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So I'm looking at getting the snip. Figured that the wait on the NHS was quite a while, and I'm happy to crack on and get my tubes cut privately.
There's a clinic near me that want 800 (or was it 900) quid, with some technique that's more common in the US than the UK. There's another (part of Spire, so a big chain) who want over £2k to do the same thing (though not the fancier method).
There's not many reviews of the local clinic, but they're all good, and the place turns up in numerous comments on a reddit thread I was reading - all very positive. Turns out the same guy does NHS treatments too, so ain't gonna be a cowboy.
So... why is one nearly a third of the price of the other?! Am I missing something? the cheaper guy does all the follow-up and tests etc, as far as I can tell.
Anyone had it done in Bristol and happy to recommend?
No-scalpel - that's the common technique in the UK as well. There is still a knife of such. Good luck. I won't scare the shit out of you, but mine went badly, further surgeries, missing part of leftie, 10 years later on TRT and in pain down there ! I won't be doing it again.
PS if you can feel anything tell them to shove in more anaesthetic - failed completely on one side. Oof.
Good luck.
Ps research PVPS, NHS say 1 in 10 get it. I was told 1 in 1000 when I went, that's finally been changed 10 years later. I'll let you research it. Bear this in mind.
Have you actually found out about the NHS waiting times? It's an in-out in a couple of hours job, (that includes booking in and a brief recovery wait) not even necessarily done at a hospital. The sort of routine that you can get booked in for quite quickly after a GP appointment, (in fact I think mine was done by a GP who had some additional training or experience or something).
I was in and out within a few weeks of asking on the NHS, GP didn't even speak to my wife. Didn't take long. Paying won't make the experience any better, or guarantee quality. Surgeries are usually done by a GP with specific experience in this area, so they do lots
Thanks @fossy - I shall have a read up! The guy does 'Fascial interposition' if that makes a difference?!
tthew - I've not, tbh, following feedback from friends who've had it done. The tricky bit, too, is that I'll need to time it well around work commitments - long story short, I need to sit on a bike for work and I need to time my procedure in and around when I can be off the bike for a few weeks, rather than the bike time fitting in and around when the NHS can squeeze me in. But, maybe a chat with my GP would be wise!
In sussex the wait was down to me i.e have the nurse pre assessment, then call this number to book when you're free...
Literally a few weeks later I was infertile (or not... DrPs swimmers are sticky and resilient and I kept firing deaduns... Eventually got the all clear!)
It was 100% fine for me... Mild Post op pain...now it's all normal (bar, spaffing blanks of course)...
I wouldn't go private tbh
DrP
The tricky bit, too, is that I’ll need to time it well around work commitments
Ah, fair enough. I was lucky with mine and was riding to work again within a few days, but my experience was clearly at the easier end of the spectrum, (and the commute wasn't long).
I did it about 2 years ago and the waiting list was only 6 weeks or so.
I was off the bike 4 weeks, mainly due to swelling and an open wound - I'd timed if for autumn ! If it goes fine, you'll be on a bike in a few days. You should just have a small hole/wound.
Plus side, no need for contraception etc but the pain and surgery hasn't been worth it for me. Second op was 3 hours 'under', far more nasty, big incision, but much less bruising and swelling. I nearly fainted when I took a peep and realised what had been done on the 'repairs'.
Most folk, it goes fine, most folk I know it's been OK, but I know enough where it 'hasn't'. Just be educated, it's a risk that's more common - lets just say my Pain Consultant openly said he wouldn't have it done due to the numbers of men he sees referred !
I had a fantastic experience with the NHS, paying anything, let alone those anything like those figures seems lunacy.
When I got sent the online referral , I had the choice of three local clinics, with multiple date choices so I don't see it being a particular issue in your situation.
No issues with me. Worked nightshift Mon. Operation on Tues afternoon. Tender for a couple of days. Back at work on Saturday which I thought was OK for my job which involved wrestling the occasional drunk. Got pulled up by my boss for being sick after a planned OP. Told me I should have arranged to get it done during my holidays.
Go NHS - in the unlikely event that something goes wrong, its them that will sort it.
Come back when you’ve booked it so we can share horror stories with you then.
If you want a laugh, there was an excellent episode of Home Improvement where Tim was dithering about the snip
Crikey! £25 37yrs ago. In and out in 45mins drove home and back to work in a couple of days. Just a slight ache for a day ot two, but absolutely no issues. Wife bought me a pretty cool t-shirt with IOFB embroidered on it as a thank you .
NHS here, no problems, short wait and in and out, so to speak, in a couple of hours.
Had an NHS one in north Bristol (Almondsbury - but under the umbrella of the Hanham vasectomy clinic) nearly 3 years ago. Possible that they offer private appointments too.
He used cauterisation (at 3 points on each vas I think) - I was definitely warned about a burning smell.
The follow up tests were samples sent by post and then when they kept coming back positive for viable sperm I had to take a warm sample up to Southmead (popped it into my jersey pocket - made sure not to confuse with a gel). Not sure if a practice could do a procedure privately and then refer to NHS for sample monitoring but not sure.
Got some minor prostatitis from mine which lingered for a few months and I needed antibiotics for - made riding a bike more than a few miles at a time quite unpleasant but was OK for getting to work. Also had about 6-12 months where ejaculation was intermittently painful which has now resolved itself.
I'll save my horror story until 'after' you get it done.
Haha thanks all - I'll give the GP a ring! Fortunately my boss has had the snip too, so knows the deal!
fossy
Full MemberPs research PVPS, NHS say 1 in 10 get it. I was told 1 in 1000 when I went, that’s finally been changed 10 years later. I’ll let you research it. Bear this in mind.
+1
The pain I had was like getting whacked in the nuts randomly. Touch wood (ahem) it's gradually faded by about 90%. But certainly be prepared that it is a real possibility that you could be stuck with it.
Paid £80 24 years ago at our local health centre, under an hour all in and drove home.
Sore for a day or two but rode my motorbike to work before the end of the week.
Mine was pretty quick on the NHS too, about 3 months from GP referral to procedure. Could probably have been a month sooner, they kept texting me earlier appointments but it was easier to keep the booked date. Didn't take long at all, no issues past initial recovery.
Edinburgh based. I've been waiting a year. A colleague and I discussed it, we both shuddered at £2k+ at Spire. He's since found out that with (unplanned) child number 3,£2k is cheap in comparison
Trying to call the GP reminds me why I never bother going to the GP... been on hold 20+ mins, moved 2 places up the queue, 5 more to go! Can't even make an online appointment for some reason!
****ing Tories!
"He’s since found out that with (unplanned) child number 3,£2k is cheap in comparison"
ha ha, yeah... very much that - quite happy with my current childless status for that very reason, and would like it to remain so!
I was in and out within a few weeks of asking on the NHS, GP didn’t even speak to my wife. Didn’t take long. Paying won’t make the experience any better, or guarantee quality. Surgeries are usually done by a GP with specific experience in this area, so they do lots
Depends on your PCT. My local one contracted out to Stopes, maybe still do as was presumably more cost efficient. We'd been looking at private for convenience to fit around work but cost put us off, so went to local GP, answered all the questions satisfactorily , and then informed they contracted out to one of the same people we'd been looking at. Then was quite a wait because presumably they block book and then invite you when you get to top of the list but in the end got the same service as a paying punter. I'll spare those details until another time though
Wife was quite disappointed, after a difficult second labour due to **** up in repairs after first, I think she was quite looking forward to having me undergo surgery at the hands of an enthusiastic amateur.
on hold for 30 mins, never made it to the front of the queue, so registered with a new GP - will try and book an appointment as soon as my application goes through!
**** the tories
🙂
my Pain Consultant openly said he wouldn’t have it done due to the numbers of men he sees referred
And the hairdresser only sees people in need of a haircut...
Risk exists, but isn't a promise of failure...
DrP
Top tip - don't worry if they don’t give you enough anaesthetic. The surgeon will realise a tiny fraction of a second after you do.
£500 and I can clap a pair of bricks on the plums, big savings all round...
Make sure you get someone else to drive you home.
Oh and bring a cushion. I hope that the drive home is not too far.
£2k is a piss take for what they do.
£500 and I can clap a pair of bricks on the plums, big savings all round…
Be careful, it can really hurt if you catch your thumbs!
Was back at work next day after mine with no pain. Only painful bit was the surgeon yanking my bollocks out of my crotch as they had gone full stage fright mode 🙂 probably because I was laid on a trolley with my tackle out surrounded by around ten med students who's presence I had only been made aware of as I entered the theatre.
£500 and I can clap a pair of bricks on the plums, big savings all round…
Plus your hearing will be pin sharp due to the two large gobbets of wax that will be dislodged as the bricks meet.
See if the “NHS can squeeze you in”?
Best humble brag evahhh!
My advice is find someone who does this procedure a lot!
I remember searching on here and reading all kinds of disaster stories. My GP referred me to a private doctor who is also a GP but runs a Friday snip clinic. There was no pain, tiny incisions, a good chat about rare butterflies and a bit of burnt bacon aroma.
He’s been doing it for 35 years now. What a load of bollox!
Got mine done here in Aus, health care is a bit different here. Private procedure but it was cheaper as it's more normal to just go private here. Quick easy no-scalpel procedure, was a bit disconcerting when I saw some smoke, I guess that's how it works though, they let the smoke out and then they don't work any more.
Best part was as it's Australia I got a free stubbie holder...
Best part was as it’s Australia I got a free stubbie holder…
Does it hold your stubby?
I’ve seen the Dr Snip billboard ads 🤣
Yeah naah, we're all about the VB long necks down here maaate
Cooper’s Extra Stout is the only beer that should ever be in a Tallie 🤣
Mine was 4-6 weeks wait from asking the GP from memory - specialist clinic in Tewkesbury which isn't far for you. Done quickly, no issues and back on bike in a couple of weeks.