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A vasectomy is a procedure performed on men to prevent them having any future children. The procedure is safe and is more effective then female sterilisation, and can be performed quickly and easily in a local setting, using local anesthetic to ensure only minimal discomfort.
The procedure results in separating the tubes (vas deferens) which carry sperm from the testicles to the penis, which means that sperm will no longer be transmitted via sexual intercourse.
A vasectomy is simple, quick, and virtually painless. There will be no impact on your sex drive, sexual performance, orgasm, or ejaculation other than that your semen will no longer contain sperm.
The operation will be completed by Dr Owen Miller, based at our partner practice Johnsonville Medical Centre and supported by one of their Clinical Support Team or Nursing Team.
Before the operation your scrotum is cleaned, and a local anesthetic is then injected into the scrotum (clear of the testicles) to numb the region. A small incision (less than 0.5cm) is made in the middle of the scrotum.
The ducts that carry sperm between the testicles and penis are called the vas deferens. The first vas deferens then located and clamped in two places, approximately 15mm apart. The length between the clamps is then removed, and the prostate end of the vas deferens is sealed by cauterising and suturing it. The end connected to the testicle is left open.
The duct is then placed gently back into the scrotum and the process is repeated on the other side using the same incision.
Once both vas deferens have been cut and sealed, the incision in the scrotum is then closed using one suture which will dissolve over the following few weeks.
This whole operation itself takes approximately 30 minutes.
You will be unable to drive, so please ensure that you have a way of getting home after the operation.
After an hour or two the local anesthetic will wear off and you may experience a dull ache in the testicles and groin that can be treated with pain relief.
We recommend that you stay in bed for a day (except to use the bathroom) and apply ice packs to the area. We also recommend that you refrain from any heavy physical labour for at least one week, and refrain from sports activity or heavy lifting for at least a week, and preferably 2-3 weeks.
The vasectomy is considered successful once you have completed sperm count testing after the greater of 3 months and/or 24 ejaculations.
Vasectomy has a very small risk of failure (approximately 1 in 1,000), either due to an unsuccessful operation or spontaneous reconnection of the ducts. This is detected when the sperm count testing is done.
The total costs for a vasectomy is $520 if you are enrolled with a Wellington Medical Group clinic (Johnsonville Medical Centre, Thorndon Medical Centre, Eastern Bays Health Centre, Whitby Doctors or Mānuka Health Centre), or $555 if you are enrolled elsewhere or are unable to enrol.
This fee includes:
You will need to pay $125 for the initial consultation, during which Dr Miller will go through the procedure and post-procedure process with you. You are not committed to completing the vasectomy at this stage, and Dr Miller will confirm this with your during the consultation.
If you do proceed with the vasectomy then the balance of the fee ($395 for enrolled, $430 for unenrolled) is due at the time the vasectomy is scheduled.
Call Johnsonville Medical Centre on 04 9208850 and book in for a pre-vasectomy consultation with Dr Owen Miller; be sure to mention if you are a patient at Thorndon Medical Centre when booking. Dr Miller is the only GP who can provide the pre-vasectomy consultation. The consultation and procedure are performed at Johnsonville Medical Centre, 24 Moorefield Road, Johnsonville.
Click on a section to find answers to common questions
You will need to bring:
Need a interpreter?
If you cannot speak English then you will need a interpreter; this cannot be a family member or relative. We can arrange for a interpreter if required, simply let us know when booking the appointment.
There is an additional cost for a interpreter
We can normally get you in within 2-3 days of getting touch with us. It then takes approximately 2 working days to receive and review all of the results
During the medical you’ll have two consultations, one with a nurse and the second with a doctor. We endeavour to make these appointments one after the other, but depending on your urgency this may not always be possible.
The nurse consultation will take approximately 45 minutes. During this time we’ll complete a questionnaire about your health, as well as take measurements of you height and weight. We then take a digital photo which is uploaded to your eMedical case file.
We’ll also do the following tests:
Your consultation with a doctor will take approximately 15 minute appointments. This is a full physical examination, during which time you will need to remove all clothing except your underwear. The examination will involve contact with the doctor.
If you’re a woman over the age of 45 you will also require a breast examination, unless you've had one of the following within the last six months and can provide the results of the exam:
You comfort is important to us so let us know if you prefer either a male or female doctor.
You must use the General Medical if one of the following applies to you:
You must use the Limited Medical if one of the following applies to you:
If you are applying for a visa as the partner or dependent child of a New Zealand citizen or resident and you were not included in, or were withdrawn from the earlier residence application made by your partner or parent then you must use the general certificate.
You'll need a chest X-ray if:
If you're applying for a temporary visa and you intend to stay between 6-12 months
Immigration New Zealand maintain a list of countries, areas and territories with a low insidence of tuberculosis (TB).
If you are from, or have visited, a country, area or territory which is not on this list then you'll need a chest X-ray.
The Health Requirements (INZ 1121) guide has more details and includes the full list.
If you previously had a chest X-ray you may not be required to get a new one. If this applies to you, contact Immigration New Zealand to confirm whether or not you need a new X-ray.Children under the age of 11 and pregnant women are not required to have a chest X-ray, unless it is specifically requested by Immigration New Zealand.
You need to book a separate chest X-ray appointment as we don't complete X-rays at the medical centre.
Your options for getting a chest X-ray are:
