Vasectomy

What happens later at home?

The wounds need little extra care, and can be kept clean with soap and water. Activity should be limited for a week or two to reduce the chance of bleeding. Within a few weeks, men can generally return to all normal activities. Because there are still sperm in the vas deferens, it is important to continue to use birth control measures, such as condoms. Semen samples will be obtained at follow up visits until the sperm count is noted to be zero by the lab. The sperm still in the tubes can be ejected during sexual intercourse. This may result in pregnancy for several weeks, or even months, after the operation. Once the sperm count in the semen is zero, sterilization is complete and birth control measures are no longer needed.

This procedure can often be reversed, but reversal is not always successful. Men need to keep this in mind before choosing this form of birth control.

What are the potential complications after the procedure?

In rare cases, there can be infection or a hematoma, which is a collection of blood, in the area near where the surgery was performed.