Patient's Guide To Vasectomy Post Operative Care

What happens next?

Keep your green/white bag and sample bottle somewhere safe
We will contact you 4 months post-surgery to notify you that you are due for a semen analysis test.
Please remember that you will need to have a minimum of 30 ejaculations over the next 4 months before doing a semen analysis test.

When we contact you in 4 months time

You will be asked to complete the short survey, which will be emailed to you, and let us know when it is complete
We will send you a form which must be enclosed with your sample
Produce your sample and label the bottle with the Date and Time
Post your sample and form in the green/white bag, in any Royal Mail postbox, on the day it is produced – the lab will discard if not received within 5 days. No post on Sundays!!!

If you do not enclose the form, or label the bottle correctly, the lab will discard the sample

Post Operative Advice

Please remember to take regular painkillers (Paracetamol, Ibuprofen) every 4-6 hours, even if not in pain or discomfort, for at least 48 hours after your surgery. This will prevent a build-up of pain and reduce the risk of long-term chronic pain.
The area around the small wound will become slightly red and inflamed (perhaps with a very slightly yellowy discharge), up to the size of a 50p piece. This is normal and not a sign of infection. Only if there is increased swelling, pain or smelly discharge after a few days should you contact us for advice in case of infection.
Should you have any severe swelling or pain over the next few hours, please contact us immediately.

If you have any concerns or questions over the next few weeks, or if you develop any persistent symptoms in the coming months, please make us your first point of contact at the surgery on 02476 223565. We will endeavour to get your surgeon to telephone you.

Spend a quiet few days (2-3 days) at home, reclining in bed or on the sofa.

Minimize activity.
Some men have no pain at all after vasectomy.
Many have mild discomfort that does not require pain pills.
Sometimes the discomfort is in the groin or abdomen.
That's because the testes originate in the abdomen in embryonic life and drag their nerve supply with them as they migrate into the scrotum.
So any issue in the scrotal contents can be perceived as an abdominal process.

Avoid aspirin for 2 days after the vasectomy.

You may take paracetamol if you have any discomfort.
Ibuprofen is also a pain medication and anti-inflammatory drug.
For the first few days after a procedure inflammation may be a normal component of the healing process and I prefer not to stifle it, so paracetamol is preferred.
Pain beyond 3 days, especially if accompanied by some swelling of the vasectomy sites above the testes, may signify increased inflammation and then ibuprofen is a good choice.
Some men will have more discomfort or tenderness 3-5 days after the vasectomy than they do for the first few days after their vasectomies. That's because the body goes through a series of steps in response to the new arrangement, and sometimes the later steps are more noticeable than the earlier steps. Usually no reason for concern.

Ice packs on your scrotum (over something like a teatowel)

Ice packs on your scrotum (over something like a teatowel) can be helpful in the first 1-2 days to reduce discomfort and swelling: 10-15 mins every couple of hours.

You may remove any scrotal support and take a daily shower starting the morning after the procedure.

Replace the scrotal support and wear it whenever you are up and around for the next 2 days.

2-3 days after the procedure

2-3 days after the procedure you may walk and drive as much as you like (with scrotal support), but no sports, labouring, swimming, or heavy lifting.
If your job is sedentary (office work or supervisor) you may return to work.

5-7 days after the procedure

5-7 days after the procedure you may return to more strenuous work and regular activities, wearing your scrotal support.
When pain is gone and tenderness is minimal you may return to the gym or to running but, on the first day back, do half of your usual workout: half the weight, half the reps, half the speed, half the distance, etc.
If pain does not return, you may do your regular workout the next day.
You may also swim in fresh or salt water 5 days after the vasectomy.

When you no longer have any pain or tenderness, you may ejaculate.

I have always recommended waiting at least 2 days for sex, but the American Urological Association Vasectomy Guidelines recommend that men wait a week.
It is unclear whether sooner ejaculation prolongs discomfort.
Blood in the semen within the first month or two after the vasectomy occurs in some men, but it is no reason for concern.

No follow-up visit is required.

If you have undue discomfort or any concerns you should call us any time after your vasectomy.

Discolouration of the skin (black and blue)

It is normal to have some discolouration of the skin (black and blue) around the puncture site a day or two after the vasectomy.
Some men will develop considerable discoloration of the scrotum about 4 days after the vasectomy.
Blood from the deep vasectomy site comes to the surface as a purplish-blue mark, gets darker and spreads out like an oil slick, then gradually dissipates.

Swelling and discomfort

Some men (about one in 20) will develop swelling and discomfort on one side, sometimes on both sides, starting anytime from 3 days to 3 months following vasectomy.
This usually represents an exaggerated form of the normal inflammatory response necessary for sperm resorption and recycling.
It is effectively managed with a 5-7 day course of ibuprofen (600mg 3 times per day).

Four months after your vasectomy

Four months after your vasectomy you must have your semen tested to be sure that it no longer contains sperm and that it is thereby safe to stop other forms of contraception.