About this topic
A vasectomy is a permanent type of birth control for men. After this surgery, a man cannot get a woman pregnant. Sperm are made in the testes. The testes are small round organs. The testes are located in the skin sac that hangs between a mans legs. Sperm are stored in a small organ on top of the testes. The organ is called the epididymis. The sperm travel from there through small tubes called the vas deferens when a man ejaculates. The fluid a man ejaculates is called semen. ‚
The doctor cuts or blocks the vas deferens during a vasectomy. After this procedure, a man's semen will not contain any sperm. ‚
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What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. Asking questions will help you know what you need to do.
- Talk to your doctor about how to care for your cut site. Ask your doctor about:
- When you should change your bandages
- When you may take a bath or shower
- If you need to be careful with lifting things over 10 pounds
- When you can go back to your normal activities like work and driving.
- Always wash your hands before and after touching your wound or dressing.
- Place an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel over the painful part. Never put ice right on the skin. Do not leave the ice on more than 10 to 15 minutes at a time.
- Wear supportive clothing, like a jockstrap or jockey shorts, while your wound heals.
- Relax and keep your feet raised when you get home. Lying on your back may feel most comfortable.
- You may have sex after 1 to 4 weeks or when your doctor says so. You can still get your partner pregnant during this time. You need to use other forms of birth control to prevent pregnancy.
- You may have to wait up to 3 months to have a zero sperm count. You will need to get your sperm count checked. Use birth control until your sperm count is checked and is zero.
What follow-up care is needed?
- Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep your visits.
- You may have stitches or staples. If so, your doctor will often want to remove the stitches or staples in 1 to 2 weeks.
- You will need to follow up with your doctor to have your sperm count checked after about 3 months. Checking with your doctor is an important step in making sure you are not able to get a woman pregnant.
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain and swelling
- Prevent infection
Will physical activity be limited?
You may need to rest for a few days after the procedure. Avoid standing or walking too long. Avoid heavy lifting and hard exercise for up to 1 to 3 weeks. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Pain
- Opening of surgical wound
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection such as a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, pain with passing urine.
- Signs of wound infection such as swelling, redness, warmth around the wound; too much pain when touched; yellowish, greenish, or bloody discharge; foul smell coming from the cut site; cut site opens up.
- Very bad pain in your scrotum
- Problems with your erection or ejaculation
- You are not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or you are feeling worse
Helpful tips
A vasectomy is a permanent form of contraception. You should be 100% sure before you undergo this procedure. You and your partner should have talked about this procedure thoroughly. Vasectomy reversal is available, but does not always work. ‚
A vasectomy does not protect you from sexually-transmitted diseases. You will still need to wear a condom to protect yourself and your partner against these infections. ‚
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my procedure.
- I can tell you what may help ease my pain.
- I can tell you how to care for my cut site.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have a fever, chills, or bad pain.
Where can I learn more?
American Urological Association Foundation ‚
http://www.urologyhealth.org/urology/index.cfm?article=53 ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚