This page contains all the information you need to make an informed decision. If any questions remain, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Step-by-step guide to get the vasectomy

 

Étape S'informer
Étape S'informer (hover)

1. Get informed

Icone Programmer sa vasectomie

2. Schedule your vasectomy

Icone avant la vasectomie
Icone avant la vasectomie (hover)

3. Before the vasectomy

Icone La vasectomie

4. The vasectomy

Icone Après la vasectomie

5. After the vasectomy

Icone Rendez-vous de suivi

6. Post-op follow-up appointment (optional)

Étape S'informer

1. Get informed

What is a no-scalpel vasectomy?

This method was developed by a Chinese doctor and introduced in America in the 1980s. Simple and very effective, it allows men to end their fertility. The procedure is performed in less than 15 minutes after which the patient can return home.

Advantages :

  • This surgery is minor and allows you to no longer worry about contraception.
  • This method is less painful and creates fewer side effects than the traditional method.
  • This technique allows you to quickly return to work and your regular activities.

Dr. Pierre Jr. Boucher has been practicing male sterilization since 1992.

Efficiency

Its effectiveness is not immediate since there are several sperm remaining in the vas deferens. You should therefore use contraception until the spermogram gives a negative result. In less than 1% of cases, a canal can spontaneously re-canalize within 3 months of the operation. A re-channeling after 3 months can also occur. However, this is extremely rare, ie in 0.1% of cases.

Irreversibility

Vasectomy should be considered a permanent method of contraception. Even if there is a surgical intervention allowing to recreate the permeability of the vas deferens, the vasovasostomy, the latter is unfortunately not always effective. This is why, if you have doubts about your desire to have other children, you will have to opt for another method of contraception.

Complications

Complications, although infrequent, are bleeding, infection, or pain in the scrotum.

Unlike the scalpel technique which sometimes requires two incisions and sutures, no-scalpel vasectomy promotes faster recovery and decreases the risk of complications.

Icone illustration Infection Local

Local
Infection

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Bleeding

Douleur icone

Pain in
the scrotum

Costs

The cost of the vasectomy is covered by the health insurance card (RAMQ), however, it must be valid. We therefore invite you to renew your health insurance card before starting the procedures for the vasectomy.

Supported by the RAMQ

Make sure you have a valid Quebec health insurance card.

Appointment cancellation policy

Please note that if you do not report an appointment cancellation MORE than 48 business hours away, a $115 fee will apply. Please respect our cancellation policy.

Payment

Costs, if applicable, are payable in cash or by Interac transfer.

Work stopping

At the time of your appointment for surgery, you may request documentation for the leave of absence. There are two types of work stoppage:

  • The insurance form requested by your employer. This one costs $125.
  • The document provided by Dr. Boucher. This document costs $25.

Work stopping Appointment cancellation policy Payment Supported by the RAMQ Make sure you have a valid Quebec health insurance card. Work stopping Appointment cancellation policy Payment Supported by the RAMQ Please note that if you do not report an appointment cancellation MORE than 48 business hours away, a $115 fee will apply.

Please respect our cancellation policy. Work stopping Appointment cancellation policy Payment Supported by the RAMQ Costs, if applicable, are payable in cash or by Interac transfer. Work stopping Appointment cancellation policy Payment Supported by the RAMQ At the time of your appointment for surgery, you may request documentation for the leave of absence. There are two types of work stoppage:
  • The insurance form requested by your employer. This one costs $125.
  • The document provided by Dr. Boucher. This document costs $25.
Icone Programmer sa vasectomie

2. Schedule your vasectomy

Complete the application form and watch the informative video

Make sure you have seen the mandatory informative video BEFORE submitting your form. Once decided, you complete the application form to open your file.

Our team ensures that your information is valid.

Icone avant la vasectomie

3. Before the vasectomy

Dr. Boucher takes note of your file and your specific needs.

Here is a short summary of the instructions to follow before your appointment:

Intervention morning Adequate underwear Shaving Personal hygiene Medications Do not take anti-inflammatory or blood-thinning medications (Advil, Aspirin, Entrophen, Motrin, Naproxen) two weeks before surgery. Consuming one of these products during this time will prevent us from proceeding with the surgery, since these increase the risk of bleeding in the peri and post operative period.

*Cancellation fees may apply Intervention morning Adequate underwear Shaving Personal hygiene Medications Shave the scrotum and the base of the penis the day before or the same morning. A razor blade is recommended. The electric razor or the depilatory cream are to be avoided. If your shave is not adequate, we will have to cancel the surgery.

*Cancellation fees may apply Intervention morning Adequate underwear Shaving Personal hygiene Medications Please take your shower the morning of the surgery as you will not be able to take it for 24 hours after the surgery. Baths should be avoided for 48 hours. Matin d'intervention Adequate underwear Shaving Personal hygiene Medications On the day of the operation, come with a tight underwear that offers good support in the scotum. Intervention morning Adequate underwear Shaving Personal hygiene Medications The morning of the procedure you must: Wear underwear with good scrotal support Wear a T-Shirt Show up with someone who will drive you home Eat as usual Take a shower Prendre une douche icone
Medications

Do not take anti-inflammatory or blood-thinning medications (Advil, Aspirin, Entrophen, Motrin, Naproxen) two weeks before surgery. Consuming one of these products during this time will prevent us from proceeding with the surgery, since these increase the risk of bleeding in the peri and post operative period.

*Cancellation fees may apply

Shaving

Shave the scrotum and the base of the penis the day before or the same morning. A razor blade is recommended. The electric razor or the depilatory cream are to be avoided. If your shave is not adequate, we will have to cancel the surgery.

*Cancellation fees may apply

Personal hygiene

Please take your shower the morning of the surgery as you will not be able to take it for 24 hours after the surgery. Baths should be avoided for 48 hours.

Adequate underwear

On the day of the operation, come with a tight underwear that offers good support in the scotum.

Intervention morning

The morning of the procedure you must:

Prendre une douche icone

Take
a shower

Wear a
T-Shirt

Wear underwear with
good scrotal support

Show up with someone who will
drive you home

Eat
as usual

Please note that all these instructions must be followed, otherwise we may be forced to cancel your appointment and charges may apply.

Icone La vasectomie

4. The vasectomy

You come to the clinic 15 minutes before your appointment, making sure you have read the pre-operative instructions beforehand and have watched the explanatory video.

The doctor performs local anesthesia. The vas deferens that carry sperm from the testicles are brought to the skin and secured with a specially designed clamp. Another instrument is used to spread the tissue in order to ligate with clips and sever the vas deferens, preventing the passage of sperm. No stitches will be necessary. The procedure lasts approximately 10 minutes and we ask you to wait 35 minutes after the surgery before leaving the clinic.

Vasectomy does not influence erection or ejaculation. Sperm make up a tiny portion of an ejaculation. The production of these will continue but the passage having been blocked and cut, the sperm will be reabsorbed by the body.

Image d"illustration du processus de vasectomie
Icone Après la vasectomie

5. After the vasectomy

Here are the instructions to follow after your appointment:

Pain Hygiene Sexual relations Underwear Physical activity Avoid physical exertion for at least 7 days: Spermogram Do not stand for extended periods of time (walking or in a static position) Dot not lift loads of more than 25lbs Sports can be resumed around 10 to 14 days after surgery Avoid squatting Pain Hygiene Spermogram Sexual relations Underwear Physical activity No sexual activity, including masturbation, is permitted for the first 7 days following the vasectomy. Sexual relations with contraception will then be permitted, until the result of your spermogram is obtained Pain Hygiene Spermogram Sexual relations Underwear Physical activity Continually wear tight underwear for the first 24 hours, then only during the day for 4 to 5 days. For the following nights, it’s according to your preference. Pain Hygiene Spermogram Sexual relations Underwear Physical activity You can take a shower 24 hours after surgery. The dressing can be removed at this time. Bathing is permitted after 48 hours and swimming (pool and spa) after 7 days. Spermogram Pain Hygiene Sexual relations Underwear Physical activity Pain can be controlled with 1 to 2 acetaminophen (Tylenol) 500 mg tablets every 4 to 6 hours for the first 7 days. If pain persists for more than 7 days, you can take anti-inflammatory drugs (Advil, Motrin).

It is very important to cover the scrotal area with ice (bag of frozen peas) over underwear, for 15 minutes, every hour, for the first day, then as needed for the next 5 days. This is to prevent swelling and decrease pain.

The scrotum may be swollen and take on a bluish color, this is normal at first. If the swelling becomes very significant or the pain persists or increases despite taking Tylenol, it is important to contact us. The bluish coloring, if it appears, will disappear within 1 to 2 weeks. Spermogram Pain Hygiene Sexual relations Underwear Physical activity The spermogram must be done after a minimum of 45 ejaculations, that is to say approximately one ejaculation once every two days for 3 months, as well as after a minimum of 3 months following the surgery. On the day of the vasectomy, we will give you a container and a requisition for this test. Respect a period of abstinence of 3 to 7 days before taking the test.

Collect all the sperm obtained by masturbation directly into the container (do not use a condom). Bring your sample to the lab within one hour with your prescription. The specimen can be analyzed in different centers:
  • Private laboratory (provide costs)
  • Hospital Center
You will receive a result by letter within three weeks of your spermogram. You should consider yourself fertile until you get your result and continue to use birth control.
Physical activity

Avoid physical exertion for at least 7 days:

Avoid
squatting

Dot not lift loads
of more than 25 lbs

Do not stand for extended periods of time
(walking or in a static position)

Sports can be resumed
around 10 to 14 days after surgery

Sexual relations

No sexual activity, including masturbation, is permitted for the first 7 days following the vasectomy. Sexual relations with contraception will then be permitted, until the result of your spermogram is obtained.

Underwear

Continually wear tight underwear for the first 24 hours, then only during the day for 4 to 5 days. For the following nights, it’s according to your preference.

Hygiene

You can take a shower 24 hours after surgery. The dressing can be removed at this time. Bathing is permitted after 48 hours and swimming (pool and spa) after 7 days.

Pain

Pain can be controlled with 1 to 2 acetaminophen (Tylenol) 500 mg tablets every 4 to 6 hours for the first 7 days. If pain persists for more than 7 days, you can take anti-inflammatory drugs (Advil, Motrin).

It is very important to cover the scrotal area with ice (bag of frozen peas) over underwear, for 15 minutes, every hour, for the first day, then as needed for the next 5 days. This is to prevent swelling and decrease pain.

The scrotum may be swollen and take on a bluish color, this is normal at first. If the swelling becomes very significant or the pain persists or increases despite taking Tylenol, it is important to contact us. The bluish coloring, if it appears, will disappear within 1 to 2 weeks.

Spermogram

The spermogram must be done after a minimum of 45 ejaculations, that is to say approximately one ejaculation once every two days for 3 months, as well as after a minimum of 3 months following the surgery. On the day of the vasectomy, we will give you a container and a requisition for this test. Respect a period of abstinence of 3 to 7 days before taking the test.

Collect all the sperm obtained by masturbation directly into the container (do not use a condom). Bring your sample to the lab within one hour with your prescription. The specimen can be analyzed in different centers:

  • Private laboratory (provide costs)
  • Hospital Center

You will receive a result by letter within three weeks of your spermogram. You should consider yourself fertile until you get your result and continue to use birth control.

Icone Rendez-vous de suivi

6. Post-operative follow-up appointment

Following the operation, no follow-up examination is mandatory. Nevertheless, we remain available to receive you in the weeks following the intervention, if necessary. This way, we can answer your questions and do a physical assessment if necessary.

Have you read this whole fact sheet yet?
Now it’s time to move on to step two:
Schedule your vasectomy.

Complete the application form and watch the informative video

Make sure you have seen the mandatory informative video BEFORE submitting your form. Once decided, you fill out the application form to open your file.