Post Vasectomy Reversal Care
1) You will want to decrease heavy physical activity for 1-2 weeks after your surgery. Most patients may return to work in a few days but limit heavy lifting (> 20 pounds) or extended walking/running.
2) An ice pack over the scrotal support for the first 48 hours after surgery will decrease the majority of swelling and pain associated with vasectomy reversal.
3) Over the counter pain medicine (Tylenol™/Motrin™/etc) should be adequate for most patients. Pain medication is usually not required 72 hours after surgery. Your surgeon may prescribe a small dose of a mild narcotic for pain relief.
4) A small amount of blood (quarter-sized) may stain the dressings for 72 hours after surgery. This will resolve spontaneously. Two-three gauze pads on the surgical site, under the scrotal support will aid healing and keep your clothes clean.
5) The stitches will dissolve on their own within 7-10 days. You may shower 48 hours after surgery but no swimming or tub baths for one week.
6) It is normal to have a moderate amount of scrotal swelling after surgery. Contact your surgeon if the swelling is larger than a moderate sized orange or is draining a large amount of fluid (soaking several pads/day). Other reasons to contact your surgeon after vasectomy reversal include worsening pain after 48 hours, increased redness or tenderness around the incision site or a fever of 1010F.
7) A semen analysis should be obtained six weeks after surgery and every three months after surgery to evaluate the patency of the vasectomy reversal. In a successful vasectomy reversal (vasovasostomy) sperm will be present within six months of surgery. For complicated cases requiring vasoepididymostomy sperm may not be present in the ejaculate until one year after surgery.