Post Op Vasectomy Advice

Hear me now and believe me later!

The second hardest part about having a vasectomy is doing what you are supposed to do for the first week afterwards.

(The hardest part is deciding to have it done.)

(Unless you were not the one who made the decision)

But if you do the following things that Dr. Roesel recommends, your recovery will be much smoother than if you insist on "doing it your way".

Dr. Roesel goes over these things with you before you leave, and you also have written instructions that you are given. But when you are in a pleasant Valium haze you may forget what she says or where you put those instructions.

So let's go over them.

1. Wearing supportive underwear for the first week is a MUST.

This is an example of supportive underwear. Yours do not have to be so extreme.

Regular "tighty whities" are fine. Just don't buy them too big. Remember, we are talking support.

Boxers, boxer briefs, sweatpants, pajama bottoms and longjohns are not supportive. Put them back in the drawer.

2. Take it easy for 2-3 days after the procedure

Remember, you have had surgery and things need time to heal.

This means lying around and keeping your scrotum protected from the forces of gravity.

I like to tell my patients to only do things that they can do wearing a pair of bedroom slippers.

I have never seen anyone playing tag football or moving a big screen TV in slippers.

This is a really bad idea on many levels.

3. Use an ice pack as needed for comfort. We give you a gel pack but frozen vegetables work well, too.

4. Do not suffer.

You are not a "girlie man" if you need to take painkillers.

Be careful about taking too many, though.

5. Abstain from ejaculation for the first 7 days. If you have wet dream, you get a pass. You can't help that.

6. Stay out of the pool or the hot tub until your incisions heal.

7. And don't hesitate to CALL with ANY questions or problems.

Now is a Good Time for a Vasectomy

If you've been thinking about having a vasectomy but just couldn't pick up the phone to make an appointment to come in and find out more, now is a great time to do it.

It's not warm enough yet to swim.

It's not quite yard work time yet.

There are lots of sports events on television.

You will not have to worry about another baby sired by you*.

*(If you follow up as instructed to have your semen checked and are told no sperm are present.)

Just get three of your friends to get a vasectomy too. Things are always better when done in groups.

Call now. Immediate appointments available.

Just a reminder: Call your insurance company to see if you are covered for a vasectomy. Some policies do not provide coverage for this service. We do have self pay packages as well. Just call 271-2862 for more information.

No need to do this.

513-271-2862 M-F 9-5

So true, Nick!

Father's Day thoughts.... to snip or not to snip?

Vasectomy. This word can make a grown man nervous and instinctively reach down to protect "the boys". Totally understandable. The idea of somebody cutting on your scrotum doesn't rank very high on many lists of favorites. But it doesn't have to be terrifying thing. Here is a short "True or False" quiz to take to see how much you know about a vasectomy. The answers follow below.

1. A vasectomy is the same thing as a neuter. The dog had a neuter and he came home with no testicles. T or F

2. If I have a vasectomy it will make my voice high and ruin my sex drive. T or F

3. A vasectomy is very painful. I will certainly suffer post traumatic stress disorder. T or F

4. You can resume sexual relations immediately after a vasectomy. T or F

5. Having a vasectomy is 100% effective in preventing pregnancy. T or F

And here are the answers:

1. False: A vasectomy involves the removal of a small part of each tube that carries sperm from each testicle to the penis. The testicles are NOT removed.

2. False: Testosterone is produced by the testicles and is responsible for sex drive and thickening of the vocal cords at puberty (leading to a deeper voice). Because the testicles are not removed, the amount of testosterone produced before the vasectomy will be the same afterwards.  The vocal cords will stay the way they are and your voice will remain as it was.

3. False: A vasectomy does not have to be painful - before, during or after. There are many very effective pain medications that are used to ensure your comfort. Dr. Roesel believes strongly in making any procedure as painless as possible and will explain this to you during your vasectomy consultation visit.

4. False: You must refrain from ejaculation for one week after the vasectomy to let things heal, and then you must continue to use another form of birth control until your semen is tested and found to be free of sperm.  Men who do not follow this advice may possibly be called "Dad" 9 months later.

5. False: Other than abstinence, there is no method of birth control that 100% effective. Vasectomy failure rate is between 0.5% and 1%. It is possible for the cut ends to grow back together and "recanalize" or reform a channel that sperm can get through. This is why the postop semen checks are so important.

If you are interested in having a vasectomy we encourage you to make an appointment to talk to Dr. Roesel. She will explain the procedure to you and if you like, she will put you in contact with patients who are willing to talk about their experience having their vasectomies done in our office.

Most insurance companies cover vasectomies but it is always a good idea to check your specific policy to see if this is a covered benefit for you. Our office is always happy to check for you and if needed, will obtain precertification or provide a letter of medical necessity to the insurance company. We can make the entire process as painless as possible... just give us a call.