Wear 2 pairs of jockey style underpants, for good support. This reduces discomfort and swelling. Continue for 3 days.
On arriving home start the first application of cold packs. Apply the cold pack to the scrotum with a thin chux wipe or similar to prevent skin sticking. Apply for 15 minutes every hour for day 1 postop, ie the day of the procedure, until retiring that night. A cold pack is the best pain relief.
Rest: read a book, watch television, snooze, but don’t undertake physical exertion on day 1. On days 2&3 you may be up and about but avoid lifting and straining. From day 4 activities may be gradually ramped up.
Use panadol or panadeine for pain relief if necessary.
Avoid alcohol for 24hrs: it causes blood vessel dilation and may therefore contribute to swelling.
Don’t shower on day one post-op, but you may shower from day two onwards.
Remember to use contraception post operatively until a 4 month post vasectomy semen analysis and clearance from the surgery. You will be given a list of these recommendations on the day of the procedure, as well as a pathology request form, container and instruction for the 4 month post-vasectomy test. You will receive a reminder from the surgery when the test is due, and a notification of the test result.