Your life after a vasectomy is not an immediate all-clear to have sex all the time without protection. Plus, there is a recuperative time that happens as well as precautions to take for a certain period of time. Your urologist will definitely go over the things to expect in preparation for the surgery a well as post-operative treatment.

Immediately after the Vasectomy

Men will feel soreness for several days after the vasectomy which is normal. Resting for one day is a requirement. Many vasectomy procedures occur on a Thursday or Friday as it is the perfect recuperation time over a weekend. Some bruising and swelling can be expected, especially since the operation is in one of the most sensitive areas of the body.

The urologist may prescribe some supportive device such as an athletic supporter to alleviate the pain in the scrotum area. When gravity pulls at the testes, the site where the vasectomy is performed, this creates pain and some swelling. But with the athletic supporter, the pressure is alleviated. Ice packs and over the counter pain relievers also go a long way toward alleviating the post-operative pain.

The Green Light for Sex

You may have sex again within days of the vasectomy but it is important to take a few precautions, mainly a second type of birth control. The effects of the vasectomy are not immediate. It takes up to 20 post-operative ejaculations for the sperm to complete vacate the reproductive system. This means it is still possible to make someone pregnant within a few months after the operation.

The doctor will require several post-operative visits, not only to check the incision site on the scrotum but also run tests on semen to check for motile sperm. The general rule is that you would have to return for several doctor follow-up visits and receive two negative sperm tests in a row to definitively say you are sterile. This part of the vasectomy process is often neglected and many men do not go back to the doctor and therefore may not know that their little swimmers are still quite capable of making a woman pregnant.

Side Effects and Disadvantages

As mentioned above, the side effects are generally mild and go away within a few days. However, a small but significant number of men developed epididymitis. It is a condition which feels like the testes is swollen. Indeed, it is the epididymis, a small gland in the testes which stores sperm that becomes inflamed causing the pain. However, most cases are easily treated with warm compresses and heat. This condition may take anywhere from one year and up before manifesting itself.

As far as disadvantages are concerned, a vasectomy is considered a permanent procedure which leaves little room for changing your mind. There are vasectomy reversal surgeries available but the chance of pregnancy after one is very low. Therefore, it is important to carefully think things through before undergoing the surgical procedure that will render you sterile. If you are in the least bit hesitant, it is better to be inconvenienced a bit with alternate forms of birth control than it is to regret your decision later.