Vasectomy recovery and aftercare 

The local anaesthetic you were given will wear off in a couple of hours and you may feel sore.

If you are feeling uncomfortable, take over the counter pain relief such as paracetamol and ibuprofen (providing you are not allergic or intolerant to them or have been advised by a health professional to avoid taking. Some people should avoid using ibuprofen and others should use it with caution).

Always follow the dosage instructions on the packet and don’t exceed the recommended maximum dose. Do not take aspirin as this can increase the risk of bleeding (please note, if you take aspirin for medical reasons, we will discuss this further with you).

Cooling down the sore area can also help reduce pain and swelling. Hold an ice pack, wrapped in a clean towel, against the sore area. Take care not to get the wound wet as this may affect the healing process and may cause infection.

As we only need to make a small puncture hole in the skin of your scrotum, your wound will be covered using just a simple dressing. The
wound will heal from the inside – out so it may look as though the small puncture hole is still there a few days after your procedure, and this is completely normal.

The dressing should be kept dry and held in place for 48 hours by wearing tight-fitting, supportive underwear during the day and at night. This provides more support, can reduce pain and swelling, and will be more comfortable. Please avoid having a bath or shower during this period.

48 hours after your procedure:  
– Have a short shower.
– Avoid long soaks in the bath for at least 2 weeks following your procedure, or until the wound has healed.
– Do not use toiletries such as bath oils or talcum powder as they can irritate the area.
– Dry the area thoroughly. Put on the clean dressing you were given.

You can resume sexual activity as soon as it feels comfortable to do so

Please make sure that you use contraception until we confirm in writing that your vasectomy has been successful. Remember, only condoms help to protect against the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

You should be fit enough to get back to everyday tasks after a couple of days. If your daily tasks are physically demanding, you should wait a little longer. If you have a job that involves heavy lifting, we recommend that you only return to work if you are able to avoid the physical tasks for 2 weeks.

Please call us for advice if you are unsure if your particular type of work or activity could affect your recovery.

Avoid all forms of sport and physical exercise for at least 2 weeks following the procedure.

Heavy physical exercise and contact sports should be avoided for 4 weeks. Examples include rugby, football, squash, cycling, skiing and going to the gym.

You can judge your recovery by how quickly your wound is healing and how fast any swelling or pain goes away.

You can have a conversation with our clinical teams on the day of your procedure, and if you are in doubt, please call us for advice.

You should not drink alcohol for 48 hours after your procedure.

We recommend that you avoid:

– short haul flights (up to 3 hours) for 48 hours after your vasectomy
– long haul flights for at least a week after your vasectomy

Bruising does not usually cause any further problems. On occasions, the bruising can extend to your entire scrotum, penis, inner thighs and pubis. Bruising will disappear over time. If the bruising is accompanied with significant swelling, please call our aftercare line for advice.

You may feel a small lump at the site of the procedure on one or both sides. This may be due to scarring of the tubes.

Sperm can leak from the sealed tubes (vas deferens) and form a small lump, known as a sperm granuloma, in the scrotum. These lumps are not usually painful and can often be treated with anti-inflammatory pain relief such as ibuprofen.

If the lump becomes larger and/or painful, and if you feel concerned, please call our aftercare line for advice.

Late failure means that the tubes (vas deferens) have re-joined over time. This can happen up to 10 years after a vasectomy. It is possible for this to happen, but it is very rare: this happens to 1 in 2000 people). Unfortunately, there is no way of knowing that this is going to happen, and it would only be discovered by an unintended pregnancy. For extra peace of mind, we can provide semen testing at any point after your vasectomy, for a small charge.

For more information on semen testing, click here: Semen Testing

A vasectomy is a very safe procedure. However, there are some possible complications or risks, as with any type of surgery.

As with all surgical procedures, there is a risk of infection. The risk of infection can be minimised by making sure that hands are washed before and after touching the wound site, and that the area is kept clean and dry.

To help reduce the risk of infection prior to your surgical procedure we recommend you purchase Octenisan wash lotion 500mls, readily available online and in high street pharmacies. This product is a mild, antimicrobial wash lotion for skin and hair and helps to reduce the colonisation of skin with bacteria prior to surgical procedures.

Please use for 5 days prior to your vasectomy surgical procedure (the instructions for use are on the product).

Signs of infection

– the area becomes very painful, red, swollen or tender
– the wound has coloured discharge, which may or may not smell
– you have a raised temperature
– you feel generally unwell

If you notice any of the above signs of infection, please contact our aftercare line and our team will be able to support and provide advice. If deemed necessary, and based on the assessment, our aftercare team may signpost you to your GP, A&E or a specialist.

In some cases, a small blood vessel can bleed inside the scrotum and this forms a clot. These clots are usually small but on occasions, they can lead to severe swelling and discomfort requiring further medical attention. This can happen from a few hours to several days after your treatment. As these clots can result from heavy lifting or physical activity, we advise you to avoid these for at least two weeks after your treatment.
 
Signs of haematomas

– scrotum significantly increasing in size
– widespread worsening bruising over the penis, scrotum or inner thighs
– a heavy/ tugging sensation in one or both sides of the scrotum
– pain doesn’t improve after pain relief

A small number of people have been known to have long term or intermittent pain after a vasectomy. This has occurred in very few vasectomies performed at MSI Reproductive Choices UK. If you have any concerns, please call our 24-hour aftercare line on 0345 122 1441.