After vasectomy instructions
Spend a quiet evening at home, laying down flat in bed or on the sofa the day of the procedure.
You may take acetaminophen (Tylenol) for the first 48 hours and then ibuprofen after if you have any discomfort.
You may remove the 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 and during any increased activity for the next 7 days.
On the day after 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.
Three days after the procedure, you may return to more active work and regular activities wearing scrotal support. Wait 7 days for aggressive sports like basketball and tennis.
You may have sex 7 days after the procedure. It is common to have some blood in the semen for the first few ejaculations. Use other forms of contraception until you are told that your semen is sperm-free.
It is normal to have some discoloration of the skin around the puncture site. 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.
Some men (about 1 in 20) will develop swelling and discomfort on one or 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 absorption and recycling. It is best managed with a 5-7 day course of ibuprofen 600 mg 3 times per day.
You are still considered fertile after the vasectomy procedure. Get your semen sample checked at 12 weeks and 20 ejaculations after the procedure to verify sterility.
Post vasectomy semen sample instructions:
At your appointment, you will be provided a take home kit to perform your sample at home 3 months and 20 ejaculations after your vasectomy. Follow the instructions in the kit carefully dropping off at any UPS store. You will received an email with a secured link from the lab with your results. Until your semen shows ABSENT sperm you are still considered fertile a must continue birth control. If sperm are seen, you will need to continue birth control and repeat the sample 4 weeks later. With any further questions you can contact the lab nurse directly using the number provided with your results or our office.