For Referring Doctors

We value the trust you place in our care and aim to make the referral process as straightforward as possible. Whether your patient self-refers or you send a referral directly, our goal is to ensure clear communication, seamless coordination, and the highest standard of patient care before, during, and after the procedure. Below you’ll find information on how to refer, what to discuss with patients, and answers to some of the most common questions you may receive from patients or their partners

How to refer

A patient can self-refer or a referral can be sent via Medical Objects or Fax

What to tell patients or their partners

I will discuss the procedure in depth with the patient but some common questions are: 

Most men are obviously apprehensive about the procedure. Giving them or their partners reassurance about the safety and efficacy of the procedure is invaluable. The procedure is done under local anaesthetic and takes about 15 minutes in total. The only preparation men need is to wear tight fitting underwear. I have a lot of experience in calmly guiding men through the process and rarely have had to use medications to assist.  Anticoagulants usually need to be withheld but aspirin alone is manageable. If there are any concerns, I am happy to discuss with you or the patient. 

For a desk job, the day of the procedure is suffice. For more labour intensive occupations, a return to work in 2 days is possible provided duties do not involve tasks that place greater stress on the wound (such as harness work)

The out-of-pocket gap for the procedure is $450. A Medicare rebate applies to both the consultation and the procedure

I follow up post-vasectomy semen analysis and inform patients on clearance progress. If there are any concerns about a procedure, including complications, I am very happy to either consult with a patient or give advice on management.

Family Planning NSW has a simple patient information sheet you can give to your patient: https://www.fpnsw.org.au/sites/default/files/assets/Factsheet_Male-Sterilisation_201806.pdf

Before booking, please answer a few quick questions

If you have answered Yes, please continue to book a vasectomy consultation.
If you have answered No, there is a small chance that a vasectomy is unnecessary for you. It is best to book a bulk-billed consultation with Dr Ranaweera first to discuss your options.

Why do we ask these questions?

If you have never caused a pregnancy, there is a chance that you are infertile. About 1% of men are Azoospermic or in other words, 1 in 100 men that do not have any sperm in their semen. They are able to ejaculate but no sperm is present in the semen – that is they are already “shooting blanks”. It may be wise get a fertility test prior to considering a vasectomy.