What to Expect After Vasectomy

While the vasectomy procedure itself will only take anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes, the recovery period after vasectomy is a lot longer. One to two hours after the operation, you will still feel numbness in the area of the scrotum.

When you leave your doctor's office, make sure that you have arranged for someone to bring you home. Only your physician can determine when it will be alright for you to drive yourself and travel after a vasectomy.

You will also be asked to wear a jock strap or other support garments for at least a week after vasectomy. Some pain and swelling will be a normal occurrence after a vasectomy. To minimize this, you should elevate your legs and apply an ice pack to the affected area. If you have chosen to go with a ‘no scalpel vasectomy’, you can expect that there will be more swelling compared to the same procedure performed with the use of a scalpel. If you experience fever or chills after the procedure, make sure that you inform your doctor immediately since this may be a sign of an infection.

You will not be allowed to take showers for about a day or two. Submerging yourself in water or bathing yourself in a pool or beach is also not allowed for a period after a vasectomy. You are also not permitted to lift heavy weights or enjoy any sports during this recuperation period. Your doctor may also prescribe a painkiller for you, which will come in useful when the anaesthesia wears off.

A vasectomy is often scheduled on a Thursday or Friday to allow men enough time to recover during the weekend. In fact, most patients are able to return to work and resume their normal habits by Monday or Tuesday. This is recommended only for those patients with desk jobs. However, if you engage in physical labor, you should clarify with your doctor when is the best time for you to resume your usual work.

Another precaution is abstinence from sex. This is especially important since you may still be able to get your partner pregnant right after vasectomy. Sterilization only takes effect eight to twelve weeks after the procedure but normal sexual activity can be resumed about one to two weeks after a vasectomy.

After about a month or so, you will need to collect a sperm sample and bring it to your doctor for examination. It is only after you have brought in at least two samples that are free of sperm will you be declared ‘safe’. Of course, vasectomy protects only against unwanted pregnancies; you should still use protection against sexually transmitted diseases.