Your
physician will determine when it is appropriate to head home. Despite how you
well you may feel its important to follow the doctors advice. Read and review
the written instructions carefully with your spouse. Patients will leave the
surgery with sterile fluffs held in place using a snug fitting scrotal supporter.
Discomfort following the
surgery can include slight swelling, bruising or discoloration in the scrotal
area. Also, a headache, body ache, nausea and other symptoms can result from
the anesthesia but will diminish within the first few days. Here is some advice
that should be followed.
- Patients should not drive home, so arrange transportation.
- Abstain from alcohol for 24 hours following surgery,
otherwise eat normally.
- For at least two days, elevate legs, avoid standing up
and use ice packs regularly to soothe the scrotal area.
- Patients can shower 48 hours after the surgery.
- Deskwork is resumed in three days.
- No heavy work or sports are allowed for three weeks.
- No intercourse or ejaculation is allowed for four weeks
post operatively.
- For six weeks post operatively, patients wear a scrotal
supporter at all times, except in the shower, even when sleeping. Thereafter
a comfortable scrotal supporter is worn whenever the patient is upright until
pregnancy is achieved.
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Complications
If, in the first day or two following surgery, any fever, chills, increasing
pain, swelling, or drainage occur – contact your doctor immediately. These
are signs of infection.
After the First Few Weeks
Typically, after
four or five weeks routine activities, even normally strenuous ones, will gradually
return. One or two months after the vasectomy reversal semen analysis will be
arranged on a regular basis. But sperm may not reappear on a regular basis for
up to six months. Keep in mind that even with reduced sperm count and poor motility
pregnancy is possible.
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Conception
Though its possible for pregnancy to result as soon as intercourse can resume,
or many years following the vasectomy reversal – typically, conception
takes from 12 to 24 months.
The patient’s progress is typically followed until pregnancy is achieved.
For more, read Success
Rates and Their Determinants.
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