Men can resume sexual intercourse after a week, but they must continue to use another method of birth control until their semen sample shows a zero sperm count. This typically happens about three months after the procedure.
A man’s scrotum may feel tender and sore after vasectomy. He should take painkillers if needed.
Your scrotum will feel numb
The scrotum may feel numb after a vasectomy because of the anesthetic that was used during the procedure. It may also be bruised and swollen, but these symptoms are usually mild and do not last long. Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen, can help reduce the discomfort. Wearing a supporter that lifts the testicles will help alleviate this pain as well.
You can start having sex again within seven days of a vasectomy, but you should still use another form of birth control until you have a follow-up semen analysis to confirm that your sperm count is zero. You can get a kit from your doctor or purchase a home testing kit to check your sperm count. A doctor can also perform a test for you, but this is usually more expensive.
A vasectomy is a simple surgery that is performed under local anesthesia, so you will not feel any pain during the procedure. Before the surgery, the scrotum will be shaved and cleaned. The urologist will then remove the sperm-producing tubes, called the vas deferens. They will insert two spaghetti noodles (your testicles) into the grapefruit-shaped area and cauterize the ends closed with something that looks like a soldering iron.
You can usually resume normal activities after a week or less, depending on your job. However, you should avoid strenuous activity until the scrotum has healed. You should also use a condom and a feminine version of the birth control pill to prevent pregnancy until you can prove that your semen is free from sperm.
You’ll be able to work in 2 or 3 days
A vasectomy is a great option for men who don’t want children. It’s a permanent form of birth control that has no side effects and is less expensive than other methods of sterilization, including tubal ligations. Vasectomies also don’t impact testosterone levels, erections, orgasms, or sex drive.
Most people can return to work within a few days of having a vasectomy, but some may need to take it easy for a week or more. Heavy lifting or strenuous exercise should be avoided, as it can cause the incision to open up. Instead, focus on light activities that don’t require a lot of pressure on the incision area, like swimming or biking.
You can start masturbating again after about a week or two, but don’t have unprotected sex until you have another doctor check your semen and confirm that it’s sperm-free. This can usually be done at your follow-up appointment about 6 to 12 weeks after the procedure.
To collect a sample, you’ll masturbate into a special container. Your urologist will test it for sperm and let you know when the vasectomy has worked and you can stop using other forms of birth control. It typically takes about three months for your sperm count to go down to zero, but it can take up to a year in some cases.
You’ll be able to have sexual intercourse
A vasectomy stops sperm from leaving your body, providing permanent contraception. It closes off both ends of the vas deferens, which are tubes that carry sperm from the testicles. It’s considered to be a highly effective form of birth control, but it’s not foolproof. In rare cases, it’s possible for sperm to sneak back into the semen stream and cause pregnancy. That’s why it takes several months and a number of semen analyses to confirm sterility.
Until you have an undetectable sperm count, it’s best to use contraception when having sex. However, you should know that vasectomies do not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). You could still get an STI, even if the surgical site has healed. The only way to reduce your risk is to practice safe sex with a partner who also practices safe sex.
In the meantime, you can also use female condoms and oral contraceptives to prevent pregnancy. You’ll need to perform a semen analysis every few weeks until your doctor confirms that your semen no longer contains sperm. During the analysis, you’ll masturbate into a sample container and wait for your doctor to analyze it under a microscope. You’ll need to perform this procedure at least 20 times before your semen will be deemed sterile. It may take up to a year for your sperm count to reach zero, depending on how quickly the surgical site heals.
You’ll be sterile
Men produce sperm in their testicles and it travels down the vas deferens to combine with semen, the fluid that provides nutrients for sperm to make it to the female egg. A vasectomy removes a small piece of this tube, closing it and stopping sperm from entering the semen.
The vasectomy can take up to three months to be effective, and until then, men must use birth control. Using a condom or other method of protection during sex ensures that any sperm left in the semen is not fertilized and can’t cause pregnancy.
A few sperm may still be present in the semen after the operation, but most physicians will only consider you sterile when a sperm count is zero. Doctors will ask you to masturbate and ejaculate into a container or special condom without lubrication, which is then tested for sperm. Most doctors will test the sample 20 times to be certain that it is sperm-free. The most important thing to remember is to be compliant with the sperm tests. Studies show that approximately half of men who get a vasectomy don’t submit their sperm samples for testing and could become pregnant.
In the majority of cases, a vasectomy is permanent and does not affect testosterone levels, erections or climaxes. However, it is not a guarantee of infertility because in rare cases, the vas deferens can reconnect years after a vasectomy and lead to pregnancy.
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