No Scalpel Vasectomies

Dr. Brandeis has successfully performed over 3000 No-Scalpel Vasectomies.  

Vasectomy is a very safe and highly effective form of birth control.  A vasectomy performed under local anesthesia is much less expensive and safer than a female tubal ligation. Thousands of men each year in California choose to have a vasectomy.  Dr. Brandeis is known throughout Northern California for providing an exceptional patient experience during a No-Scalpel Vasectomy.

Please watch our video to learn more about No Scalpel Vasectomies. 

Dr. Brandeis goes over the relevant anatomy, risks, benefits, and complications.  He also discusses the pre and post-procedure instructions.  He even makes a few jokes …

Download the Vasectomy Patient Guide

History of the No-Scalpel Vasectomy

The no-scalpel vasectomy was developed in China in 1974. It quickly spread throughout the world, and now tens of millions men have had the procedure. A no-scalpel vasectomy uses a small puncture in the scrotal skin rather than an incision. It is a safer and less invasive way of performing a vasectomy with less discomfort and quicker recovery.

Anatomy of a Vasectomy

The testicle is an oval structure the size of a chestnut that makes sperm and testosterone. The sperm migrates from the testis into the epididymis, which is a series of tubes where the sperm mature. The sperm goes from the epididymis up through the vas deferens.

When we cut the vas deferens, we are performing a vasectomy.

During ejaculation, the vas deferens contracts and the sperm is mixed with fluid from the seminal vesicle and prostate gland. The ejaculate is then propelled through the urethra.

It is important to know that after the vasectomy there are still millions of sperm in the vas deferens above where I cut the vas. It takes about 20 ejaculations for the sperm to be completely cleared from the vas.

Also, the prostate is upstream from where the vasectomy is being performed. Therefore, after the vasectomy when a man ejaculates, the ejaculate looks and feels the same. You get the whole swimming pool, but no swimmers.

Anatomy of a Vasectomy


Q: After the vasectomy, can I discontinue other birth control methods right away?
A: We like to check a semen analysis eight weeks after the procedure to confirm no sperm before discontinuing other birth control methods. Sometimes we see a dead sperm, and we will not tell a man that he is sterile until there is a 0 sperm in the ejaculate.

Q: How much discomfort is associated with the vasectomy?
A: The numbing portion of the vasectomy, just like the dentist, can be uncomfortable, but once the skin and vas deferens are numb, the patient rarely feels any pain. Most patients can return to a desk job the next day. They can exercise in 4 days, and ride a bike or do sit-ups or any core abdominal work in a week.

Q: Are there any long-term health risks associated with a vasectomy?
A: You can breathe easy; there is no risk of any other health issues including prostate and testicular cancer.

Q: Can a vasectomy by reversed?
A: Technically a vasectomy can be reversed. However, I do the vasectomy in a way which is more difficult to reverse because I do so many. Doing a vasectomy in a way that is easier to reverse is also easier for mother nature to reverse.

Q: So you can perform a vasectomy in a way that possible to reverse?
A: If asked, I’ll comply with the caveat that it is easier to recanalize in this situation. Also, a vasectomy reversal is a 3 or 4-hour procedure that typically costs $20,000.

Q: How does a vasectomy change my current experience “down there”?
A: In many ways, the experience remains the same. A vasectomy…

  • does not affect sensation
  • does not affect orgasm
  • does not affect erectile activity
  • does not cause prostate cancer
  • does not change testosterone levels