After Your Vasectomy

Our team is available anytime for questions or concerns after your no-needle vasectomy procedure.

Please read the information below to know what to expect after your procedure. Please follow your doctor’s instructions for post-vasectomy care to speed healing and recovery.

Patient Instructions After Vasectomy

After your vasectomy, you should go home and rest for the remainder of the day and evening. Minimize any kind of activity. Some men have no pain at all, while many others have aches in the groin. The testes originate from the abdomen as an embryo and share some of the same nerve supplies, so anything in the scrotum may be perceived in the abdomen as well.

The First 48 Hours

There may be a small amount of bleeding from the skin opening. This is normal. Put a bandaid on it daily until there is no more blood. Then, just wear supportive underwear for the next 7 days. You may take a daily shower starting the morning after the procedure. Avoid taking baths for 7 days after the surgery.

For the first 48 hours, continue to avoid any alcohol, take 2 tablets of extra-strength Tylenol every 6 hours, if needed, and ice the area regularly.

The First Week

On the third day, take 2 tablets of Ibuprofen (400 mg) every 6 hours with food, no matter how good you feel, as this will reduce post-surgical inflammation. Do this for three days. If you get side effects, of course, stop the pills. Monitor for high blood pressure and an upset stomach.

Remember, no sex or ejaculation for a week. Light blood in the semen is normal in the first few ejaculations after your vasectomy and no cause for concern.

For the first week, avoid any exertion, exercise, extensive walking, climbing, jogging, or sports…you get the idea.
When pain and tenderness are minimal, you may return to your usual activity, but on the first day back, start at ½ your usual workout. In general, avoid lifting more than 15 lbs (including babies or children) in the first week.

It is normal to have some discoloration of the skin (blue and black) around the puncture site a few days after your vasectomy. This will gradually go away.

Some men will develop swelling and tenderness on one side or both. This is usually due to an exaggerated inflammatory response that is often normal and necessary for sperm recycling and reabsorption. It is managed effectively with ibuprofen 600 mg 3 times a day. You might notice a lump on each side of your scrotum after your vasectomy for the next few weeks. That is a scar where we cut and sealed your vas. It usually feels like a knot the size of a pea and may swell to the size of a marble and be tender for a few weeks after the procedure but then become smaller and non-tender.

Post-Vasectomy Semen Testing

After 3 months, follow up with your semen specimen for analysis as outlined below. Continue birth control until our doctors review your test results. Our nurse will call you as soon as we get the test results.

Call The Lab

While you can bring your specimen to any medical laboratory, please call the lab of your choice 2 weeks in advance to confirm they can accept your semen analysis (they may send you to a different lab). All labs accept our clinic's requisition form that we will provide for you. When dropping off your sample, you must bring your lab forms, or they will not accept it.

Collect Your Sample

Collect the semen by masturbating directly into a sealed, sterile specimen container. If you lose a portion of the semen, throw the container out and collect your specimen at another time. If you’ve misplaced the container, please get another one – ask for a urinalysis container. Please do not use any other type of container.

Drop it off

Close the container tightly. Label it with your first and last name, date of birth, plus the date and time you produced the sample. Deliver your specimen to the laboratory immediately (within 1 hour) after collection, keeping the container warm in your pocket or next to your body en route.

Learn more

About no-needle vasectomy procedure at Vasectomy North Clinics

The operation itself is about 10 minutes, and you will be in the operating room for about 20–25 minutes, including anesthetic application.