POST-OPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS FOR VASECTOMY

DIET:

You may return to your normal diet as soon as you arrive home.

ACTIVITY:

Your physical activity should be restricted the first forty-eight (48) hours. During that time you should remain relatively inactive, moving about only when necessary. During the first seven (7) days following surgery, you should avoid lifting any heavy objects (anything greater than fifteen pounds), and avoid strenuous exercise. If you work, ask us specifically about your restrictions, both for home and work. We will write a note to your employer if needed.

You should plan to wear a tight pair of jockey shorts or an athletic support for the first 4-5 days, even to sleep. This will keep the scrotum immobilized to some degree and keep the swelling down.

Ice packs should be placed on and off over the scrotum for the first 24 hours. Frozen peas or corn in a Ziploc bag can be frozen, used and re-frozen. 15 minutes on and 15 minutes off is a reasonable schedule. The ice is a good pain reliever and keeps the swelling down.

WOUND:

In most cases your incision will have no sutures and the wound will seal in 1 or 2 days. You can shower safely within 48 hours. If there is generalized redness, especially with increasing pain or swelling, let us know. The scrotum will possibly get "black and blue" as blood in the tissues spread. Sometimes the whole scrotum will turn colors. The black and blue is followed by a yellow and brown color. In time, all this coloration will go away.

HYGIENE:

You may shower 48 hours after surgery. Tub bathing or swimming should be restricted until the 7^th day.

PROBLEMS YOU SHOULD REPORT TO US:

a.              Fever of 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit.

b.             Moderate or severe swelling under the skin incision or involving the scrotum.

c.              Drug reactions such as hives, a rash, nausea or vomiting.

FOLLOW-UP:

You need NO routine follow-up visits to have us examine you unless problems arise. You will need to have a semen analysis however to make certain that the vasectomy was successful. First, wait 7 days before having any type of sexual activity or ejaculation. Then use PROTECTED intercourse until 6 weeks after the vasectomy. Then bring in a semen specimen in a small jar. The specimen does not have to be fresh. You may collect it the night before and bring it in the next day. If the specimen shows no sperm, then no other form of birth control will be necessary. If sperm are still present, the semen analysis is repeated after another 6 weeks. You must continue to use another form of birth control until the semen analysis shows that no sperm are present.