure itself is short, often about a quarter of an hour, and the appointment about half an hour. It is meant to be permanent, and it does not protect against sexually transmitted infections.
What is a no-scalpel vasectomy?
Instead of a cut, the surgeon makes a small puncture in the skin of the scrotum to reach the tubes, and the puncture is closed with glue or left to heal on its own. In studies, it led to less bleeding and fewer infections than the conventional method with a cut:
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| Complication | No-scalpel | Conventional, with a cut |
|---|---|---|
| Bleeding at the time | 2.4 in 100 | 4.0 in 100 |
| A collection of blood (haematoma) | 2.4 in 100 | 12.5 in 100 |
| Infection | 0.7 in 100 | 2.2 in 100 |
Vasectomy or female sterilisation?
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| Vasectomy | Female sterilisation | Implant or coil | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How often it fails | About 1 in 2,000 | About 1 in 200 over a lifetime | Fewer than 1 in 100 a year |
| Anaesthetic | Usually local | Usually general | Local, if any |
| Works from | A clear semen test, about 12 weeks later | Contraception needed for at least 7 days after | Straight away or within 7 days, by type |
| Reversible | Not reliably | Not reliably | Yes, when removed |
The female sterilisation page covers the operation for women.
Is a vasectomy right for you?
A vasectomy suits men who are sure they do not want children, or any more children, in the future. Long-acting methods for a partner, such as the implant or a coil, are as effective as sterilisation and can be stopped.
Who is more likely to regret it?
Regret is more likely if you are under 30, have no children or are not in a relationship, and decisions made at a stressful time, such as after a birth, a loss or a break-up, are best put off. In one study, men in their 20s were 12.5 times more likely to ask for a reversal than men over 30. This is why doctors take time over the decision with younger men.
What are the disadvantages of a vasectomy?
- It is meant to be permanent, and reversal does not always work.
- It does not work straight away: you need other contraception until a semen test is clear.
- There is a small risk of long-term pain in the testicles.
- It does not protect against sexually transmitted infections.
What happens after a vasectomy, and how long is recovery?
Some discomfort, bruising and swelling are common for 1 to 2 weeks. Most people are back to light activity within 2 to 3 days. Typical aftercare advice is:
- Rest for the first 24 hours, and avoid lifting and strenuous activity for at least 48 hours.
- Wear supportive underwear day and night for the first few days.
- Use an ice pack wrapped in a cloth for the first 2 to 3 days.
- Avoid baths for about a week.
- Take painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen if you need them.
How long after a vasectomy can you have sex?
Usually after a few days to 10 days, once it is comfortable; follow the advice of the clinic that did it. You still need other contraception until a semen test confirms there are no sperm.
Do you still ejaculate after a vasectomy?
Yes. A vasectomy stops sperm getting into the semen, but you still ejaculate. Your hormones are not affected, so your sex drive, erections and enjoyment of sex should not change.
How long until a vasectomy works? The semen test
Not straight away: sperm stay in the tubes beyond the cut for a while. A semen test is usually done about 12 weeks after the procedure, and after around 20 ejaculations, and sometimes more than one is needed. You can rely on the vasectomy only after a clear test.
- About 80% of men have no sperm in their semen by 3 months.
- Follow the clinic’s instructions on collecting the sample: how long to abstain beforehand, and how quickly to get it to the laboratory.
- In one review, a median of 19% of men never gave a sample: without the test, you cannot be sure the vasectomy has worked.
Can you still get pregnant after a vasectomy?
Rarely. About 1 in 2,000 vasectomies fail, because the tubes join up again, either soon after the procedure or years later. That is why a pregnancy many years after a partner’s vasectomy, although very unusual, is possible. Over a lifetime, fewer than 1 in 2,500 women whose partner has had a vasectomy become pregnant.
Vasectomy risks and side effects
A vasectomy is usually very safe, and serious side effects are rare. What can happen:
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| Problem | How often | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Bruising, swelling and discomfort | Common in the first days | Rest, support, ice and painkillers |
| Bleeding or a collection of blood | About 2 to 13 in 100, depending on the technique | See a doctor if the swelling keeps growing |
| Infection | About 1 to 2 in 100 | See a doctor for redness, pus or a high temperature |
| A small lump of sperm (sperm granuloma) | Can happen | Usually harmless; anti-inflammatory painkillers help |
| Long-term pain in the testicles | About 1 to 2 in 100 | Treatment with medicines, or rarely surgery |
| Failure | About 1 in 2,000 | Contraception until a clear semen test |
There is no proven link between vasectomy and testicular or prostate cancer, and no apparent link with heart disease.
Can a vasectomy be reversed?
Sometimes, but it is a more complicated operation than the vasectomy, it does not always work, and the chances fall the longer ago the vasectomy was. In the UK, reversal is rarely available on the NHS. In a large study of microsurgical reversal:
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| Time since the vasectomy | Sperm back in the semen | Pregnancy |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 3 years | 97 in 100 | 76 in 100 |
| 3 to 8 years | 88 in 100 | 53 in 100 |
| 9 to 14 years | 79 in 100 | 44 in 100 |
| 15 years or more | 71 in 100 | 30 in 100 |
The partner’s age matters too: in one study, pregnancy followed reversal in 14% of couples when the partner was 40 or over, against 56% when she was younger. IVF is another route if reversal is not possible or does not work.
What might the doctor recommend about a vasectomy?
This is the framework the doctors use:
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| What you have | Likely first step | Suitable for online care? | When in-person care is needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| You are sure you want no more children | Counselling on permanence and alternatives, then a referral | Yes, to assess | For the vasectomy |
| You are under 30, have no children, or are unsure | Time to decide, and reversible methods discussed | Yes | Not needed for now |
| Bruising and aching in the first days | Rest, support, ice and painkillers | Yes | If it gets worse |
| A lump in the scrotum after the procedure | Assessment of the likely cause | Partly | If it keeps growing or is very painful |
| Redness, pus or a high temperature | A check for infection | Partly | Promptly, for an examination |
| Pain that lasts months after the procedure | Pain relief and a plan | Partly | For specialist assessment |
| Questions about reversal | Your chances, and the alternatives | Yes | For the reversal operation |
| Heavy bleeding, or a high temperature with feeling very unwell | Emergency care | No | Call 112 now |
Wondering whether a vasectomy is right for you? A doctor can talk it through in one consultation.
See available times →Vasectomy care and options
What you can do yourself
- Take time over the decision, and talk it through with your partner if you have one.
- Plan a few quiet days after the procedure, with supportive underwear and ice packs ready.
- Keep using contraception until you have a clear semen test, and do the test when you are asked to.
- Use condoms for protection against sexually transmitted infections.
Prescription treatment
A prescription is never issued without a consultation. The vasectomy itself is done in person, but around it the doctor may recommend pain relief, prescribe an anti-inflammatory painkiller for a sperm granuloma or pain that lingers, and tell you when a wound problem needs examining and antibiotics. If the doctor prescribes, use the prescription at a pharmacy near you.
What does not help
Stopping contraception before a clear semen test. Skipping the semen test. Going back to heavy lifting or sport in the first 48 hours.
Special situations
Contraception for your partner meanwhile
Until the semen test is clear, use condoms or another method. If your partner wants a method of her own, the birth control page compares the options, and a doctor can advise her separately.
After an unprotected slip before the test is clear
Your partner may need emergency contraception, which works best the sooner it is taken.
Living or travelling abroad
Keep a copy of the operation note and the semen test result. If you have the procedure abroad, make sure you know where to send the semen sample before you travel home.
Children
Mobi Doctor consultations are for adults aged 18 and over. A child who is unwell needs a paediatrician or a local doctor in person, and emergency signs in a child mean 112.
When a vasectomy is assessed online, and when you need in-person care
Assessed online: deciding whether a vasectomy is right for you, preparing for it, recovery questions, mild pain and swelling, the semen test, and reversal questions.
In-person care: the vasectomy, semen tests, examinations for swelling, lumps, wound problems or lasting pain, and reversal.
When to get in-person care
Call 112 or go to an emergency department now for:
- heavy bleeding from the wound that will not stop
- a high temperature with feeling very unwell, confused or faint
Get medical advice the same day for:
- pain or swelling in the scrotum that suddenly gets worse, or has not improved after a few days
- a high temperature after a vasectomy
- blood, pus or fluid leaking from the wound
- a lump in the scrotum that keeps growing
How Mobi Doctor works
- Book a time that suits you: daily 7am–11pm CEST. You can see a doctor over video, usually within 15 minutes. No subscription, and the exact price is shown before you pay.
- Speak to a licensed doctor about the vasectomy: say what you want to know or what you have noticed, and, if you have had the procedure, when it was done.
- Leave with a plan: what to do, what to take and for how long, and which signs mean you should be seen in person. If the doctor prescribes, use the prescription at a pharmacy near you.
No sign-up needed
Noticed pain, swelling or another symptom since your vasectomy? Tick every symptom you have to see each condition page that mentions it. It finds the right page, not a diagnosis: a doctor gives you that on a video call.
Tap the body — an area or a point — to browse symptoms anywhere
Similar symptoms, different condition? Female Sterilisation can start the same way. Compare them, or look up any other symptom in the full symptom checker.
Frequently asked questions about vasectomy
What is a vasectomy?
A vasectomy is a minor operation, also called male sterilisation, that cuts and seals or ties the tubes carrying sperm from the testicles, so there is no sperm in the semen. It is usually done under local anaesthetic and is meant to be permanent.
How effective is a vasectomy?
About 1 in 2,000 vasectomies fail, making it one of the most effective methods of contraception, but only once a semen test has shown there are no sperm.
Is a vasectomy reversible?
Not reliably. Reversal is a more complicated operation and does not always work: in a large study, pregnancy followed in 76% of couples when the vasectomy was less than 3 years earlier, falling to 30% after 15 years or more.
How long does a vasectomy take?
The vasectomy procedure itself is short, often about a quarter of an hour, under local anaesthetic, and the whole appointment usually takes about half an hour, including the check beforehand and the aftercare advice. You go home afterwards and can usually return to light activity within 2 to 3 days.
Does a vasectomy hurt?
During a vasectomy the local anaesthetic numbs the area, so most people feel pressure or tugging rather than pain. Bruising, swelling and discomfort are common for 1 to 2 weeks afterwards, and about 1 to 2 in 100 men have long-term pain.
What are the signs of a problem after a vasectomy?
Bruising, swelling and discomfort for 1 to 2 weeks are expected after a vasectomy. See a doctor for swelling that keeps growing, which can be a collection of blood, for redness, pus or a high temperature, which can mean infection, or for a small tender lump, usually a harmless sperm granuloma. Pain in the testicles that lasts beyond the first weeks affects about 1 to 2 in 100 men and is worth a review rather than putting up with it.
What can I do at home to recover after a vasectomy?
Rest for the first 24 hours and avoid lifting and strenuous activity for at least 48 hours; wear supportive underwear for the first few days; use an ice pack in a cloth for 2 to 3 days to limit swelling; avoid baths for about a week while the wound heals; and take paracetamol or ibuprofen if you need them. Most men are back to light activity within 2 to 3 days of a vasectomy, and keep using contraception until the semen test is clear.
How long after a vasectomy can you have sex?
Usually a few days to 10 days after the vasectomy, once it is comfortable. You still need other contraception until a semen test, usually about 12 weeks later, shows there are no sperm.
Do you still ejaculate after a vasectomy?
Yes. A vasectomy stops sperm getting into the semen, but you still ejaculate, and the amount of fluid looks and feels the same, because sperm make up only a tiny part of it. Your hormones are not affected, so your sex drive, erections and enjoyment of sex should not change.
Does a vasectomy lower testosterone?
No. A vasectomy only blocks the tubes that carry sperm; the testicles keep making testosterone and releasing it into the blood exactly as before, so your voice, body hair, muscle, mood, sex drive and erections do not change. It is not castration, and it has no effect on masculinity or on the ability to have an erection or orgasm. The only change is that the semen no longer contains sperm.
Can you still get pregnant after a vasectomy?
Rarely. About 1 in 2,000 vasectomies fail because the tubes join up again, either soon after the procedure or years later. Before a clear semen test, pregnancy is possible, so other contraception is needed.
What are the disadvantages of a vasectomy?
A vasectomy is meant to be permanent, it does not work until a semen test is clear, there is a small risk of long-term pain, and it does not protect against sexually transmitted infections.
Does a vasectomy cause cancer or heart disease?
There is no proven link between vasectomy and testicular or prostate cancer, and no apparent link with heart disease. Large studies have looked for these links over many years, and UK guidance does not list cancer or heart disease among the risks of vasectomy.
What is a no-scalpel vasectomy?
In a no-scalpel vasectomy the tubes are reached through a small puncture in the scrotum rather than a cut. In studies, it caused less bleeding and fewer infections than the conventional method.
Can an online doctor help with a vasectomy?
Yes, with everything about a vasectomy except the operation and the semen test: whether it suits you, what to expect, recovery questions, and which problems afterwards need an examination.
- What is a vasectomy?, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 28 February 2024.
- Vasectomy: complications, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 28 February 2024.
- Your guide to male and female sterilisation, FPA, the sexual health charity, published by NHS Fife (UK), June 2015.
- Vasectomy, Mayo Clinic (US), 7 March 2025.
- Common questions about vasectomy, Rayala BZ, Viera AJ. American Family Physician, 2013.
- Which methods are best at preventing pregnancy?, Contraception Choices, College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (UK), accessed 15 October 2026.
This page is for information only and is not a substitute for a medical consultation. Guideline links are provided for transparency; treatment decisions are made with your doctor.
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