You’ve decided you don’t want any children in your future, and the best way to guarantee that outcome is to get a vasectomy. A vasectomy is a simple, usually irreversible, procedure in which your doctor cuts away part of your two vas deferens tubes and seals the ends of each half so that sperm can’t exit your tubes and fertilize a partner’s egg.
Alex Lesani, MD, an expert urologist, performs a minimally invasive, no-scalpel vasectomy at his office in Las Vegas, Nevada, that helps to minimize bleeding and shorten recovery. Give yourself the best chance of a speedy recovery by adhering to these rules:
A vasectomy is a simple procedure, but it’s still surgery. Directly after your operation, have someone else drive you home, even if you feel “fine.” You’ll be sore and distracted.
No, not while you’re driving: someone else is doing that for you. Dr. Lesani and his team give you written after-care instructions that you need to follow. Feel free to call the office if you have any questions, forget what you’re supposed to do, or are confused by the instructions.
You need to start your rest and recovery as soon as possible. That means lying in bed or on the sofa as soon as you get home and doing as little as possible. Yes, that’s doctor’s orders, but only for the first three days.
To speed up healing, elevate your feet by propping them up on the arm of the couch or some pillows. Keeping your feet above your heart helps to minimize bruising in your testicles. After day three, you can return to your job as long as it isn’t strenuous or involves physical labor.
Your partner, a family member, or a friend will have to do all the heavy lifting for you the first 2–3 days. That includes meal prep, cleaning up, and even performing minor tasks. Your only job during the first 72 postoperative hours is to lie back and heal.
To minimize swelling in your scrotum after your vasectomy, wrap ice or an ice pack in a washcloth or towel, then hold the wrapped pack against your testicles for no more than 20 minutes per hour. Repeat this throughout the day for the first 72 hours.
Whether you love boxers, briefs, or living in the raw, your scrotum needs support after your vasectomy. Dr. Lesani recommends wearing tight briefs that cradle your scrotum without squeezing it uncomfortably. You could also wear a jockstrap instead.
Send your partner to the pharmacy or order your painkillers ahead of time, because you won’t be ready to take a stroll for at least 2–3 days. Be sure to choose acetaminophen (e.g, Tylenol), and use it according to directions. Avoid aspirin or ibuprofen, which thin your blood and can worsen bruising.
Being a little ripe is better than getting an infection. Your incision heals faster if it’s not wet, too. That means avoiding showers and baths for at least 2–3 days.
Even if you’re well enough to return to non-strenuous work after three days, your healing isn’t finished. During week one or longer, refrain from:
You have to spend a full two weeks avoiding:
Even after the two weeks have passed, you may feel uncomfortable or achy if you become sexually aroused or ejaculate. If those feelings don’t resolve after two months, let Dr. Lesani know.
After your vasectomy, contact the office if you’re still in pain after taking OTC medications, if you have troubling symptoms, or if you notice signs of infection at the incision site. We’re here to help you heal, and we’re happy to answer any questions you have during office hours.
After your vasectomy, you may think that you can have unprotected sex without worrying about an unwanted pregnancy. But sperm can hang out in your vas deferens tubes for long periods of time.
Three months after your operation, and after about 20–30 ejaculations, Dr. Lesani analyzes your semen to be sure it’s free from sperm. If you still have sperm, you’ll have to repeat the test at a later date. Although just about 15 in 10,000 couples get pregnant in the 12 months following a vasectomy, you don’t want to be one of them, so continue using birth control until your sperm count is 0.
To book a minimally invasive, no-scalpel vasectomy, contact our office by calling 702-470-2579, or using the online form.
