Dr. Shaw and the Austin Urology Institute discuss Vasectomy Technique!

April 28, 2021

Dr. Shaw has now successfully performed over 6000(!) vasectomies. We reached this milestone by being great at what we do, carefully devising a technique over the years that we continue to refine, and minimizing side effects while maximizing successful outcomes.

First, we provide telemedicine and in-person consultations to discuss the vasectomies. For those eager to proceed, we can do both the in-person consultation and the procedure on the same day.

For maximum comfort, we provide local anesthesia for all patients. Xanax and Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas) are offered as a free of charge option for a quick reversing anesthetic, which allows our patients to drive themselves to and from the appointment.

A single antibiotic pill is taken at the time of the procedure, which has decreased our infection rates to near zero. Most cases can also be done through a single incision, which not only speeds recovery but also reduces pain and infection rates.

Our technique employs “Quadruple Redundancy” to ensure the procedure approaches 99.9% efficacy:

  1. A segment of the Vas Deferens is removed
  2. The ends are tied off with suture (no metal clips)
  3. Cautery (heat) is used to seal the edges after they are tied off
  4. One of the ends of the vas is re-directed away from the other end of the vas

All of these steps are done to ensure that sperm is not able to travel from one end of the cut vas to the other, and to prevent the two ends from being able to re-grow together

As long as our patients follow our strict guidelines (use protection for 90+ days and have at least 30 ejaculations to “clear the pipes”), the above approach uses a hybrid combination of multiple techniques to ensure success. Compression underwear, ice packs, antibiotics, non-narcotic pain pills, and even the sperm check kit are all provided to patients on the day of the procedure.

If you are considering a vasectomy and would like to learn more, schedule a consultation today by calling us at (512) 694-8888 or by submitting a contact form online.