Dr Wells is an experienced vasectomist, having carried out the procedure in general practice since 1978. For further information visit www.noscalpelvasectomy.co.uk.

If a patient of the Practice requires a vasectomy, both he and his partner need to make an appointment to see Dr Wells for counselling and to discuss an operation date.

Patients who are not registered with the Practice need to consult their own doctor, who may be able to refer to Dr Wells for the procedure. This can be carried out as an NHS procedure at no cost as Dr Wells has a contract with Stockport Primary Care Trust.

For patients who are not Stockport residents, or registered with a Stockport GP, the procedure can be carried out on a private basis at a cost of £300. Please contact Dr Wells by telephone or email.

Vasectomy is a method of permanent contraception, and is an operation which can be performed in the surgery. The operation involves removing a piece of the small tube (the vas deferens) which runs from the testicle to the penis on each side, and tying off the ends.

The operation is performed with the use of local anaesthetic. A no-scalpel technique is used. Instead of small cuts being made on each side of the scrotum, the skin in the middle is split using a special pair of forceps. Although the split is only 1/2 cm, both the vas can be delivered through the split and divided. The advantages are that the technique is less traumatic and less likely to cause bruising and infection. A lift home is required and the next day should be taken off work.

Before the operation it is necessary to talk to both partners and a consent form needs to be signed. The operation is irreversible, so the possibility of a tragedy happening to the children has to be considered, plus the fact that, like any other operation, there is a small risk of bruising, infection and failure (1 in 1000).

The operation has no effect on sex drive or on ejaculation and does not cause cancer of the prostate. After the initial effects of bruising have worn off, there are no serious long-term side effects. It is not effective immediately, so sperm counts are needed in four months. Until these are clear other methods of contraception should be used.