Vasectomy: Procedure, Recovery & Effectiveness (2024)

What happens before a vasectomy?

Before you have a vasectomy, certain things should happen.

Consultation

Before a vasectomy, you should talk with your healthcare provider seriously about the surgery. You should be sure that you don’t want to have any children or more children. You should consider a vasectomy a permanent form of birth control. Although there’s a procedure to reverse a vasectomy, it isn’t always successful.

Your healthcare provider will also talk to you about:

History of excessive bleeding or blood disorders.
Allergy or sensitivity to local anesthetics, such as the “caine” drugs or antibiotics. The “caine” drugs include benzocaine or lidocaine or procaine (Novocaine®).
Skin disease involving your scrotum, especially infected pimples.
Regular use of aspirin or medicines that contain aspirin or drugs that affect bleeding.
History of injury or earlier surgery on your genitals or scrotum or groin (like hernias).
History of recent or repeat urinary tract or genital infections.

Consent form

You’ll be asked to sign a consent form stating that you understand vasectomy and its risks. This includes understanding that the procedure isn’t guaranteed (as no medical procedure is or can be).

Before you sign this form, make sure you understand all of these things and that you’re comfortable with your decision. It’s important that you resolve any questions or concerns before taking action. Remember, a vasectomy is an elective procedure. Don’t go ahead with it until you’re sure it’s the right choice for you.

Blood thinners

Don’t take any of these products for seven days before surgery unless you’re told to do so by your healthcare provider. Taking these medications increases the risk of bleeding. They are:

Shaving and washing

The night before or the morning of the vasectomy, shave away the hair from your entire scrotum. Remove the hair all the way to the top of your penis, including any pubic hair that seems to fall onto your scrotum. Don’t use an electric razor on your scrotum. A single-blade disposable razor is the best choice.

To reduce the risk of infection, thoroughly wash your scrotum and groin the day before and the morning of the surgery.

Other preparations

Several hours before surgery, take any specific preoperative medications as directed.
Bring a clean athletic supporter (jock strap) or tight pair of compression shorts.
Eat lightly or stick to liquids before a vasectomy. Don’t eat heavily, but don’t avoid food.

How is the vasectomy procedure done?

There are two types of vasectomies. One is an incision vasectomy, and the other is a no-scalpel vasectomy. Both are done in doctors’ offices or outpatient surgery centers. Both use local anesthesia to numb your scrotum. The anesthesia is given as a shot.

Both types of vasectomies divide and close off the ends of the vas deferens (the tubes that carry sperm), preventing sperm from getting through. This stops the sperm from mixing with sem*n and releasing when a man ejacul*tes during an org*sm.

Your surgeon will make an opening in your skin and grasp the vas deferens. The vas deferens is then divided and tied, clipped or cauterized. Cauterizing closes cuts with an electrical current.

There’s little discomfort with a vasectomy. Your scrotum will be numb, but some men feel a slight “tugging” sensation or a feeling of things moving around. Your surgeon will decide if you need stitches, depending on how they routinely do the procedure.

What happens after you have a vasectomy?

Pain/bruising

You’ll probably have mild discomfort, bruising and swelling after the procedure. You can take acetaminophen (for example, Tylenol®) every four hours for the discomfort. You can place ice packs or a bag of frozen vegetables over your scrotal supporter and dressing. Using ice packs repeatedly for the first 36 hours helps keep the swelling down. Always be sure to wrap the ice pack in a towel or put something between it and your skin.

Dressing

Change the dressing when it’s stained or soiled. You can buy small sterile gauze squares at any drugstore. You can remove the dressing when it’s dry or stain-free, usually within a day or so. You can expect a small amount of oozing. Having the fluid drain out is better for you than having it build up on the inside.

Bathing

You can start showering the day after the vasectomy. Avoid baths or swimming for a couple of weeks. To dry your scrotum, pat dry with a towel. Don’t rub.

Skin separation

Sometimes, your skin might separate due to tissue fluid, oozing blood or body fluids. If this happens, you can use sterile gauze and your fingers to pinch the edges together. This’ll bring your skin together and allow it to heal. Scarring is minimal, if it even happens at all.

It’s common to have some of these symptoms after a vasectomy. They should go away within 72 hours of surgery.

However, you should call your healthcare provider immediately if you have:

An unusual amount of pain.
Extreme swelling of your scrotum.
Continued bleeding.
A fever (over 100 degrees Fahrenheit or 37.7 degrees Celsius).

What happens to sperm after a vasectomy?

After a vasectomy, your testicl*s continue making sperm. When the sperm cells die, they disintegrate and are absorbed by your body. This is the same way your body handles other types of cells that die and are replaced every day.