Vasectomy has become a popular method of family planning in recent years in Australia. The relatively simple procedure is effective, has few complications and usually does not require hospitalisation.
PIP: A thorough explanation of vasectomy is important for couples considering male sterilization in order to distinguish it from castration and to emphasize that the male sexual organs are not the focus of surgery and that there is no change in the hormones controlling male sexual behavior. Patients should be informed of the possibility of spontaneous canalization and the uncertainty of surgical reversal. Sterility after vasectomy is not immediate and a semen analysis should be prepared after 20 ejaculations. 2 successive analyses demonstrating absence of sperm are usually considered to indicate sterility. A complete general and local examination should be performed before vasectomy. Local anesthesia may be used unless the patient is tense or has a varicocele, hydrocele, or a large inguinal or scrotal hernia, in which case general anesthesia and extended surgical facilities are needed. During surgery, the cut ends of the vas should be microcauterized. Spontaneous canalization has occurred despite removal of a section of the vas, coagulation of the lumen with diathermy, and ligation of the ends with silk after turning them back. A recent study of 40 patients showed that placing the 2 cut ends of the vas in different fascial planes did not reduce the risk of spontaneous canalization. Among complications, bruising is common but resolves within a few weeks without treatment. In 1 series, minor hematomas occured in 3-5%, .7% of which required treatment. Large hematomas can require hospitalization or surgical drainage. Infection in the scrotum is potentially serious and occurs in 1.5-4.3% of patients. Sperm granuloma formation is a complication in 20-50% of cases, but a sperm granuloma at the vasectomy site allows decompression of the vas and epididymis, assuring good quality sperm in the vas fluid and improving the prospects for future reversal. Surgery in the genital area can cause castration anxiety even in normal, well-adjusted men, but problems can be prevented by preoperative assessment and counseling. 3 factors are most important to successful reversal: meticulous surgical technique at vasectomy and anastomosis, the length of time since vasectomy, and the presence of a sperm granuloma. It has been suggested that successful reversal is more likely if the vasectomy was performed at a distance from the epididymis, not more than 1 cm of the vas was removed, and the stumps were buried in different fascial planes.