Appointment

How to Care for yourself after vasectomy

What should I be doing?

  • Day of procedure: Following the procedure, take it very easy on the couch, bed or recliner. Relax! Take acetaminophen (1000 mg every 6 hours) or ibuprofen (600-800 mg every 6 hours) for pain. Remove the gauze ½-1 day following the procedure.
  • Day following the procedure: You may walk and drive as much as you like, but no sports, yard work, swimming, or heavy lifting. If your job is sedentary (office work or supervisor), you may return to work.
  • Second day following the procedure: You may return to more strenuous work and exercise. When the discomfort is resolved, you can return to normal activity and exercise.  This is generally within 3-4 days.
  • Use your compression briefs full time for the first 2 days and for the first week if you’re doing strenuous exercise.
  • Resume sex or ejaculation in one week.  
  • Bathing:  It’s OK to shower anytime, but don’t soak in water (bath, pool, hot tub) for the first 2 days. 

Reasons to Contact Dr Tonozzi

  • You have uncontrolled bleeding (a spot of blood on the gauze is normal)
  • You have lump that develops in the first day that is the size of a marble or larger
  • You have signs of infection, like a warm, red, tender area on the skin.
  • Your pain is uncontrolled and you are using maximum doses of ibuprofen and acetaminophen.

What is Normal

  • Bruising on the scrotum, penis, belly or thighs.  This can be very dark. It will resolve over 3-4 weeks
  • Blood in your semen within the first 4 weeks. 
  • Fainting following vasectomy. If you feel warm, sweaty, nauseous, you may be about to faint. If you are driving, it is very important to pull over.  If you are being driven, warn your driver of this possibility. 
  • Lump developing at the site of the vas deferens separation between 3 days and 6 months.  This is likely sperm that have exited the cut end of the vas. This is normal and will resolve over several months. See HERE for more information. 

Semen Testing

Keep using birth control until you have done successful semen testing. See HERE for more information on semen testing. It is recommended that two months after your vasectomy, you do a home semen analysis using “SpermCheck Vasectomy”.   If you have two “low count” results, you can stop using other forms of birth control. If it is “high count”, repeat the SpermCheck one month later.  If it is still “high count”, then please contact Dr. Tonozzi to make a plan.  

Are you arranging an appointment for yourself or for somebody else (like your spouse)?

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