What to Expect After the Procedure
Your guide to the days and weeks that follow a vasectomy.
Immediately after your vasectomy, you
can usually expect any discomfort to be relatively mild…especially
after a No-Scalpel vasectomy. Regardless of your procedure, local anesthesia
will begin to wear off an hour or so after the procedure. Your doctor
will advise you of appropriate use of pain relievers and/or antibiotics,
if necessary. Do exactly as your doctor prescribes.
Before you are discharged, read your
doctor’s written instructions and review them with your spouse so
you can ask any questions you may have with your doctor. In addition,
here are some general guidelines to for making your recovery uneventful
and as comfortable as possible.
Getting Home.
Your doctor may advise you not to drive yourself home, so may need to
arrange for transportation in advance. He or she will also determine when
you are ready to travel, so don’t try to speed up the process. Go
directly home to rest.
You can expect to wear a snug scrotal support garment or jockey shorts
immediately after the surgery and for about one week thereafter. Wear
or bring these with you to your appointment.
Beginning Your Recovery.
Elevate your legs, stay off your feet,
and use ice packs liberally to soothe the scrotal area during the first
few days following your vasectomy to help minimize any swelling and discomfort.
Contact your doctor immediately if,
in the first day or two following surgery, you experience any sudden fever,
chills, increasing pain, swelling or drainage, any of which might be signs
of infection.
The First Days.
Check with your doctor when you may
resume taking showers, usually within a day or two. Do not take tub baths
or submerge your body for at least 48 hours after surgery. This could
expose your incision to bacteria and the risk of infection. Warm, 20-minute
baths can be beneficial after the few days following your vasectomy.
Although you can expect some discomfort at
first, lasting or significant pain is uncommon. However, don’t try to "tough
it out" when it comes to postoperative pain. Let your doctor know if you
experience an increase in discomfort, so you can receive the right medication.
Vasectomy procedures are often scheduled
for a Thursday or Friday; this allows a weekend to recuperate before the
start of the next workweek. It is not uncommon for men to return to work
on the following Monday or Tuesday.
The First Few Weeks after Surgery
You should not consider, and probably
won’t feel like, resuming sexual intercourse from 72 hours to a couple
of weeks following surgery. Before you do resume sexual activity, remember
that you will not be considered sterile for several weeks. Until your
doctor determines that you are sterile, continue to use an alternate form
of birth control.
And you should also remember that a vasectomy does not protect you or
your partner from sexually transmitted diseases.
Once sexual activity is comfortable for you, it is important to resume
ejaculation, since it takes between 10 and 20 ejaculations before any
remaining sperm is released. In fact, sperm can remain in the semen for
three to six months following your vasectomy.
You can expect your doctor to advise
you when to bring in your first semen sample for examination. This is
usually within four to six weeks after your vasectomy. You may be able
to collect your seminal specimen at home and bring it directly to the
doctor’s office or lab. Use the sterile containers that your doctor’s
office will provide you for all semen samples.
Doing Your Part
Once seminal analysis begins, you doctor
may advise you to ejaculate 10-12 times before collecting and submitting
your first, and all subsequent, specimens to your doctor for microscopic
laboratory analysis. You can expect to provide semen samples thereafter
every few weeks or so.
You are generally considered sterile
only after your doctor makes that determination.
In Summary:
- Discomfort following a vasectomy is usually mild, but expect to take
time to rest and recuperate for a few days.
- Follow your doctor’s instructions, including his direction regarding
rest and the use of pain medications and/or antibiotics.
- Many men begin to resume regular work activities after a few days
of rest following the procedure.
- Sexual activities can usually be resumed after one to two weeks, but sterility
is not immediate.
- Your doctor will provide instructions regarding semen sample testing
during the weeks following a vasectomy.
Check out related pages from vasectomy.com…
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