'It's a straightforward procedure': Getting a tattoo was a lot worse than ‘the snip’

A new ‘no-scalpel’ method for vasectomy has made the procedure less invasive, with it taking less than an hour.

Dr. Colin Irwin who has opened a new vasectomy clinic at Blackrock Hall Primary Care Centre, Cork. Picture: David Creedon.

Sean is in his early 40s, “happily” married, and knew he was going for “the snip”. He was fully satisfied with the reasons why. What he wasn’t expecting was how straightforward the procedure would be.

“Getting tattooed was a lot worse,” he says.

Colin Irwin, a GP and director of Precision Vasectomy in Cork, performed the procedure on Sean. He sees a growing demand for vasectomies mainly because “we are now more likely to talk about these things”.

“Any kind of sexual health issue in Ireland would have been taboo up until some years ago,” he says. “Men’s health has come a long way in the last 20 years, and we are more open about getting things done.”

In Sean’s case, the decision to get a vasectomy began when he and his wife felt their family was complete after the arrival of their third child.

“I’ve watched my wife go through pregnancies, and while it’s a wonderful thing, there is discomfort and pain that goes along with it,” he says. “I felt like she had done enough, and we agreed it seemed the best form of contraception.

“I didn’t want her to have to undergo major abdominal surgery to have a tubal ligation, or any more medical procedures, when a small snip was available for me.”

Now it seems the “small snip” is even smaller — a no-scalpel vasectomy service has sprung up in a few places around the country, including at Irwin’s Cork-based clinic.

“The physical interaction is minimal — a 4mm hole in the scrotum, I remove about 1cm of tube from each side and seal the ends. It’s no more than that.”

He says the response to the procedure tends to be: “Is that it? I can’t believe it was that quick.”

Irwin says he undertook certification for the operation, pioneered in China during that country’s one child policy, in Britain. He opened the business in Cork this year and has seen a steady flow of men through the door.

“Patients can book their vasectomy directly — they don’t need to go through their GP, just book online. Many insurance policies offer partial reimbursement [it costs €599].

“In addition to weekdays, we offer evening and weekend sessions to help facilitate people. There is no wait time. The typical procedure takes 20 to 30 minutes, but expect the whole thing with paperwork, etc, to take up to an hour.”

Men who undergo the procedure in his clinic are typically aged 35 to 45. “They might have two to three kids, and they’re done, they want a definite form of contraception,” says Irwin.

“I would occasionally see men who had two kids close together and after a long gap, had an unexpected third baby, and they’re looking for a permanent solution.”

False perceptions

Sean says he discussed the vasectomy with his wife, a friend, and his own GP, and that he had been considering it for up to two years. “Having our last child really cemented the decision for me. 

"During that time, I often looked into the procedure, the side effects, and the failure rates. I tried to stay away from internet testimonials and anecdotes, mostly because of how unreliable they are.

Dr. Colin Irwin: “Studies have shown that a vasectomy increases sexual satisfaction in men long term because it removes the worry about pregnancy.” Picture: David Creedon

Irwin says many believe the procedure involves major surgery, which is not the case: “The only real negative is if you want to reverse it down the line, that can be difficult.”

False perceptions about vasectomies abound, Irwin says: “Sex drive would be the big one — men might be worried it would be reduced, but it’s not affected. Testicles and hormones are also unchanged. You still produce sperm, but the body absorbs them.

“Studies have shown that a vasectomy increases sexual satisfaction in men long term because it removes the worry about pregnancy.”

For Sean, the procedure was “nowhere near as bad” as he had expected: “I had built it up in my head. I had expected pain and discomfort, and the reality was apart from a tiny sting when I got the anaesthetic, I didn’t feel anything near what I thought would happen.”

His recovery period was “slightly longer” than he expected, due to an old hernia complication, which meant “some extra inflammation and soreness”, but he was back at work after taking an extra two days off.

Irwin says the recovery time can vary, depending on the profession of the person having the vasectomy, but once anything vigorous is avoided, it is typically two or three days, and for a home-based job, likely less again.

In Britain, the procedure is free under the NHS, and Irwin has written to the HSE asking whether that might be possible in Ireland.

“Under the NHS, it’s available to everyone — all walks of life, from millionaires to very socially-deprived people,” he says. “The Government is providing free contraception for women. It seems logical to provide it for men as well. It would work out cheaper than the pill or coil for women — the cost equates to two Mirena coils or two years of the pill.”

Sean says life is “back to normal” and adds: “If anything, the lack of stress and worry about unintentionally having more kids has improved my day to day life.”

His advice to others considering the procedure is simple: “I wouldn’t pay any attention to stories online. If someone were considering getting a vasectomy, I’d recommend going to a GP or a legitimate medical source. Going to someone with medical training will always give you more accurate information than some anonymous internet source.”

Visit precisionvasectomy.ie and exa.mn/vasectomy-overview for more information.