Vasectomy in Salt Lake City
A vasectomy provides permanent birth control by closing the tubes that carry sperm. Elisabeth Ferlic, MD, is a board-certified urologist whose practice includes vasectomy and care for men across the Salt Lake Valley.
Ask about vasectomy availability or call 435-344-4760. Confirm consultation and procedure dates before making plans.
Elisabeth Ferlic, MD
Board-certified urologist · Fellowship-trained in voiding dysfunction and female pelvic medicine
In this guide
- How to prepare
- What a vasectomy is and how it works
- Why see Dr. Ferlic for a vasectomy
- What are my options?
- Alternatives to a vasectomy
- Who a vasectomy is for, and who it is not for
- What happens during the procedure
- Recovery and results
- Risks and side effects
- What happens at the first visit?
- Frequently asked questions about vasectomy
How to prepare
The consultation covers your decision, the procedure, possible complications, and other birth control options. Ask whether the consultation is separate from the procedure visit and whether a video consultation is appropriate.
Medicines and instructions
- Which medicines and supplements to continue or pause, including blood thinners. Don't stop a prescription without directions from the responsible clinician.
- Any instructions about food, drink, washing, or hair trimming.
Plans for the day and after
- Whether to bring supportive underwear and arrange a ride home.
- How much time to set aside for recovery, work, exercise, and follow-up.
Ask about the semen-testing plan before treatment. A vasectomy is not effective immediately.
What a vasectomy is and how it works
Sperm are made in the testicles and travel through two small tubes, each called a vas deferens, to mix with semen. A vasectomy is a minor surgical procedure that closes those tubes. Each one is cut and sealed so that sperm can no longer reach the semen.
Very little else changes. The testicles keep making sperm, and the body absorbs them. Testosterone, sex drive, erections, and orgasm stay the same, and the semen looks and feels the same as before.
A vasectomy is highly effective after follow-up semen testing confirms success, but no birth control method eliminates every chance of pregnancy. It's also a smaller procedure than tubal ligation, the comparable surgery for women. A vasectomy doesn't protect against sexually transmitted infections.
Why see Dr. Ferlic for a vasectomy
If you're looking for a vasectomy in Salt Lake City, you'll see a board-certified urologist who has treated men throughout her career. Vasectomy is a core part of Dr. Ferlic's practice, and care for men is a core part of it.
The consultation is the time to ask about technique, recovery, and semen testing. Confirm who performs each step and how to contact the treating team during recovery.
Visits aren't rushed. Because Dr. Ferlic sets her own schedule, the consultation lasts as long as your questions do, and that includes your partner's questions. Read more about Dr. Ferlic, or see every service on the Men's Urology page.
What are my options?
A starting point for the conversation, not a prescription. Your evaluation decides what fits.
Your family is complete
You're certain you don't want children, or more children
Vasectomy
Each vas deferens is cut and sealed so sperm can't reach the semen
A partner has carried birth control for years
You want to take over birth control
A smaller procedure than tubal ligation
Commonly done in an office with local anesthesia
You might want a child later
There's a real chance you'll want children
Wait, or choose a reversible method
An IUD or implant for a partner can be removed when a pregnancy is wanted
You also want infection protection
A vasectomy doesn't protect against sexually transmitted infections
Condoms
They lower that risk, but they fail more often than a vasectomy
Alternatives to a vasectomy
Birth control is a decision for you and your partner, and a vasectomy is one option among several.
| Vasectomy | Tubal ligation | |
|---|---|---|
| Who has it | Men | Women |
| Permanence | Treat it as permanent; a reversal doesn't always restore fertility | Permanent birth control |
| Size of the operation | A minor procedure, commonly done in an office with local anesthesia | A more involved operation than a vasectomy |
Vasectomy
- Who has it
- Men
- Permanence
- Treat it as permanent; a reversal doesn't always restore fertility
- Size of the operation
- A minor procedure, commonly done in an office with local anesthesia
Tubal ligation
- Who has it
- Women
- Permanence
- Permanent birth control
- Size of the operation
- A more involved operation than a vasectomy
- Condoms. The only option here that also lowers the risk of sexually transmitted infections. They fail more often than a vasectomy.
- Long-acting reversible methods for a partner. An IUD or an implant works for years and can be removed when a pregnancy is wanted.
- Tubal ligation. Permanent birth control for women. It is a more involved operation than a vasectomy.
- Waiting. If you're not sure, waiting is a reasonable choice.
If you came here with a different concern, such as a weak stream, frequent urination, or nighttime waking, start with Men's Urology or General urology.
Who a vasectomy is for, and who it is not for
A vasectomy fits one situation best: you're certain that you don't want children, or don't want more children. Some men choose it because their family is complete. Others want to take over birth control from a partner who has carried it for years. If you're reading this page for a partner, you're welcome at the consultation too.
Treat the decision as permanent. A reversal is possible, but it's a longer and more expensive operation, and it doesn't always restore fertility. If there's a real chance you'll want a child later, wait.
A vasectomy might not be right for you if you have ongoing testicular pain or a testicular condition, or if you feel pushed into the decision. At your consultation, Dr. Ferlic also asks about bleeding problems, blood thinners, earlier groin surgery such as a hernia repair, and allergies to numbing medicine, because each one can change the plan.
What happens during the procedure
A vasectomy commonly takes place in an office with local anesthesia. The clinician numbs the skin, reaches each vas deferens through a small opening, and closes the tubes so sperm cannot enter the semen.
No-scalpel and conventional approaches differ in how the tubes are reached. The opening and closure technique, anesthesia, and setting depend on the clinician's plan; don't assume a particular method from the word vasectomy alone.
Pressure or pulling can occur. Tell the treating team if you feel pain. Before leaving, confirm the recovery instructions and how to get help with a concern.
Recovery and results
Mild aching, bruising, and swelling can follow a vasectomy. Many people return to desk work within a few days, but physical work, exercise, lifting, and sex need a separate recovery plan. Follow the treating clinician's instructions about rest, support, ice, and pain relief.
A vasectomy does not work right away. Use another form of birth control until your clinician reviews a post-vasectomy semen test and confirms that you can stop. Time since surgery and the number of ejaculations do not establish that the procedure has worked. Ask when and where to provide the sample and whether another test is needed.
Contact the treating team for fever, discharge, or pain and swelling that worsen. Seek urgent care for severe symptoms.
Risks and side effects
A vasectomy is a low-risk procedure, and serious complications are rare. It's still surgery, and it carries some risks.
In the first days. Bruising, swelling, and mild pain are common. Less often, bleeding inside the scrotum forms a firm, tender lump, or the site becomes infected. Both are treatable.
In the following weeks. Some men notice a dull ache as the body adjusts. A small, sometimes tender lump called a sperm granuloma can form where a tube was sealed. It can settle without treatment, but persistent pain or a lump needs assessment.
Long term. About 1% to 2% of men develop ongoing testicular pain after a vasectomy, and it can be treated. In rare cases, the cut ends of a tube reconnect and fertility returns. That happens most often in the first few months, which is another reason the semen test matters.
Large studies have not found that a vasectomy causes prostate cancer, testicular cancer, or heart disease. It doesn't lower testosterone, and it doesn't cause erectile dysfunction.
What treatment can address
- Permanent birth control by closing the tubes that carry sperm
- Taking over birth control from a partner
- Leaves testosterone, sex drive, erections, and orgasm unchanged
What to weigh first
- Treat it as permanent; a reversal doesn't always restore fertility
- Use other birth control until a semen test confirms success
- It might not suit ongoing testicular pain or a testicular condition
- Bleeding problems, blood thinners, or earlier groin surgery can change the plan
- About 1% to 2% of men develop ongoing testicular pain
What happens at the first visit?
The visit starts with what has changed and what you want help with. Any treatment and follow-up plan is specific to you.
Talk through your symptoms
Bring your concerns, medication list, and relevant medical history.
Decide what needs checking
Testing depends on your symptoms and history, and some concerns need a separate workup.
Discuss a plan and follow-up
Review benefits, risks, alternatives, and what to watch for.
Before you schedule
Ask which appointments are available and whether your concern suits a video visit or needs an in-person evaluation.
Here’s what our great patients say
Can I schedule a vasectomy?
Contact the practice to ask which visit types are available and when in-person appointments and procedures can be scheduled.
Does a vasectomy hurt?
The numbing injection can sting, and pressure or pulling can occur during the procedure. Tell the treating team about pain. Aching, bruising, and swelling can continue during recovery; follow your clinician's pain-relief instructions.
How long does it take for a vasectomy to work?
A vasectomy is not effective immediately. Use another form of birth control until your clinician reviews the semen test and confirms that you can stop. Follow the testing schedule you receive; time and ejaculation counts cannot replace the test.
Will a vasectomy change my sex drive, erections, or testosterone?
No. A vasectomy only keeps sperm out of the semen. Testosterone levels, sex drive, erections, and orgasm stay the same, and the semen looks and feels the same as before.
Can a vasectomy be reversed?
A reversal is possible, but it's a longer and more expensive operation, and it doesn't always restore fertility. Plan on a vasectomy being permanent. If you think you might want children later, raise it at your consultation, and ask about banking sperm before the procedure.
Does insurance cover a vasectomy, and what does it cost?
Costs depend on the practice's fees, insurance participation, and your plan. Ask about the consultation, procedure, semen testing, and any follow-up charges before scheduling. Confirm coverage directly with your insurer.
Ask about a vasectomy in Salt Lake City
Call 435-344-4760 or contact the practice to ask about consultation and procedure availability. You can make an inquiry without a referral.
This page is for general education and is not medical advice.