Patient Instructions for Vasectomy Reversal

After Vasectomy Reversal

Post-Operative Care

1. You will experience some discomfort from the procedure for 2-3 weeks following your vasectomy reversal. You will be provided with a prescription for pain medication after the procedure. Once the pain control is reasonable, you may consider changing from the prescription pain medication to Tylenol.
2. Some men may feel a little nauseous or dizzy on the day of surgery. Be careful when walking up stairs. There are no food restrictions after your surgery; however, some men find it helpful to keep the meals light for the first 24 hours.
3. Many pain medication can be constipating, be sure to stay well hydrated, include fiber in your diet, and consider over the counter stool softeners such as Colace or Senekot if the pharmacist deems no interaction with any of your present medications and you have no allergies to these medications.
4. You may expect some swelling and bruising to the scrotum and penis, this is normal. This can take up to 3 weeks to resolve. If your scrotum swells to the size of a grapefruit, this is a problem, and may represent a bleed within the scrotum. If this occurs, proceed to the Vancouver General Hospital emergency department, where Dr. Flannigan’s urology team is available.
5. Consider applying ice to the scrotum intermittently for 20 minutes at a time during the first 48 hours. Ensure that the ice is not directly contacting the skin and you do not use ice for longer than prescribed as you could damage the skin with frost-bite.
6. Wear tight supportive underwear such as briefs or a jock-strap for the first 4-6 weeks after the surgery to prevent the testicles from pulling on the delicate reconnections of the tubes.
7. You may remove the dressing on your scrotum after 48 hours. Don’t be alarmed to see a small amount of blood, this is normal.
8. There are no stitches to be removed from the incision, they will dissolve in 3-5 weeks following your procedure.
9. You may shower 48 hours after the surgery. When drying yourself, be gentle at the surgical site for your own comfort and protection of the delicate reconstruction on the inside.
10. Low-grade fever of 38 °C may occur in the first few days after surgery which is normal. However, if this elevate above 38C or you feel chills, you should proceed to VGH emergency department for assessment.
11. You will need to have a ride home from the surgery, as it will not be safe to drive.
12. You are not able to make important legal decisions within 24 hours of a general anesthetic.
13. If you have a desk job, you may feel ready to return to work within ~1 week. If you have a physically demanding job, you may require up to 3 weeks to heal. This can be variable from person to person. Please let our office know if you need a note to excuse you from work duties to safely heal after your vasectomy reversal.
14. Please avoid exercise or activity for 3-4 weeks post-operatively.
15. You may first ejaculate and have intercourse 4 weeks following surgery, but not sooner to allow the delicate reconnection to heal properly.

Semen Testing Protocol

Following your vasectomy reversal, we will test your semen through Life Labs at 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months postoperatively until we see sperm return to the ejaculate. This typically take 1-4 months after the surgery if we perform a conventional vasectomy reversal but may take longer if we need to perform a more complex epididymal reconstruction.

You will receive details on semen testing once your procedure is booked.

Call Us to Book!
604-717-6200