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By Mayo Clinic staffSome family medicine or general practice doctors do vasectomies, but most are done by doctors who specialize in the male reproductive system (urologists).
Insurance companies vary on their coverage of vasectomies, so check your policy ahead of time. Some doctors and insurance companies require a waiting period between your first meeting with the doctor and surgery.
Talking to your doctor
Deciding to get a vasectomy can be a tough decision, since you won't be able to father a child in the future. Before doing a vasectomy, your doctor will want to meet with you to be sure it's the right form of birth control for you. If you're in a relationship, bring your partner to your initial doctor's appointment.
At the initial appointment (consultative visit) be prepared to discuss:
- Whether there's any chance at all you might want to father a child in the future
- How your partner feels about the decision, if you're in a relationship
- Other methods of birth control available to you
- What vasectomy surgery and recovery involves, and possible complications
Before surgery
Your doctor will give you instructions on how to prepare. You may need to:
- Stop taking aspirin or other blood-thinning medications several days before your surgery. These can include warfarin (Coumadin), heparin, and aspirin and other over-the-counter pain medications such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others).
- Wash your genital area thoroughly the day of your surgery. Your doctor may ask you to shave the surgery area.
- Take medication to relax you 30 minutes to an hour before surgery, if your doctor prescribed it.
- Arrange for a ride home to avoid movement and pressure on the surgery area caused by driving.
- Ongaro T, et al. Overview of vasectomy. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 9, 2010.
- Sandlow J. Vasectomy. In: Wein A, et al. Campbell-Walsh Urology. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/113902114-4/783811529/1445/37.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-7216-0798-6..50036-4--cesec5_2536. Accessed Dec. 9, 2010.
- Clenny T, et al. Vasectomy techniques. American Family Physician. http://www.aafp.org/afp/990700ap/137.html. Accessed Dec. 9, 2010.
- Cutie CJ. Patient information: Vasectomy. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 9, 2010.
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