The No-Needle No-Scalpel Vasectomy is a virtually pain-free way to undergo a vasectomy.

Dr. Chapman is an expert in the performance of the No-Needle No-Scalpel Vasectomy, and is one of the only doctors in Houston who is able to offer this procedure to his patients.

The No-Scalpel Vasectomy is the standard technique most Urologists use to perform a vasectomy.  At the start of this procedure, the surgeon numbs the scrotal skin and vas deferens using an injection of numbing medicine such as lidocaine.  This numbing is the most painful part of the procedure, as it involves a hypodermic needle stuck into the scrotum.

Dr. Chapman takes this technique to the next logical evolution by offering the No-Needle No-Scalpel Vasectomy.  In this procedure, the numbing is done with a painless spray that delivers the numbing liquid through the skin without the need for a steel needle.  This technique spares the patient from the pain of the injection and allows for a pain-free No-Scalpel Vasectomy to be performed.

If you are interested in having a No-Needle No-Scalpel Vasectomy, call us at (832) 753-4300!

Why use Dr. Chapman?

• Dr. Chapman is an expert at this procedure, having done thousands of them.  In 2023 alone he did over 1200 of them!
• Dr. Chapman understands that while a vasectomy is considered a minor procedure, it's a major surgery in the minds of his patients.  For this reason, he performs your consultation and pre-operative assessment personally, rather than having a PA or midlevel provider do it.  He also personally checks you at your follow up appointment a week later.
• Dr. Chapman uses self-absorbing, dissolving sutures internally rather than permanent metal clips.
• Dr. Chapman performs an open-ended vasectomy. 
• Dr. Chapman does the entire procedure through one tiny poke hole in the scrotum.
• Dr. Chapman performs them in his office, saving you the expense of a surgery center and anesthesia charge
• Dr. Chapman offers Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas) in his office to help alleviate anxiety.
• Dr. Chapman provides the follow up visits and semen sample analysis for free
• Dr. Chapman is one of the few urologists in Houston qualified to perform a No-Needle No-Scalpel Vasectomy

Vasectomy is one of the safest and most effective methods of permanent birth control.  It is much safer and less expensive than tubal ligation.  Every year more than 500,000 men in North America choose vasectomy.  A vasectomy is 99.8% effective!

The No-Scalpel Vasectomy differs from a conventional vasectomy in that is does not require the use of a scalpel or knife to cut the skin.  Instead, the physician uses a specially designed instrument to make a tiny opening in the skin.  The vasectomy is then done through this tiny hole, and no stitches are needed to close the opening which heals quickly with virtually no scarring.

The No-Needle No-Scalpel Vasectomy uses an anesthesia technique that is essentially painless.  A jet injector is used that sprays the anesthesia through the skin, numbing it instantly.  Many patients feel nothing at all, while some describe it as a slight snapping sensation that instantly dissipates.

Dr. Chapman believes that while a vasectomy is considered a fairly minor procedure, it is a big deal to his patients that are choosing to pursue it.  For this reason, Dr. Chapman believes that the surgeon performing your procedure should care enough to be the person who does your pre-operative consultation and post-operative check.

At your consultation, we will discuss the procedure in detail in person and you will have a brief physical exam.  We will discuss the pre-operative preparation and post-operative care, and what you should expect during and after the procedure.  We will also go over all of the risks associated with vasectomies.  We schedule plent of time for you to ask questions, and, since Dr. Chapman is the one doing your consultation, your questions will be answered by him personally, not a PA or midlevel.

Yes.  All contraceptive methods have risks as well as benefits.  The risk of a complication from a vasectomy is very low, but they are possible.

There are both short-term and long-term possible effects from vasectomies.  In the immediate post-operative period, bleeding (hematoma) or infection can occur, but the likelihood of these occurring is low.

In the long term, it is possible for a vasectomy to fail.  This is called recanalization and is why vasectomies are not guaranteed to be 100% effective.  The human body has an amazing capacity to heal, and sometimes the sperm cells find a way to bridge the gap between the cut ends of the tube resulting in returned fertility.

Next, it is possible for sperm to leak out of the vas deferens into the scrotum causing a small, hard lump called a sperm granuloma.  A spermatocele, or cyst filled with sperm, may also occur.  These are non-dangerous and non-painful conditions that generally go unnoticed.

Lastly, in rare instances, a patient may develop Post-Vasectomy Pain Syndrome.  This is a painful condition that can lead to further surgeries down the road such as reversal of the vasectomy to try to alleviate blockage, removal of the epididymis, or even, in the worst case, removal of a testicle.

How will a Vasectomy affect me?  Vasectomy is NOT castration.  It does not affect your hormones or sexual functions.  Your penis and testicles are not altered.  It does not cause voice changes, loss of body hair, or decreased interest in sex.  You still produce semen and your erection and ejaculation are still the same.  All a vasectomy does is interrupt the tubes that carry the sperm away from the testicles.  The only way to tell if a man has had a vasectomy is to look at the semen under the microscope and see that there is no sperm in the semen.  Everything else stays the exact same.  Also, the body naturally reabsorbs the unused sperm, just as it did before the vasectomy.

Can I discontinue other birth control methods right away?  No!  After the vasectomy, there is still a lot of sperm left in the body waiting to come out.  It takes weeks, and even sometimes months, for all of the sperm above the vasectomy site to work its way out.  You are not considered sterile by Dr. Chapman until you have two post-surgical semen tests that show no sperm, and you have to continue using birth control until then. At Pearland Urology, we do the semen checks in our office and we give you the results the same day, typically within a few minutes to hours.  We do these checks for free, as opposed to other practices that force you to pay a lab fee or buy self-check kits. 

Is Vasectomy painful?  No!  You may feel mild discomfort when the local anesthetic is given, but then you are instantly numb.  Some men feel a "tugging" sensation during the procedure, and others describe it as a "heaviness."  Most men rate it at a "1" on a 1-10 scale.  After surgery, you may be a little sore for a few days. 

How long does it take?  We get asked this a lot!  The short answer is: about 10 minutes.  The long answer is:  we don't time them.  At Pearland Urology, we're not interested in trying to set records for the fastest vasectomy.  We're interested in setting records for the best and most accurate vasectomy.  Dr. Chapman does so many of these that he is able to do them quickly and painlessly, but he has never set a timer to see how fast he does them.  He likes to say "rushing during surgery is always a mistake."  At Pearland Urology, we set aside way more than enough time for each patient so we can make sure the vasectomy is done right!

Why stitches instead of clips?  This is a really important question.  First, metal clips are not more effective than stitches in terms of vasectomy success rate.  In fact, the American Urological Association, in its printed guidelines for vasectomies, lists multiple different ways that a vasectomy can be done and still be considered standard of care.  Doctors may choose to put metal clips in people, or they may choose to use dissolving stitches.  They may choose to do an open-ended vasectomy, or they may choose to occlude both sides of the tube.  They may choose to perform a tissue interposition, or not.  All of these different methods have been approved by the AUA for vasectomies.

But every doctor is going to have their way of doing things that they have honed through their practice and experience.  Dr. Chapman treats his patients the way he wants to be treated himself.  When Dr. Chapman chose to get a vasectomy, he chose to have it done by a doctor who used dissolving stitches instead of metal clips, and who performed a tissue interposition.  Both stitches and metal clips are each considered standard of care, but Dr. Chapman chose stitches for himself because he did not want to have metal clips in him forever.

Also, Dr. Chapman performs what is called a "tissue interposition" when he does a vasectomy.  This means that he actually sews your own living tissue over the top of one of the ends of the cut vas deferens.  This creates a living barrier between the two ends and prevents sperm from being able to cross over from one cut end to the other.  The stitches then dissolve, and this barrier stays in place because it heals that way.  While other methods are satisfactory under the AUA guidelines, this is the method Dr. Chapman chose for himself, and the method he uses for his patients. 

I'm really nervous.  Do you offer any type of anesthesia?  Yes, we do!  We offer nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, in the office.  If you choose this option, we will put the nitrous on you right before the procedure starts (it acts very quickly), and when the procedure is over we will take it off.  It wears off completely in just a few minutes, so you will be able to drive home.  Unfortunately, nitrous oxide is expensive, so there is a cost associated with it.  It is an extra $100 added to the procedure, and it is not covered by any insurance.

When can I resume normal activity?  The day of the vasectomy and the next day, you will need to use an ice pack to keep your scrotum cold to prevent swelling and hematoma formation.  Generally, two to three days rest is recovery enough for men to return to work and to resume most normal, non-strenuous physical activity.  Sex and other more strenuous physical activity can usually be resumed 7 days after the procedure.

Does Vasectomy pose long term health risks?  Many studies have looked at the long-term health effects of vasectomy.  The evidence suggests that there are no significant long-term health risks.  Men who have had a vasectomy are no more likely to develop cancer, heart disease, or other health problems.

Can a Vasectomy be reversed?  In many cases, it can be.  However, vasectomy reversals are expensive procedures and they do not always work.  A vasectomy should be considered a permanent procedure.  If you are considering getting it reversed in the future, you should reconsider whether or not getting a vasectomy is right for you.

Can I have a Vasectomy even if I'm young, single, or don't have kids?  Yes!  Dr. Chapman does not force his patients to have kids before he'll do a vasectomy.  He believes having children is a personal decision, and not the right choice for everyone.  While many doctors will not do vasectomies on single, young, childless men, Dr. Chapman will perform a vasectomy on anyone 18 years old or over, regardless of marital status or lack of children.

Vasectomies are covered by most insurances.  This means that your insurance company has negotiated a discounted rate for you with Pearland Urology.  Some insurances cover the procedure with no out-of-pocket expense for the patient, while others have a minimal co-pay.  Every insurance company has different rates.  We are happy to contact your insurance company on your behalf to get you an estimate of what it will cost for you to have a consultation and a vasectomy.  Keep in mind that this is only an estimate, and it is provided by your insurance company, not Pearland Urology.  

If you do not have insurance, or your insurance does not cover vasectomies, the cost for the consultation is $335 and the procedure itself is $775. 

Once the vasectomy has been done, whether or not it was covered by insurance, there are no further fees for any follow up visits related to the vasectomy or for your semen checks.

Dr. Chapman does have a cancellation policy.  We understand that sometimes life gets in the way of coming in for your procedure.  We request that you give us 1 weeks' notice so that we can fill your vacant spot on our schedule.

The full Cancellation Policy can be found in our New Patient paperwork located under the "Patient Forms" tab.   

1. Shave or clip the hair on the front of the scrotum.

2. Thoroughly clean the scrotum and groin the morning of the surgery.

3. Bring an athletic supporter with you.

4. Eat as you normally would that day.  If your procedure is in the morning, eat breakfast.  If it is in the afternoon, make sure you have lunch before.

5.  Don't worry!  This is easy!

If you are interested in having a No-Needle No-Scalpel Vasectomy, call us at (832) 753-4300!