Robert Kulik – Vasectomy – who performs the procedure
My name is Robert Kulik and I am a physician. I work in andrology and gynaecology and in the related fields of infertility and contraception, for both WOMEN and MEN.
Another of my specialities is vasectomy – reversible male contraception. In 2018 I obtained a certificate of practical training in performing vasectomy reversal (vasovasostomy), i.e. reversing the effects of a vasectomy.
I work at ZdrOva in Warsaw. I trained and obtained my certificate in performing the so-called no-scalpel, no-needle vasectomy using the Open Ended, Fascial Interposition method in the United States, in Tampa, Florida. This method is sometimes called the Canadian or keyhole method – because only a single opening of a few millimetres is made.
I am a member of the International Consortium for Male Contraception
International Consortium for Male Contraception = ICMC
and of the
European Society of Contraception and Reproductive Health (ESC)
For years I have also been a member of the Polish Gynaecological and Andrological societies
Since 2013 I have been an active member of the medical advisory board of World Vasectomy Day. I am involved not only as an advisor but also in vasectomy itself.
Why did I learn vasectomy abroad?
In Poland, vasectomy is a very rarely performed procedure, whereas in the USA around half a million vasectomies are performed annually (528,000 in 2012). Similarly large numbers of vasectomies are performed in all developed countries – especially in the European Union and Canada, and also in China, India and Africa.
In 2012 the American Urological Association published a major study comparing, among other things, different no-scalpel vasectomy methods. A group of 85 researchers analysed all available scientific publications from 1942 to 2011. Over 2,000 scientific papers on vasectomy were reviewed. Of these 2,000, 294 were selected that met the high criteria of Evidence-Based Medicine.
Reading this study, I was surprised by how many vasectomy methods and modifications there are. In the group of so-called no-scalpel vasectomies, failure rates range from 0-0.5% to 8-13%! The same applies to complication rates – so-called “chronic pain” occurs at different frequencies depending on the method! With the older variants, even up to 30-90%! Since I could not find anyone in Poland or in Europe performing vasectomy using the thermal cautery, open ended, fascial interposition method (with the open testicular end of the vas brought outside the sheath of the spermatic cord), I decided to go to the USA.
In 2013 I was accepted onto a practical course in Tampa, Florida, where I successfully completed the training, passing the practical exam (9 vasectomies performed independently on 9 US citizens). I received my certificate from a world authority in vasectomy and reversal – Dr Douglas Stein.
Since then I have personally performed over 11,000 vasectomies using the thermal cautery-open ended-fascial interposition method.
International certificates in vasectomy and reversal
Certificate of completion of practical training and independent (hands on) performance of vasectomies on American patients in the presence of the trainer (a competence exam)
Vasectomy reversal – restoring the continuity of the vas deferens (vasovasostomy) after a previous vasectomy.
In January 2018, at the same centre, I was accepted onto a practical reversal course. In April 2019 I completed a further practical vasovasostomy course.
In Tampa, Florida, USA, the operation to reconnect the previously cut ends of the vas deferens is performed using a minimally invasive method on an outpatient basis (in a procedure room, not an operating theatre) under local anaesthesia. The procedure is completely painless.
Below – the certificate received from Dr Douglas Stein in 2018.
Below – the certificate obtained in 2019.
