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Vasectomy

Checked: 03-01-2024 by Rob Adams Next Review: 23-11-2025

Who to refer

NHS Vasectomy

Before a referral for vasectomy is made, patients should ideally be asked to read a Pre-vasectomy Information Leaflet - downloadable from the Hanham Vasectomy Service website. This will allow them to consider if this is the correct procedure for them.

Men who request NHS vasectomy must meet the criteria listed in the Vasectomy and Reversal Policy - Criteria Based Access / Exceptional Funding Request.

Vasectomy is carried out under a local anaesthetic and the provider for this service in BNSSG is the Hanham Vasectomy Service.

Patients who do not meet the criteria for the Hanham service or require a GA may be eligible for vasectomy in secondary care (see below).

Referrals

Hanham Vasectomy Service (community)

Referrals should be submitted via EMIS Managed Referrals (not available via eRS). Referrals submitted in any other way (email/letter) may not be accepted by the provider or may lead to delays.

When Practices submit the standard outbound referral, please complete the following information:

Referral source = Name of referring Practice/GP
Referral target = 01 – Hanham Vasectomy Service
Clinical Term = Referral for Vasectomy

Practices should complete the ‘Hanham Health Vasectomy Service Referral form’ which will upload and prepolulate on EMIS as part of the managed referral process.

If you have any queries the Hanham Vasectomy Service can be contacted on bnssg.hvs@nhs.net. or Tel: 0117 932 1103

Secondary Care Vasectomy

Vasectomy in a secondary care setting, including those carried out under a general anaesthetic, is only commissioned where patients have been assessed in a primary or community care setting, and deemed not suitable for treatment there due to the following reasons:

Individuals with anatomic abnormalities, such as the inability to palpate and mobilize both vas deferens or large hydroceles or varicoceles
Individuals with past trauma and scarring of the scrotum
Individuals with Acute local scrotal skin infections
Electro-surgery is contraindicated in certain types of pacemakers

If criteria are met, then a referral to NBT urology via eRS can be made.

Post vasectomy Semen Analysis

Post vasectomy semen checks are normally carried out 16 weeks post procedure. This cannot be requested by primary care. There is no option for this on ICE and samples sent to the lab will be rejected.

Hanham Vasectomy Service

Post vasectomy semen analysis for patients is arranged by the Vasectomy Service and so GPs do not have to refer and patients should be directed back to the provider if this is requested.

NBT Vasectomy

Patients who need a NHS post vasectomy semen analysis following vasectomy at NBT should have this arranged by the NBT team. Remedy has recently been advised that to arrange this test patients will need to contact the Bristol Centre for Reproductive Medicine (BCRM). You can find further information regarding their contact details on www.fertilitybristol.com

Private Vasectomy

Patients who have had a private vasectomy should have their post vasectomy semen check done privately.

Reversal of vasectomy

Reversal of vasectomy is subject to the BNSSG ICB Vasectomy and Reversal Policy.

Requests for reversal of vasectomy will be approved where the following criteria are met*:

1. A patient wishes to restore fertility following the death of an only living child,

AND

2. There are no other concerns about the expected fertility of the patient.

*The Reversal of Vasectomy of Female Sterilisation Prior Approval form must be completed and submitted with a referral to urology via eRS.

Patients who believe that they were not properly counselled as to the permanent nature of vasectomy prior to their treatment, and do not meet the criteria above, should raise their concerns with the providing institution. Reversals of vasectomy or sterilisation will not be routinely funded in such cases.

Resources

Pre-vasectomy Information Leaflet - downloadable from the Hanham Vasectomy Service website.

Efforts are made to ensure the accuracy and agreement of these guidelines, including any content uploaded, referred to or linked to from the system. However, BNSSG ICB cannot guarantee this. This guidance does not override the individual responsibility of healthcare professionals to make decisions appropriate to the circumstances of the individual patient, in consultation with the patient and/or guardian or carer, in accordance with the mental capacity act, and informed by the summary of product characteristics of any drugs they are considering. Practitioners are required to perform their duties in accordance with the law and their regulators and nothing in this guidance should be interpreted in a way that would be inconsistent with compliance with those duties.

Information provided through Remedy is continually updated so please be aware any printed copies may quickly become out of date.