How to Recover From a Vasectomy

You can go right home after your vasectomy, but you will have some pain for the first few days. It also takes a couple of months for the vasectomy to become effective as a method of birth control, so you will also have to take some precautions. But by following your doctor’s instructions and taking good care of yourself, you can improve your chances of a swift recovery.

Part 1
Part 1 of 2:

Controlling Pain After Your Vasectomy

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    Expect mild swelling and pain. After surgery, you will probably have some pain and swelling in your scrotum. You may also notice some fluid leaking from the incision site after surgery. This is entirely normal and should improve and resolve itself within a few days. Use gauze and/or bandages as needed and as recommended by your doctor.
    • Look at your scrotum with a hand mirror once or twice per day to see how it is healing. If swelling is continuing to get worse, or you notice significant redness or bruising that does not improve, see your doctor for further evaluation.
    • Keep in mind that healing often proceeds without complications and you should see your scrotum beginning to look normal again after a few days.
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    Take pain medications as needed. Normally an over-the-counter pain medication such as Tylenol (acetaminophen) will suffice. If you require stronger medication to control your pain, book another appointment with your physician and he or she can write you a prescription for stronger pain medications. However, most men are fine with over-the-counter medications and do not need to opt for anything stronger.
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    Use an ice pack to control pain and swelling.[1] For the first two days after the procedure, ice the scrotum area for 20 minutes every hour or so. After that, use ice as needed to help with pain and swelling.[2]
    • Icing helps to diminish inflammation in the scrotum area and also reduces swelling. It can therefore be helpful in reducing symptoms of pain and discomfort.
    • When started early after the vasectomy procedure is done, it can also help to speed the recovery process.
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    Support your scrotum. Leave on the bandage that your doctor placed on your scrotum for a period of 24 to 48 hours following the surgery.[3] Wearing tight-fitting underwear or a jockstrap is a good idea as well, as it can help to alleviate discomfort and also to protect the area.[4]
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    Try to be patient. After a week has passed, most of the bothersome symptoms, such as swelling and pain, should be resolved. Call your doctor immediately if your symptoms persist, or if you notice any signs of complications such as an infection.
    • Symptoms that are typically associated with a post-operative infection include fever, blood or pus coming out of the surgical site, and/or worsening pain and swelling.[5]
    • Other complications to be aware of include continued bleeding beyond 48 hours after surgery (or formation of a large bruise, called a "hematoma," on the scrotum); something called a "sperm granuloma" (which is basically a harmless mass that forms in the testicles as a sort of immune response); and/or persistent pain.[6]
Part 2
Part 2 of 2:

Making Lifestyle Adjustments After Your Vasectomy

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    Avoid taking blood-thinning medications for a few days.[7] You should not take any blood thinning medications for at least a few days following your vasectomy. Be sure to ask your doctor for specific advice on this if you are taking blood-thinning medications. This is because taking blood-thinning medications may increase your risk of post-operative bleeding.
    • Know that the duration of time to be off your blood-thinning medications varies from person to person (depending on the reason you are taking them in the first place). Ask your doctor when you can resume your normal medications.
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    Get plenty of rest. One of the most important components of recovering from your vasectomy is rest. You may need to take a few days off of work or cut back on your usual activities to facilitate healing.[8] Unless your work is strenuous or requires heavy lifting, you should be able to go back quite quickly, such as within two to three days.[9] If your job requires heavy lifting, talk to your doctor about when it will be safe for you to return.
    • Try not to do too much for the first two to three days following the procedure, and don't be afraid to ask others to help you out so that you can relax and recover.
    • Keep your activity level to a minimum after your vasectomy. It is advisable to limit physical activities for about five days post-surgery, and to refrain from heavy lifting for at least a week. [10]
    • Heavy lifting strains the area and therefore interferes with healing. After five days, you may resume exercise, starting out easy and getting back to your normal routine after a couple of weeks.
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    Refrain from all types of sexual activity for seven days.[11] Ejaculation can be painful and sometimes lead to bleeding in the initial stages after your vasectomy. Therefore, you will not be able to engage in any sexual activity about seven days after your vasectomy.[12]
    • When you do choose to resume sexual activity (after a week has passed and you feel comfortable enough to do so), remember that you will need to use birth control until you have had follow-up tests with your doctor confirming that your sperm count is zero. It usually takes 20 ejaculations after the surgery for residual sperm to be fully cleared.
    • Overall a vasectomy results in no changes to a man's sexual function. Many men are concerned it could affect desire, erections, and/or the sensation of orgasm; however, studies have been done to confirm that none of these are negatively affected by the procedure.
    • Studies have shown that women's sexual satisfaction has increased after their partner has had a vasectomy. This may be due to greater confidence that there will not be an unwanted pregnancy.
    • Note that there is also a very small risk (0.1% per year) of becoming pregnant even after you have had a vasectomy. [13] This is because, even though the two ends of the vas deferens have been "disconnected" from one another, there is still a tiny chance that sperm could pass through and result in pregnancy. The chance is so low, however, that a vasectomy (or a "tubal ligation," which is the comparable procedure in women) is still considered the most effective form of birth control for those couples who have decided they do not want to have any more children.
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    Do not swim or bathe for 24 to 48 hours after your vasectomy. Depending on the technique that your doctor used, you may have stitches in your scrotum. To prevent an infection from developing, it is best to keep the stitches dry by not bathing or swimming for the first couple of days.[14]
    • Ask your doctor when it is okay to start bathing and/or swimming again.

Expert Q&A

  • Question
    What shouldn't you take to recover from a vasectomy?
    Robert Dhir, MD
    Robert Dhir, MD
    Board Certified Urologist & Urological Surgeon
    Dr. Robert Dhir is a board certified Urologist, Urological Surgeon, and the Founder of HTX Urology in Houston, Texas. With over 10 years of experience, Dr. Dhir’s expertise includes minimally-invasive treatments for enlarged prostate (UroLift), kidney stone disease, surgical management of urological cancers, and men’s health (erectile dysfunction, low testosterone, and infertility). His practice has been named a Center of Excellence for the UroLift procedure, and is a pioneer in non-surgical procedures for ED using his patented Wave Therapy. He earned his undergraduate and medical degrees from Georgetown University and was awarded honors in pre-medical studies, urology, orthopedics, and ophthalmology. Dr. Dhir served as chief resident during his urological surgical residency at University of Texas at Houston / MD Anderson Cancer Center in addition to completing his internship in general surgery. Dr. Dhir was voted Top Doctor in Urology for 2018 to 2019, one of the top three Best Rated Urologists in 2019 & 2020 for Houston Texas, and Texas Monthly has named him to the 2019 & 2020 Texas Super Doctors Rising Stars list.
    Robert Dhir, MD
    Robert Dhir, MD
    Board Certified Urologist & Urological Surgeon
    Expert Answer
    Avoid Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) and Aspirin for pain control as these can negatively impact healing of your vasectomy.
  • Question
    What is the fastest way to recover from a vasectomy?
    Robert Dhir, MD
    Robert Dhir, MD
    Board Certified Urologist & Urological Surgeon
    Dr. Robert Dhir is a board certified Urologist, Urological Surgeon, and the Founder of HTX Urology in Houston, Texas. With over 10 years of experience, Dr. Dhir’s expertise includes minimally-invasive treatments for enlarged prostate (UroLift), kidney stone disease, surgical management of urological cancers, and men’s health (erectile dysfunction, low testosterone, and infertility). His practice has been named a Center of Excellence for the UroLift procedure, and is a pioneer in non-surgical procedures for ED using his patented Wave Therapy. He earned his undergraduate and medical degrees from Georgetown University and was awarded honors in pre-medical studies, urology, orthopedics, and ophthalmology. Dr. Dhir served as chief resident during his urological surgical residency at University of Texas at Houston / MD Anderson Cancer Center in addition to completing his internship in general surgery. Dr. Dhir was voted Top Doctor in Urology for 2018 to 2019, one of the top three Best Rated Urologists in 2019 & 2020 for Houston Texas, and Texas Monthly has named him to the 2019 & 2020 Texas Super Doctors Rising Stars list.
    Robert Dhir, MD
    Robert Dhir, MD
    Board Certified Urologist & Urological Surgeon
    Expert Answer
    Get plenty of rest and avoid working and having sex for at least a week after the procedure. Icing the area can also greatly reduce the pain and swelling you experience.
  • Question
    I am having pain and it's been 4 weeks since my vasectomy. My doctor said it isn't normal and prescribed me meloxicam. I am worried the pain will never go away. Should I be concerned?
    Chris M. Matsko, MD
    Chris M. Matsko, MD
    Family Medicine Physician
    Dr. Chris M. Matsko is a retired physician based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With over 25 years of medical research experience, Dr. Matsko was awarded the Pittsburgh Cornell University Leadership Award for Excellence. He holds a BS in Nutritional Science from Cornell University and an MD from the Temple University School of Medicine in 2007. Dr. Matsko earned a Research Writing Certification from the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) in 2016 and a Medical Writing & Editing Certification from the University of Chicago in 2017.
    Chris M. Matsko, MD
    Chris M. Matsko, MD
    Family Medicine Physician
    Expert Answer
    No, pain is a subjective thing, and each person reacts differently. If you checked in with you doctor I would follow their directions precisely.

Warnings

  • Following the activity restrictions that your doctor has given you is important to successfully recovering from a vasectomy. If you overdo it, you may experience additional bleeding inside of your scrotum, as well as pain.
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
  • When choosing over-the-counter pain meds, Tylenol (acetaminophen) is your best bet and is safe to use. Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) or Aspirin are not ideal as they can negatively impact the healing of your vasectomy.
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽

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References

  1. ↑ Robert Dhir, MD. Board Certified Urologist & Urological Surgeon. Expert Interview. 23 September 2020.
  2. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/4423-vasectomy
  3. ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/contraception/vasectomy-male-sterilisation/
  4. ↑ Robert Dhir, MD. Board Certified Urologist & Urological Surgeon. Expert Interview. 23 September 2020.
  5. ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/contraception/vasectomy-male-sterilisation/
  6. ↑ http://www.uptodate.com/contents/vasectomy-beyond-the-basics
  7. ↑ Robert Dhir, MD. Board Certified Urologist & Urological Surgeon. Expert Interview. 23 September 2020.
  8. ↑ Robert Dhir, MD. Board Certified Urologist & Urological Surgeon. Expert Interview. 23 September 2020.
  9. ↑ https://www.iowaclinic.com/urology/recovering-from-vasectomy/
  1. ↑ http://www.uptodate.com/contents/vasectomy-beyond-the-basics
  2. ↑ Robert Dhir, MD. Board Certified Urologist & Urological Surgeon. Expert Interview. 23 September 2020.
  3. ↑ http://www.uptodate.com/contents/vasectomy-beyond-the-basics
  4. ↑ https://www.optionsforsexualhealth.org/birth-control-pregnancy/birth-control-options/effectiveness
  5. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/4423-vasectomy

About This Article

Robert Dhir, MD
Co-authored by:
Robert Dhir, MD
Board Certified Urologist & Urological Surgeon
This article was co-authored by Robert Dhir, MD. Dr. Robert Dhir is a board certified Urologist, Urological Surgeon, and the Founder of HTX Urology in Houston, Texas. With over 10 years of experience, Dr. Dhir’s expertise includes minimally-invasive treatments for enlarged prostate (UroLift), kidney stone disease, surgical management of urological cancers, and men’s health (erectile dysfunction, low testosterone, and infertility). His practice has been named a Center of Excellence for the UroLift procedure, and is a pioneer in non-surgical procedures for ED using his patented Wave Therapy. He earned his undergraduate and medical degrees from Georgetown University and was awarded honors in pre-medical studies, urology, orthopedics, and ophthalmology. Dr. Dhir served as chief resident during his urological surgical residency at University of Texas at Houston / MD Anderson Cancer Center in addition to completing his internship in general surgery. Dr. Dhir was voted Top Doctor in Urology for 2018 to 2019, one of the top three Best Rated Urologists in 2019 & 2020 for Houston Texas, and Texas Monthly has named him to the 2019 & 2020 Texas Super Doctors Rising Stars list. This article has been viewed 372,441 times.
10 votes - 90%
Co-authors: 13
Updated: July 2, 2022
Views: 372,441
Categories: Featured Articles | Men's Health

Medical Disclaimer

The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.

Article SummaryX

A vasectomy can be uncomfortable, so you’ll need to relax after the operation and find ways to manage the pain. Get plenty of rest by taking a few days off work, since this will speed up the healing process. During this time, avoid heavy lifting or strenuous activities, because they can cause injury. You can take an over-the-counter pain medication, like tylenol, if you need to calm the pain. To reduce swelling, ice your scrotum for 20 minutes each hour. Remember to avoid using aspirin or ibuprofen to cope with pain, since they can delay the healing process. For tips from our Medical co-author on how long to abstain from sexual activity, keep reading!

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