No Scalpel Vasectomy, No-Needle Vasectomy, Vasectomy Cost, Vasectomy Surgery
Today, vasectomy is known to be the most reliable of all birth control methods. It provides continuous protection and is the most cost-effective birth control method available. With over 500,000 men in the US deciding to have a vasectomy, the non-surgical options become more and more popular. No-scalpel vasectomy is very similar to the traditional vasectomy with the advantage of being less invasive with much less discomfort, less complications and a shorter recovery time for the patient.
Why Men Choose Having a Vasectomy
- Men can take charge of birth control
- 99.9% effective
- 10-minute office procedure
- The least expensive method of birth control
- Most common surgical procedure of all time
Vasectomy Cost
The cost involved with the vasectomy procedure is lower than you might expect. Typically, it is covered by your health insurance, and in most cases you pay only a co-pay. Please contact your health insurance to find out if you have coverage for vasectomy. If you have no health insurance and you are paying out of pocket, vasectomy performed by Dr. Bastuba will cost $200 consultation and $600 for the vasectomy procedure.
Prior To Vasectomy Surgery
PLEASE FREEZE! Dr. Bastuba highly recommends to any man prior to his vasectomy to have samples of his own sperm cryopreserved. In case you decide to have children later in life, you can use your own sperm safely, effectively and inexpensively and keep your vasectomy intact. Dr. Bastuba feels strongly about preserving a couple’s fertility options. That’s why for Dr. Bastuba’s vasectomy patients, Fertility Center of California (FCC) slashed the cost of storage for 3 sperm samples for 3 years by 2/3 for a fee of only $500. The typical cost is $1,700.
NEW: No-Needle Vasectomy aka No-Needle No-Scalpel Vasectomy
The application of the local anesthesia is sometimes the part that causes the most anxiety for men. Eliminating the needle injection of the anesthesia makes the no-needle vasectomy a very attractive option. Instead, the anesthesia is delivered to each vas by “hypospray”, which instantly numbs the skin and the entire operating area. The hypospray is commonly used in dental anesthesia and allows for a needle-free injection. Using this method, men have compared the sensation to a rubber band on the skin. With much less discomfort, fast recovery and rare complications associated with the no-needle vasectomy, this method gains increasing popularity among Dr. Bastuba’s patients. It is safe and has the same effective outcome.
Vasectomy Surgery
The technique that if most often requested by Dr. Bastuba’s patients is the no-scalpel vasectomy. It is minimally invasive and the entire procedure lasts about 10 minutes.
Prior to the vasectomy surgery, a local anesthesia is applied. The vas deferens on each side is located and a tiny opening is created to gently lift the vas deferens out to be cut and tied and put back. The opening is so small that it doesn’t require any sutures nor stitches and will heal quickly with a small band aid.
Immediate post-op patient care includes a follow-up consultation to evaluate the healing process at approximately one week and a semen analysis approximately after 4 weeks.
Dr. Bastuba is routinely available via his direct, personal, mobile phone number to address any post-op questions. 24-hour coverage is also available for general questions.
Advantages of No-scalpel Vasectomy
Dr. Bastuba’s patients prefer the no-scalpel vasectomy because of its minimally invasive technique. It is the most gentle technique with the least associated complications such as bruising or scarring. No-scalpel vasectomy allows for quick recovery with 100% effectiveness.
Clip Vasectomy
Another minimal invasive technique of vasectomy is the clip vasectomy. As the name indicates, a locking plastic band is placed around the vas deferens. The clip eliminates cutting, suturing, and burning the vas deferens that reduces pain, recovery time and the risk of complications for the patient.
For more information about clip vasectomy go to VasClip.com.
Dr. Bastuba on “Open Ended” and “Normal Vasectomy” Techniques
The “open ended” vasectomy derives its name from the fact that the proximal end of the vas deferens is left open, i.e. unclipped. This technique is based on the idea that the back pressure build up on the epididymis and testicle is reduced. However, sperm can leak from the open end, causing inflammation and complications. This technique has a higher failure rate associated with it and therefore is not generally recommended by Dr. Bastuba.
The “normal” or ”traditional” vasectomy uses a scalpel to puncture the scrotum. Unlike in the open ended vasectomy, both ends of the vas deferens are either stitched, clamped or closed with sutures. Associated complications include antibodies, bruising, swelling, epididymitis, and infection. Dr. Bastuba is not recommending this technique to his patients.
About your Vasectomy Doctor
Dr. Bastuba is the founder and medical director of Male Fertility Specialists in San Diego. He is part of the elite group of 2% of board-certified urologists in the U.S. who are specialized in treatments and procedures relating to male fertility. He has earned numerous academic achievement awards, is board-certified by The American Board of Urology, and is currently a clinical instructor in urology at the University of California-San Diego's School of Medicine. He is a frequent guest lecturer and author, serves as a consulting medical expert for local and national TV, and has published and participated in a number of research studies in his areas of expertise. He and his staff are dedicated to make each experience the very best it can be.
Why choose a male fertility specialist to have the vasectomy performed?
There are countless San Diego urologists and general family practitioners that perform vasectomies every day. However, when going to San Diego’s board-certified, Fellowship trained male fertility specialist, Dr. Bastuba, you can be sure that his extensive training and experience will provide you the best possible care. Only 2% of urologists in the US go through the specialized training of male fertility. In San Diego, he is the most experienced physician performing vasectomies and vasectomy reversals on a routine basis. It is not necessary to have specialized training to perform a vasectomy safely, but in case that there are complications, the specialist might be able to solve the issue faster and easier. Our patients also choose him because of our extensive post-op patient care. Last but not least, he is also among the world’s best vasectomy reversal specialists. Just in case you decide to have the vasectomy reversed later in life, you are in the best possible hands. As a reversal specialist, he has seen many vasectomies and knows the safest and most secure methods.
For detailed information about Dr. Bastuba’s credentials and training, please read his bio and CV.
Contact us today to make an appointment.
What are the Risks and Complications?
As with any surgical procedure, there is a small risk of infection. Complications are unusual, but may occur in form of inflammation or light bleeding. Complications are typically treated with medication and rest. Just make sure you follow the post-op instructions to limit downtime to a minimum. After your vasectomy, you will get our 24-hour emergency hotline in case you need to get in touch with Dr. Bastuba or a covering physician.
Vasectomy and the Risk of Prostate or Testicular Cancer
There have been extensive studies and research showing that having a vasectomy does not increase your risk of getting prostate cancer or testicular cancer. If fact, there are no other negative health issues associated with vasectomy.
Vasectomy and the Risk of Prostatitis and Epididymitis
There is no link between vasectomy and the increased risk of prostatitis or epididymitis.
Vasectomy vs. Tubal Ligation
Once a couple decides that they don’t want to have any more children, it might come to the question of either him getting a vasectomy or her getting a tubal ligation. Altough both can be reversed, both procedures are to be considered permanent sterilization. Interestingly, tubal ligation is a lot more common in the US than vasectomy. If couples are well informed, the choice falls on vasectomy. Here is why:
|
Vasectomy |
Tubal Ligation |
Procedure Time |
10 minutes physicians office |
1 Day Hospital |
Procedure |
Considered minor procedure |
Considered major surgery |
Anesthesia |
Local |
General anesthesia |
Recovery |
No heavy lifting for following 48 hours |
No physical activity for 1 week |
Complications |
Rare, light swelling |
Slight risk of bleeding and infection |
Failure Rate |
1% |
2% |
Long Term Health Risks |
None |
Pelvic pain, post tubal ligation syndrome, high risk of hysterectomy, mortality is 4 in 100,000 |
Cost |
Covered under most health plans, $600 if out-of-pocket |
Hospital costs, anesthesia, etc. $1,000 – 5,000 |
When is the Vasectomy Effective
Post vasectomy, you may still be fertile for a number of weeks. Sperm can survive in the vas deferens for weeks if not months. Therefore, after the vasectomy, we highly require using other contraception until no more motile sperm is found in 2 semen analyses performed in our office. While the vasectomy is 99.9% effective, it is also reversible.
What do I do if I change my mind later and want more children?
Before any vasectomy, Dr. Bastuba recommends to have sperm samples frozen. That way, you’ll have the option to have children later in life even with a vasectomy. Frozen sperm often allow inexpensive intrauterine inseminations to attempt pregnancy (cost less than $500 vs. IVF $15,000)
If you are one of the 5% of men getting a vasectomy and choose to reverse it later on, you can come back to Dr. Bastuba. He is one of the best vas reversal specialists in the country with some of the highest reversal success rates, no matter how long ago the vasectomy was.
Do you have more questions about vasectomy or would like to make an appointment? Contact our office.
See also our information on vasectomy reversal.
Male Fertility Specialists
6699 Alvarado Road, Suite 2207
San Diego, CA 92120
(619) 286-3520
Visit our other websites:
www.vasectomyinfo.com | www.martinbastuba.com