Vasectomy

Your doctor may do the following:

• Discuss the effects of this procedure
• Medical history
• Physical exam
• Review of medicines

Talk to your doctor about your medicines. You may be asked to stop taking some medicines up to one week before the procedure like:

• Blood thinners, such as clopidogrel (Plavix) or warfarin (Coumadin)
• Aspirin or other anti-inflammatory drugs

In the days leading up to your procedure:

• Arrange for a ride to and from the procedure.
• Shower before leaving home.
• Take any medicine as ordered by your doctor. A mild sedative before the procedure may be recommended.
• Wear comfortable clothing.
• You may be asked to clip your scrotal hair.

Local anesthesia will be used. It will numb the area.

There are three techniques for a vasectomy:

• Conventional approach—One small cut will be made in the skin on each side of the scrotum. The vas deferens will be pulled through the openings. The tubes will then be cut. A small piece of the tubes may also be removed. The ends of the tube will be sealed off with stitches, clips, or an electrical pulse. The vas deferens will then be placed back into the scrotum. The incision will be closed with stitches.
• No-scalpel vasectomy—The doctor will locate the vas deferens under the scrotal skin. A clamp will be attached to hold it in place. A special tool will be used to punch a small hole in the skin. The hole will be stretched open to pull the vas deferens through. The tubes will then be cut and sealed as above. The holes will heal without stitches.
• Vas clip vasectomy—The vas deferens will be exposed in either of the two manners above. Special clips will be placed around each vas deferens and cinched in place. The clips will block the flow of sperm beyond the position of the clip.

Conventional vasectomy takes about 30 minutes. No-scalpel procedures take about 20 minutes.

Anesthesia prevents pain during the procedure. You can expect some soreness for a few days. Take pain medicines as directed by your doctor.

When you return home, do the following to help ensure a smooth recovery:

• Be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions .
• A small amount of blood on the gauze pads is normal. Tell your doctor if you have excessive bleeding or need to change the gauze pads more than 2-3 times daily.
• Apply ice packs, covered with a towel, on and off during the first eight hours.
• Ask your doctor about when it is safe to shower, bathe, or soak in water.
• Cover the incisions with clean gauze for three days, or as directed by your doctor.
• Do not lift heavy objects or participate in sports for 2-3 weeks.
• Keep the area clean and dry.
• Wear an athletic supporter, if recommended by your doctor.
• Your doctor may give you antibiotics for several days following the procedure. Take all medicines as instructed.

Most men may feel fine to go back to work in a few days. They may also feel ready for sexual activity in about a week. Ejaculation may cause some discomfort in the groin and testicles until the tissues heal. You will have two tests, 4-6 weeks apart, to check to make sure that no sperm are present. You will need to use an alternate method of birth control until it has been confirmed that there are no sperm in your semen. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a home test kit to help men determine if there is any sperm in their semen after vasectomy. Talk to your doctor to see if this is an option for you.