If you are a man who is done having kids or doesn’t want children at all, you have the option to get a vasectomy. A vasectomy is a form of permanent birth control. After a vasectomy, the man can no longer ejaculate sperm. The testes still make sperm, but they die and are absorbed by the body, so the man cannot get a woman pregnant.
Vasectomies are easier to perform than tubal ligations for women. However, patients need to ensure that they follow doctor’s orders following a vasectomy. While rare, complications such as severe pain, lumps, and infections can occur. Plus, pregnancy can still occur, so proper procedures need to be followed if the couple does not want any more children.
After a Vasectomy
A vasectomy is a quick and easy procedure that takes roughly 10 minutes to perform. Your doctor will give you a local sedative (which numbs the scrotal area) or twilight anesthesia, also known as conscious sedation. In either case, you will be awake for the procedure.
This means that you should be able to go home right after the procedure. You will be able to drive yourself home.
Once you get home, follow your doctor’s instructions. You will be given instructions on how to alleviate the pain. Use an ice pack for swelling and ibuprofen for pain. Follow these procedures as well:
- Go home and rest. Avoid major activity.
- You may be able to return to work the next day. If your work is strenuous, though, wait several days.
- Wear a jock strap or other tight-fitting underwear to support your scrotum for at least two days after your vasectomy.
- If there is blood oozing from the incision site or you are experiencing a fever, pain, or swelling, you may have an infection. Call your doctor right away.
Sexual Activity After a Vasectomy
You can engage in sexual activity one week after a vasectomy. However, keep in mind that you will still be fertile. You can still get your partner pregnant, so use another form of birth control. The sperm will still be in your semen until you have ejaculated about 20 times. You will need to follow up with your doctor after 6-12 weeks to confirm that you have no more sperm in your semen. The doctor will ask you to provide a sperm sample. The semen will then be examined under a microscope to determine whether or not sperm are present.
Contact Us Today
A vasectomy may seem like a simple surgery compared to permanent sterilization for a woman, but complications can still occur if you don’t take it easy afterward. Make sure you follow your doctor’s orders.
A New York urologist at Lazare Urology can advise you about vasectomies and help you prepare for your surgery. To schedule a consultation with our office, fill out the online form or call (718) 568-7516. We serve the Brooklyn area.