Vasectomy Appointment Information
If you have a vasectomy appointment with us, it is important you read all of the information below. If you have any questions about your vasectomy appointment, please call the vasectomy booking office number on 01246 293702 or email dchst.vasectomy-services@nhs.net.
Referral process
Our vasectomy service is currently a GP referred service only. This means that you need to visit your GP first and then your GP will refer you to our vasectomy service.
Other options available to you - Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC)
The wait for your vasectomy procedure could be around 9-12 months. In the meantime, there are other types of contraceptives you and your partner can consider. Please visit our contraception page for further information, or telephone our central booking line on 0800 328 3383 to book an appointment with our specialist nurses to discuss your options.
Stages of appointments
There are three possible stages of appointment for a vasectomy:
Pre-assessment consultation appointment
All patients will have a pre-assessment appointment where you will discuss the vasectomy procedure, and information about your current health and previous medical history will be taken. This is normally done with the specialist vasectomy nurse.
At this appointment, you will be given an information booklet containing information about the procedure and risks of vasectomy. It will also include instructions on what to do before and after your operation.
Pre-operative appointment
Some patients will require a pre-operative appointment with the specialist vasectomy consultant where a physical examination may be required.
Vasectomy operation
This is when the actual vasectomy operation takes place. The vasectomy procedure will only go ahead after you have attended the pre-assessment appointment.
At all stages of appointment, a trainee may be present. We will ask you if you are ok with this.
Vasectomy appointment locations
The two locations we offer vasectomy appointments are:
Wheatbridge Clinic,
Wheatbridge Road Health Village,
Wheatbridge Road,
Chesterfield,
S40 2AB.
Heanor Memorial Health Centre,
Ilkeston Road,
Heanor,
DE75 7EA.
Please ensure you attend the correct location sent to you by the vasectomy service and not by your NHS app.
Attending your appointments
If your pre-assessment appointment is at Wheatbridge Clinic– S40 2AB
- Please arrive 10 minutes prior to your appointment time so we can record your height, weight, and BMI.
- Please report to the main reception desk (Integrated Sexual Health Services – 1st floor).
- Whilst you are attending the clinic, you will be under the care of the consultant in charge of the clinic. The consultant may not always see you personally, but you will be seen by a member of their team.
- Please note the pre-assessment appointment is not the actual appointment for the vasectomy procedure. This will be given to you during your pre-assessment after confirming with the specialist that you wish to proceed.
- If you do not attend or cancel within 48 hours of this appointment date, you will be discharged back to your GP.
- If you are unable to attend the appointment, please contact the vasectomy booking office on 01246 293702.
- There is limited free parking at Wheatbridge Health Centre so allow yourself plenty of time to park and get to the clinic. If you are more than 10 minutes late for your appointment time, this may be classed as "did not attend” and you may be discharged back to your GP and taken off our waiting list.
If your pre-assessment appointment is at Heanor Memorial Health Centre
- Please arrive 10 minutes prior to your appointment time so we can record your height, weight, and BMI.
- Please report to the main reception desk where you will be advised where to sit and wait.
- Whilst you are attending the clinic, you will be under the care of the consultant in charge of the clinic. The consultant may not always see you personally, but you will be seen by a member of their team.
- Please note the pre-assessment appointment is not the actual appointment for the vasectomy procedure. This will be given to you during your pre-assessment after confirming with the specialist that you wish to proceed.
- If you do not attend or cancel within 48 hours of this appointment date, you will be discharged back to your GP.
- If you are unable to attend the appointment, please contact the vasectomy booking office on 01246 293702.
- There is limited free parking at Heanor Memorial Health Centre so allow yourself plenty of time to park and get to the clinic. If you are more than 10 minutes late for your appointment time, this may be classed as "did not attend” and you may be discharged back to your GP and taken off our waiting list.
On the day of your vasectomy procedure
- Please have something to eat and drink before your vasectomy procedure.
- Do not take any non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication (NSAIDs) e.g., Ibuprofen, Naproxen, or Aspirin for three days before your operation or two days after.
- On the evening before your vasectomy, please shave or clip your scrotal hair as directed in the booklet you received at your pre-assessment appointment. Please do not use hair removing cream.
- Please wash your genitals well and apply the EMLA cream as directed in the booklet 1 hour before your appointment.
- You will have been advised at your pre-assessment to bring a tight pair of pants for after your vasectomy. We are unable to provide these, and not bringing a clean and tight pair of pants could prevent the operation going ahead.
- Arrange for someone to drive you home after your procedure. You are not permitted to drive home yourself or go home on a bus. This is to protect the site of your operation. Please note you cannot drive for at least 48 hours.
- Please bring a bottle of water with you to keep hydrated. Tap water is available at the clinics.
- Sometimes, there may be a short wait for your procedure. You can except to be at the clinic for approximately one hour.
- If you do not attend your appointment and do not let the vasectomy service know that you will not be attending within 48 hours of your appointment date, no further appointments will be offered, and you will be discharged back to your GP.
Post vasectomy semen results
- Following your vasectomy, you will need to produce a semen sample after 14 weeks.
- You should only rely on vasectomy as a type of contraception after you have received an "all clear” letter from our clinic.
- Between your operation and the semen sample date, you must ejaculate a minimum of 25 times, either by sex or masturbation, to clear the sperm from your tubes.
- Your sample is sent to the lab via the postal service, and we supply you with a pre-paid envelope.
- Please notify us when you have sent your sample so that we can follow up with the lab if there are any delays.
- Please notify us of any change in address.
- You will get your result in writing around 3-4 weeks after you send your semen sample. We will also write to your GP so that your records can be updated.
- The length of time it takes for each patient to clear their tubes of sperm is different. Some patients will need to supply more than one semen sample for testing.
- If you do not submit a semen sample, we will send you a reminder approximately 2 months after it is due. If you do not respond, we will close your file and you will need to find alternative testing arrangements via your GP.
- You must continue to use an effective method of contraception until the clinic confirms your semen sample is sperm free.
If you have any questions about your vasectomy appointment, please call the vasectomy booking office number on 01246 293702 or email dchst.vasectomy-services@nhs.net.