If you are still happy to go ahead please remember:
Before the operation
- Have a light meal
- Have a nice hot shower just before you come in – this will relax the genital area and also wash away any surplus bacteria and therefore reduce an infection risk
- Trim the hair on the top of the scrotum so that it is very short, especially the top part under the base of the penis. Shaving is not necessary and we actually would prefer you not to shave on the day to avoid there being any fresh cuts which also might increase an infection risk
- Wear tight underwear on the day of the operation – the better the scrotum is supported after the procedure, the less swelling there will be. Swimming trunks are very effective.
- Stock up with paracetamol – some studies have shown that taking paracetamol on the day of the operation and the day after significantly reduces the perception of discomfort over the whole of the following week.
- Your partner is very welcome to accompany you.
- Arrange for someone to drive you home afterwards – some car insurers don’t insure you for a few hours after a local anaesthetic, because on rare occasions severe dizziness can suddenly come on up to a couple of hours afterward.
What to expect afterwards
Numbness
After a vasectomy, is it common to experience some numbness of the scrotum caused by the local anaesthetic. As the anaesthetic wears off (after 30min to 1h), the scrotum may become sore and some bruising may develop. Occasionally, if the surgeon has difficulty finding both the vas deferens, the swelling or bruising can be quite severe.
Post-operative pain
Painful discomfort normally disappears within a few days, while a slight ache may remain longer up to one to two weeks. Taking regular paracetamol should help relieve any discomfort. Follow the instructions on the packet. Please avoid taking anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen e.t.c) or alcohol for at least 72 hours following the operation as these increase the risk of bleeding. Please continue to wear tight-fitting underwear day and night for a couple of days after the operation as this will also help to ease discomfort and prevent swelling.
Return of usual activity
We very much advise to rest (sit or lie) on the day of the operation and the day after as this will help a lot to keep swelling down and reduce discomfort. Some men feel fit enough to go back to work the day after their vasectomy, but we advise only to do so if it is work that allows you to sit down.
It’s best to avoid heavy lifting or vigorous exercise for a whole week after the operation, as this can put a strain on the healing wounds and more importantly might set off a bleed.
Wound Care
Please avoid any showers or bath for three days, in order to keep the wound dry. After this, it’s fine to have a bath or shower as normal, but the area should be gently patted dry with a clean towel. Any dissolvable stitches will disappear on their own after about a week but if one is still in your skin after two weeks we advise to tug it gently which should remove it easily.
The area should heal fairly quickly, however we ask you to contact us if you are concerned about any swelling or other discomfort that you are worried about.
Should you start to feel in general unwell, particularly within the first 72 hours after the procedure we kindly ask you to contact the hospital immediately, as more severe symptoms might mean that that there is not only an infection, but possibly sepsis (a rare complication of a vasectomy).
Post-vasectomy semen analysis
To find out whether your vasectomy has been successful you will be asked to provide at least one semen sample no earlier than 16 weeks following your vasectomy and after you have performed a minimum of 30 ejaculations. This is very important to clear out all of the remaining sperm still present within your tubes.
If there are no sperm in your semen, the test result is negative. We will send you a letter to tell you about the result.
If you still have sperm in your semen, we will give you paperwork for another test.
A few men continue to have small numbers of sperm in their semen, but these sperm do not move (they are known as ‘non-motile’ sperm). It is not always clear whether this means you could make your partner pregnant. If you are one of these men, your doctor will discuss your options with you.