Vasectomy is a male sterilisation procedure which acts as a permanent method of contraception and is over 99% effective. It only prevents pregnancy and does not protect from STIs so you should still use condoms for this purpose.
On this page you will find the following information:
Non-urgent advice: Waiting list information
18 months
last updated November 2025
If you no longer wish to have the procedure, please let us know so we can update our records.
We cannot provide individual updates on your position on the waiting list.
What is a vasectomy?
Vasectomy is a method of male sterilisation. It involves a small operation to prevent pregnancy. Please view the vasectomy information video for all the details.
It is important to consider this decision carefully, as vasectomy is intended to be a permanent form of contraception. While reversing it is possible, this is a complicated process which is not always effective and is not available through the NHS.
Non-urgent advice: Remember:
While in most cases vasectomy is more than 99% effective, vasectomy – like all contraception – cannot offer 100% protection against pregnancy.
While complications are rare, we recommend reading about the risks of vasectomy on NHS inform.
Who this service is for
Our vasectomy service is open to anyone considering vasectomy who is living in Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Lanarkshire, or Argyll & Bute and meets our criteria. We are currently the only NHS provider of vasectomy services in these areas.
You may not be suitable for this service if:
- Your BMI is over 35 – this exceeds the safety threshold for local anaesthetic procedures at Sandyford.
- You are outside the NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Lanarkshire, or Argyll & Bute catchment areas.
- You are seeking a vasectomy under general anaesthetic – Sandyford does not offer this, but may refer you to hospital urology services if needed.
How to make a referral
We are currently experiencing high demand for this service and there is a long waiting list. Please make yourself aware of the waiting list information before making your referral.
You can self-refer to our vasectomy service by emailing:
ggc.sandyfordvasectomy@nhs.scot
If you’re unable to email, you can call 0141 211 8130 (Monday to Friday, 8:45 am – noon, 1pm – 4pm).
Alternatively, your GP can refer you.
Assessing your eligibility
Once we receive your referral, we’ll send you a Medical Information Form (MIF) by email (or by post if you prefer). This is to help us assess your suitability. You must complete and return this form to be added to the waiting list.
- You will not be added to the list until we receive your completed form.
- You will only be added to the waiting list if you successfully meet the criteria for the operation.
- You must continue to meet this criteria from moment of referral up to the day of your operation.
What to expect
Before your procedure
Once you reach the top of our waiting list we will arrange a telephone pre-op consultation with a nurse (about 10 minutes) where:
- You must confirm you’ve watched the vasectomy information video.
- You’ll be asked about your understanding of the procedure, risks, and post-op care.
- We will then schedule your operation – either with a date agreed during the call or sent later by admin.
How long you wait between your pre-op consultation and your operation can vary and usually depends on your own availability and availability of surgical slots.
At your operation
Vasectomy is a small surgical operation that is performed under local anaesthetic and normally takes about 15 minutes. It involves cutting, blocking, or sealing the tubes that carry sperm from the testicles to the penis, preventing sperm from being present in the semen.
This is usually performed at Sandyford Central – for full directions and details, visit our Locations page.
If general anaesthetic is required, we may refer you to the Acute Urology service.
After your operation
We recommend you do not drive immediately after your operation.
You may experience mild swelling, bruising and blood in your first few ejaculations after your operation. These symptoms normally clear up within a few days but may last up to two weeks. You can find out more about vasectomy side-effects and risks here.
We will give you a post-op pack which includes sample pot, instructions, and a request form so you can return a semen sample to us to test.
Aftercare typically lasts around 16 weeks and ends when your semen sample confirms the procedure has been successful. In some cases, further samples may be needed, which can extend the aftercare period. Let us know if you have any concerns or feel you have any unusual side effects.
Remember: You must use additional contraception until your semen test confirms no sperm is present.