AFTERCARE

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.

If sutures have been placed during your procedure remove them on day 5 post-op: you can return to the surgery for this, at no cost, or remove the stitch with your spouse’s assistance.

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.