Vasectomy

Reading Room

Recommendations for Contraceptive Use

Vasectomy

Classification of Selected Procedures for Vasectomy

Procedure	Class	Rationale
Genital examination	A	Required to rule out scrotal pathology.
Blood pressure	C	Blood pressure not related to safe use of vasectomy¹.
Sexually transmitted disease (STD) screening by lab tests (for asymptomatic persons)	C	There are no required lab exams for vasectomy in asymptomatic persons¹.
Routine, mandatory lab tests (e.g., cholesterol, glucose, liver function tests)	D	There are no required lab exams for vasectomy.
Proper infection prevention procedures	A	Proper infection prevention procedures are important to minimize the risk of infection to clients and providers.
Specific counseling points for male sterilization: efficacy use of a back-up method (See Question 4) irreversibility of method common side effects signs and symptoms for which to see a health provider STD protection (when/as appropriate) Post-operation counseling	A	Proper counseling is important to ensure informed consent prior to having a sterilization operation. Proper counseling may also minimize future regret. Vasectomy should be considered a permanent contraceptive method.

KEY:

Class A = essential and mandatory or otherwise important in all circumstances, for safe and effective use of the contraceptive method

Class B = medically/epidemiologically rational in some circumstances to optimize the safe and effective use of the contraceptive method, but may not be appropriate for all clients in all settings

Class C = may be appropriate for good preventive health care, but not materially related to safe and effective use of the contraceptive method

Class D = not materially related to either good routine preventive health care or to the safe and effective use of the contraceptive method

Citations for Procedures Table:

World Health Organization. Improving access to quality care in family planning: medical eligibility criteria for contraceptive use. Geneva: WHO, 1996.

Any part of Recommendations for Updating Selected Practices in Contraceptive Use may be reproduced or adapted to meet local needs without prior permission from the TG/CWG Secretariat, provided the TG/CWG is acknowledged and the material is made available free of charge or at cost.

Last Updated: 09 Jul 2003

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