If you’re planning on getting a vasectomy, there’s no doubt that you may be feeling a bit nervous. After all, the procedure does involve one of a male’s most sensitive parts. Moreover, this procedure alters your ability to have children. The decision to get a vasectomy should not be taken lightly. If you’ve decided to proceed with the procedure, you might have some questions regarding recovery. Specifically, how many days off should you plan to take for vasectomy recovery?
How Many Days Off Should I Take for Vasectomy Recovery?
To gain a better understanding and to plan accordingly, keep reading.
What to Expect
A vasectomy is done as an outpatient procedure at your doctor’s office or urology clinic. It is a rather quick procedure(30 minutes or less). There is minimal discomfort overall.
How long you take off from work for vasectomy recovery will usually depend on your job. If your job involves physical labor, avoid returning to work for at least 48 hours post-surgery. It is typical for vasectomy patients to experience pain in their groin for one week after the surgery.
Vasectomy Recovery
On average, it takes about a week to fully recover from a vasectomy. Keep in mind, however, that everyone is different and it depends on your physical condition, which will affect your ability to heal, as well as how you perceive pain.
Your surgeon will use a local anesthetic to numb the area during the procedure. Therefore, you likely won’t feel too much immediately after the vasectomy has been completed. It does take time for the anesthetic to wear off.
Keep in mind that you will have a bandage on your scrotum, and once the numbness has completely worn off, you will likely experience tenderness. You may have some degree of pain, as well as discomfort. You might also notice some bruising and swelling.
Following the procedure, you will be observed. As long as everything goes well, you should be able to go home soon after the vasectomy procedure has been completed.
It is recommended that you have someone else drive you home, so as not to place any unnecessary pressure and strain, which could cause additional discomfort and pain, on the surgical site.
Post-Vasectomy Self-Care
Following a vasectomy procedure, your surgeon will review a list of dos and don’ts with you. The recommendations may vary from doctor to doctor, and may also be customized to suit your unique situation and particular needs.
The following is a list of things that you can do for self-care that will help to ease your discomfort and facilitate faster healing.
- Wear fitted underwear: Tight-fitting underwear that will secure your genital area is highly recommended. This will help you avoid damaging the stitches and injuring the surgical site.
- Apply cold compresses and/or ice packs: Before surgery, make sure that you have several ice packs or cold compresses (bags of frozen vegetables, such as peas, work great!) ready to use. Place a cold compress or ice pack against your scrotum for about 20 minutes multiple times a day. Doing so will help to relieve any discomfort that you may experience and will minimize any swelling.
- Monitor the surgical site: Keep a close watch on the surgical site. You can do so yourself with a mirror, or you can ask your spouse or someone else that you trust to check it out for you. If you notice any redness, severe swelling, pus, or bleeding, seek medical attention right away.
- Take pain medications: Your doctor may prescribe pain medications, which might be helpful the first day or two post-procedure. However, over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen, should work just fine.
AVOID any pain medications that thin the blood, such as aspirin or naproxen.
Things to Avoid
- Avoid bathing: Unless otherwise instructed, wait 24 hours to 48 hours to bathe or shower following the vasectomy procedure.
- Avoid heavy lifting: Do not lift anything heavier than 10 pounds.
- Avoid intimate relations: avoid sexual activity and any other intimate relations until you are fully healed. This is not a good form of birth control until you have had a semen analysis.
Do not forget to get your semen sample tested after your procedure to check for sperm in your semen.
Possible Complication
After a vasectomy, some men may experience complications, and one of them is the development of a sperm granuloma. This is a small, usually painless lump that can form at the site where the vas deferens (the tube that carries sperm from the testicles) was cut or sealed during the vasectomy.
They are generally harmless. They do not affect sexual function or sex drive.
ADULT PEDIATRIC UROLOGY & UROGYNECOLOGY
The attentive, compassionate physicians, providers, and staff at Adult Pediatric Urology & Urogynecology are committed to providing innovative, quality patient care in our state-of-the-art facility.
From screening and prevention to treatment and recovery, our health professionals will be there for you. Our team of dedicated physicians has been serving residents of Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota for more than 25 years.
Vasectomy Omaha - Schedule a Consultation
Ready to schedule a consultation with one of our vasectomy doctors in Omaha? Click here to learn more about the procedure. Our billing department is ready and willing to help you clarify your plan so you know how much a vasectomy in Omaha costs at Adult & Pediatric Urology.
