Yes, not only are the needles sterilized but they also swab the site of the injection with antiseptic before injection.

Weird, ironic, bizarre and sad.....all at the same time.

PS In many states, the injection is not given by medical people. It is given by prison staff, often with no medical training at all.

PS You can buy needles that are meant to be sterilised and used again ; I have used them when I was a laboratory assistant.

No Needle, No-Scalpel Vasectomy

The choice of a vasectomy is often rejected because of the prospect of surgery and anesthesia, the needles and scalpels deemed necessary to perform such a delicate procedure.

However, there is a relatively new and widely accepted vasectomy procedure which involves no needles for anesthesia and no scalpel or stitches. It is different from a conventional vasectomy in the way the doctor seals off the vas deferens. It also involves an improved method of anesthesia to help make the procedure less painful.

The procedure is called the No Needle, No-Scalpel vasectomy.

No Needle

The No Needle vasectomy uses a relatively new device which applies high pressure to deliver anesthetic through the skin and directly into the tissue around the vas deferens.

In a traditional vasectomy, a small needle is used to give a lot of local anesthetic in the area of the vas deferens. This may be somewhat uncomfortable and intimidating for many men.

No-Scalpel

The No-Scalpel vasectomy procedure eliminates the need to cut the patient’s skin in order to reach the vas deferens. Instead the physician identifies the tubes under the skin and then isolates them with a specialized clamp - after the anesthesia has been given.

He then makes a tiny puncture and stretches the opening so the vas deferens can be reached. The vas deferens from each side is pulled through the hole and one at a time are cut and blocked. Unlike a conventional vasectomy, there is very little bleeding and scarring and no stitches are required.

Recovering from the No-Scalpel Vasectomy
As mentioned above, it is important to rest for a few days after the No Needle, No-Scalpel Vasectomy. It is often recommended to wear a supportive jockstrap in order to feel comfortable. Place ice on the surgical site immediately after the procedure, this will greatly reduce swelling. It is also recommended to refrain from exercise for a few days.

Is a man sterile immediately after the vasectomy?

Once the tubes have been interrupted, there should be no new sperm released into ejaculated fluid.  However, the reservoir of fluid that has already passed the point where the tube is interrupted may contain a sufficient amount of motile sperm.  A man will not be sterile until the reservoir is flushed out. Starting at six weeks after the vasectomy, semen is evaluated, to determine if sperm is still present in the ejaculate. Once the physician determines there are no sperm in the ejaculate, a man will be considered sterile.

What are the potential complications?

Although vasectomies are low risk procedures, and the No-Scalpel vasectomy even lower, there are some complications that may arise.

1. Infections – as with any procedure involving cutting of the skin or open wounds there is a risk of bacterial or viral infections.
2. Congestion – Is discomfort due to pressure caused by sperm in the testes and lower vas deferens.
3. Sperm Granuloma – This occurs because sperm is leaking from the cut vas deferens, which then hardens to form a lump (often the size of a pea). Although the lump is not dangerous and almost always flushed out by the body over time, it often causes pain and discomfort.
4. Internal Bleeding (Hematoma) – Can occur spontaneously at the site of any surgery, however it is rare in the case of vasectomies. It may also occur if a man strains or exerts himself after the procedure. Resting, especially the first day, is the best prevention.

No Needle, No-Scalpel Vasectomy - A bit of history

The No Needle, No-Scalpel vasectomy developed by Dr. Shunqiang Li in 1974 in China. With over 1,340,000,000 people, approximately 51% male, and the vasectomy being the most common method of birth control. By 1998 over 10 million No-Scalpel vasectomies were performed in China.

The procedure was first introduced to Western physicians in 1985, when the "Association for Voluntary Surgical Contraception" (now AVSC International) sponsored an international team to visit China. At this time the technique was referred to as “The ligation of vas deferens under the direct vision".

In 1985 Dr. Marc Goldstein of the New York-Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Medical College of Cornell University was the first to perform the No-Scalpel Vasectomy procedure in the U.S.A.

Can a vasectomy be reversed?

A vasectomy is not a permanent procedure. Reversing the vasectomy is far more complicated and time-consuming than the No Needle vasectomy.

The vasectomy reversal procedure is performed under an "operating microscope”, this is a microscope that stands over the patient. During the procedure, the physician relies on the highly magnified view in order to manipulate the small, fine instruments by hand.

Theoretically, it seems the vasectomy reversal should be the process of reconnecting the two severed ends of the vas deferens (or anastamosis). However this is a very complicated task for a physician to fulfill.

Read about the success rates of the No Needle, No-Scalpel Vasectomy.

[http://www.wernermd.com/vasectomy-article.html]

About the Author

Michael A. Werner, MD is the clinical director of M.A.Z.E. Cord Blood Laboratories, www.mazecordblood.com. He is a specialist in the cryobanking (freezing) of health products. He personally oversees the cord blood banking process at M.A.Z.E. Dr. Werner is on the faculty of NYU College of Medicine, the New York Medical College and Einstein College of Medicine. He earned his medical degree from the University of California at San Francisco and completed his residency at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Manhattan.